Behind The Scenes Of Maneuver ’Deployment Direction’

HDF 43rd József Nagysándor Signal and Command and Control Support Regiment was given assigments as early as 15 September at the barracks and started with command and control training, and at the same time the soldiers of the regiment began the completion of the tasks in the parade ground. In the barracks, the commandant and the troops of the guard company fulfilled the role of the command staff and the combat headquarters, setting up and furnishing workstations and maintaining continuous operation.

On the parade ground, the troops of the regiment have set up a temporary command post for HDF Joint Forces Command, and a service camp to support the implementation of the tasks. The camp includes the facilities of HDF JFC command point, the temporary combat operations service, a press centre, blocks for resting, zones accommodating the units assigned to serve the regiment and the other corps, and the field chaplain service also operates here. A tent for prayer has been set up to provide a place for the retreat of the troops.

One cooking point and two dining blocks cater for the 380 people who are present at the training every day. Unfortunately, the weather is not always kind to the participating troops, yet there is a very good atmosphere in the camp and the soldiers are motivated – told us Major (Eng.) Ferenc Solymosi, the commander of the camp.

Another important background task is to set up and continuously supply the camp with a communications system, which has to be done in well-organized teamwork. The communication of the maneuver was provided by the Transdanubian Signal and Informatics Centre (DHIFK), the Signal Battalion, and the signal troops of HDF 5th István Bocskai Infantry Brigade in cooperation, during which hundreds of lines were installed. DHIFK provides the channels and the necessary lines via a microwave transmitter, the installation of connections is the task of the Signal Battalion, and in the British camp it is done by the signal troops of the brigade.

"The system can be activated in nearly a few seconds" – said Lieutenant Colonel (Eng.) János Végh, the commander of DHIFK. The signal and informatics operators from Székesfehérvár program the extension authorization, and after that we can make calls. In case there is any default, the signal troops on duty from the personnel of DHIFK, serving at the ’zero point’, will notify the troops trained for repairs, who will fix the problem as soon as possible. The conscientious work of the soldiers of the regiment provides for all the conditions – signalling, logistics supply – which are essential for the successful completion of the maneuver.

The ’Host’

The location is provided by HDF Bakony Combat Training Centre; maneuver Deployment Direction is organized for the fourth time on the parade ground and shooting range of this military organization. The operation of the largest parade ground of Central Europe is the duty of the Várpalota corps. Therefore BHK provides service and support to ’Deployment Direction 2008’, the largest volume exercise of the Hungarian Defence Forces this year, with several units.

As regards the organization of maneuver ’DD 2008’ and the preparatory events (company combat group complex tactical exercises combined with sharpshooting, battalion combat group complex tactical exercise combined with sharpshooting), the Hajmáskér training base, which belongs to the same military organization, has the most important role. The base participates in the extensive support and provision of the series of exercises with every personnel. Its key task is to prepare the target area – consisting of six sectors with electricity – in the way required by the commander of the training troops. This activity involves the preparation of the target moving equipment, the production of targets, and the provision of equipment required by the troops.

The exercise is an example of a situation where the base has to work at maximum capacity. It is reflected by the fact that during both – ZHCS and DD 2008 – maneuvers, the base has installed 592 infantry targets and 58 technical targets in total. A thing that further improves the efficiency of their work is that in addition to the targets listed above, the personnel of the base had to set up 40 so-called ’hard targets’ (tanks, armoured combat/transport vehicles, and wrecks of other vehicles) in compliance with tactical principles.

Beyond its core tasks, the base also participates in the provision of the various other services of the rehearsal (’zero point’ watch, preparation of the VIP reception room, etc.) on 3 October, the technical day on 7 October, and the main visitors’ day on the 8th. The assigned personnel of BHK Opposition Force Company were given a significant role in the efficient execution of exercise ZHCS and the previous company exercises – it is their duty to promote the realization of the training targets of the exercises to the maximum extent. For example during the preparatory events, selected troops from the company played the opponent facing the training corps, which is called OPFOR in the NATO terminology.

In the preparatory phase, the purpose of their activity was to show the training troops the tactical methods of the enemy which make their training more realistic, and the troops might encounter similar activities in the international areas of operations as well. The operator staff of the tank platoon of the OPFOR company were redirected to the combat support battalion of the Tata-based 25th brigade, they participate in the maneuver as performers.

In the first phase of maneuver Deployment Direction 2008, BHK’s Simulation and Training Centre, in cooperation with ARTIFEX Ltd., participated in the preparation and implementation of command and troop leading exercises, in the course of which they provided simulation support for the operations implemented in the security zone and the main protective zone, and also for the operations which had taken place during the counterstrike. The fact that the training troops completed continuous, 24-hour operation planning and leading tasks, tells a lot about how difficult the assignments have been. The judges controlled the preciseness of the accomplished tasks consistently, making objective comments for the different command levels of the training troops (squad, platoon, company). The other logistic units of the corps continuously assisted and supported the accomplishment of training tasks, and the personnel of the Health Centre provided healthcare services during these activities.

‘Start Out One Way…’

A movement coordination team (MKCS) of the transport coordination company of HDF 64th József Boconádi Szabó Logistics Regiment has also moved to the site of the exercise, where they have been working, and controlling vehicle movements since 15 September. The transport coordination company fulfil their obligations resulting from the allied system in the scope of a unit offered for NATO, and the two movement coordination teams work in the framework of national committment, while one team is engaged in the troop rotations of the NATO Response Force (NRF) from time to time.

For the most part, the workplace of the team members is a special container. This container is an improved version of the movement coordination workplace used by the personnel of the Transport Battalion in Iraq earlier. It can be sealed hermetically, it is splinter-proof and protects the people inside even from a chemical attack. Moreover, the group members have satellite, internet, and telephone connection as well. Electricity is supplied by the container’s own generator, but it can also be operated by an external generator or by electricity from the power lines. And in case of a chemical attack, a special air filtering device is responsible for the security of those inside the container.

1st Lieutenant Gábor Juhász, the commander of the team told us that the military organizations of the Hungarian Defence Forces used nearly all transport methods to reallocate the equipments; the devices and the soldiers have arrived by rail, road and air. Of these transports, the team has participated in the organization of the movement of corps arriving in the area, and in traffic control. In total, 286 technical devices and 37 containers have arrived on 10 trainsets, and 128 technical devices and 4 containers have been reallocated by road transport from all over the country. Controlling traffic and tracking the movement of such an extraordinary quantity of equipment meant a huge responsibility for the small team of 10, however, owing to their preparedness they completed this task with success.

During the maneuvre, they provide a dispatcher service and register the movement of vehicles, place central vehicle orders to transport the troops participating in the maneuver. In the first week of October, on the technical and VIP day they will perform traffic control tasks in cooperation with the traffic control corps of the Support Battalion of the Hungarian Defence Forces. In order to perform well on these two days, 30 soldiers will arrive from the Kaposvár logistics regiment to set up cooking points and provide catering.

And the finishing moves of their tasks will be to organize the reshuffling of the corps. A key assignment of the abovementioned tasks will be controlling traffic between the shooting range and the railway loading point.