Hungarian Chief of Defence Inspects Multinational Exercise in Slovenia

Szöveg: Defence Staff | 2014. augusztus 30. 9:36

Hungarian soldiers are also participating in Exercise Immediate Response 2014, a multinational training event held between August 17–30 in Croatia, Slovenia and at the United States Army in Europe (USAREUR) Headquarters in Germany.

Apart from the Hungarian troops, the brigade-level exercise involves designated military units from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Denmark, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Great Britain. The primary objective is to achieve enhanced interoperability and combat readiness of participating nations in the conduct of peace support operations, humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions.

The Hungarian Defence Forces are represented by 38 soldiers of the HDF 5th Bocskai István Infantry Brigade, including medical personnel and staff officers delegated to the multinational headquarters of the brigade. This exercise has outstanding importance to Hungary because in addition to rehearsing their primary task, which is tactical combat casualty care (TCCC), it also provides the military medical personnel with opportunity to develop their disaster management skills through the simulation of disaster relief situations and various situations of protecting the civilian population.

The military leaders of the participating countries, including Gen. Dr. Tibor Benkő, the Chief of the Defence Staff attended the Media and Distinguished Visitors (DV) Day of the exercise on Wednesday, August 27. There was a presentation to inform the guests about the cooperation among countries in the Western Balkans, and then the military leaders inspected the Exercise Control (EXCON) cell and the brigade and battalion command posts.

Having been introduced to the command elements, the military leaders watched a tactical phase in Mahneče training area, near the Slovenian capital. This demonstration highlighted the elements used in disaster relief missions, including training in explosive ordnance reconnaissance (EOR) and disposal (EOD), accident scene handling and investigation, rescue of survivors and aeromedical evacuation of the injured.

The Media and DV Day of the exercise was closed with an introduction to the ROLE-1 level first aid facility, which is equipped by NATO standards.