No Rest For Reconnaissance Troops!

In the course of the field activities that lasted almost two weeks, the platoon was revising basic tactical theories and practices, such as the movement of reconnaissance troops in various terrains, approaching and observation of buildings from hidden observation posts, patrolling, reconnaissance of routes, and activities in the quarters. The reconnaissance troops carried out their tasks on fire team, squad, and platoon level. In order to make the practice realistic, an OPFOR team was often involved in the exercise. While half of the unit was patrolling, the task of the other team – the OPFOR team – was to get across a given area. The platoon demonstrated its skills in the framework of a two-day closing exercise.

As the main task of the closing exercise, the unit had to carry out reconnaissance in the quarters for the Battalion Combat Team. To make it more difficult for the platoon, the enemy subversive team was selected from the long-range platoon of the reconnaissance company. It was an excellent occasion for the long-range reconnaissance troops to practice their skills. As regards the motivation of the platoon, it was evident: when the exercise finished, the troops, instead of hurrying back to the base, focused on practicing route reconnaissance even on their way back. The next task of the battalion was to participate in the tree-day signalling system practice of the HDF 5th ‘István Bocskai’ Infantry Brigade. This was also a great opportunity for the troops of the electric warfare company of the 24th ‘Gergely Bornemissza’ Reconnaissance Battalion – the subordinate corps of the brigade – to utilize what they have learned in theory and practice, for the last time in 2009.

Wars and conflicts are carried on not only on land, in water, in the air, but in the electromagnetic spectrum as well. This is the theater, invisible for the eye, where the personnel of the Electronic Warfare Company are active (disclosing, tapping, recording) in order to protect their own forces. The use of the electronic warfare capability is important not only at home but in missions as well, in order to support the troops with information and protect forces and equipments. As the last activity in December, the experts of the Military Physical Education and Close Combat Methodology Unit of the HDF Central Training Base held a methodology course at the reconnaissance company. The aim of the preparation was that those troops should learn and teach military close combat who are competent and able to plan and conduct the special trainings from warm-up to fight. The experts of the Methodology Unit have now implemented the first step of the four-step preparation. At the end of the nearly 80-hour preparation the ‘trainers’ demonstrated their knowledge and skills in a theoretical and a practical exam.

The preparation will end by the time the 2010 IRON WILL close combat camp begins, thus all those who pass the exam will get a licence to teach the techniques of military close combat and hand-to-hand combat at their respective units, and the instructors and trainers will also be selected from them.

As regards competitions, this year has been productive for the reconnaissance troops: they were among the first three in several sports events.