They’ve Received the Baptism of Fire

Szöveg: kormany.hu | 2011. október 23. 16:34

The 10th special combat infantry course is over. Three soldiers – Péter Galambos, András Hellenpát and Attila Kordás – have deserved the privilege of sewing the badge “Rohamlövész” (combat infantryman) onto their BDUs after the closing day of the highest-level infantry training course in the Hungarian Defence Forces.

Out of the 34 troops who arrived on day one, ten have made it through the course and attended the closing event. During the five weeks of training, these ten soldiers altogether have lost 95 kilograms. It is no surprise, since the total of 660 hours on the 33-day training course meant 20 hours of hard work per day… even including the weekends!

In addition to evaluating the physical and mental stamina of the soldiers, the instructors assessed their team-working and leadership skills as well. The trainees were kept under maximum pressure in special circumstances all along. Everyone has learnt their respective strengths and weaknesses. Some were returned to unit (RTU’d), but there were some who said they would try another time to achieve the aim they have set themselves, which is to belong to the little more than 50 elite soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces!

Those who have already completed this course say that the act of sewing the badge on the BDU marks the beginning of a journey. Being a combat infantryman is a way of life, and through this they have to set an example to all comrades. They must show this example in peacetime in Hungary, at their home station as well as in real-world situations on missions abroad, when there is the greatest need for the skills they have acquired on the course!