Training in Full Swing at Szentendre

Apart from a few days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve that went by without any training, the HDF Central Training Base has been operating continuously. There is no time to rest because there are several ongoing trainings inside the Szentendre barracks and on the training area and shooting range belonging to the compound. “We call it training in full swing" – says Lt-Col. Attila Nagy, the head of the ’János Mecséri’ Training Department of the HDF CTB.

“Firemen, left turn!"

In the company of the field officer, first we are heading to the parade ground of the barracks, where a drill practice is in progress. This time, however, the personnel carrying out the orders ‘Left turn!’, ‘Right turn!’, and ‘About face!’ are wearing the black uniform of firefighters instead of the BDU of the Hungarian Defence Forces. The reason is that the firefighters are regular guests at the Szentendre unit, as the terms of a cooperation agreement signed in 2008 by the Head of the metropolitan fire department and the HDF Chief of Defence allow the new recruits of the Budapest Metropolitan Fire Department to receive essential basic training at the Szentendre military organizations.

Between 10 and 21 January, the noise of the firefighters’ formation drills resounds through the parade ground for two hours every day – says the lieutenant who also tells us that at the ’János Mecséri’ Training Department three NCOs and an officer are responsible for the training of firefighters, which includes formation drills and two hours of PT every day.

“During the training phase, only a very few drop out. Those who want to join the fire department have to pass very demanding physical, medical and psychological tests. The thirty new recruits who began their training in January have been selected from among 600 applicants" – says the captain.

"Firemen! Left turn!" – one of the drill instructor sergeants of the department gives the order. Thirty men make a move, performing the drill they have practiced. LTC Nagy and Capt. Tóth look at each other and nod almost unnoticeably. Apparently, they are satisfied with the result…

Icy wind, marshland, target practice…

When we get out of the UAZ all-terrain vehicle a few kilometers from the base, on the shooting range in Izbég, the weather is really ‘soldierly’. LTC Attila Nagy pulls the hat on his ears because he is also cold, and we are beginning to regret that we have not brought our gloves with us. The cold air currents coming from the hill behind the shooting range are blowing with a strong icy wind that can be felt in the bones when it reaches the soldiers lined up on the firing line of the range. Melting snow has turned the area into a marshland, which makes the troops’ activities more difficult; with each step, we are sinking ankle-deep in the sticky mud that ’makes the guests stay’.

But the training cannot stop, not even in these circumstances because a month ago, the target practice of newly recruited enlisted men attending a 14-week basic training program had already to be postponed due to the weather, which was harsher in December – tells us the lieutenant-colonel. And if they want to keep to the training schedule, the troops must complete the basic assault rifle and pistol practices today. Besides that, they also have to prepare for target practices No 1. and the hand-grenade throwing which are scheduled for tomorrow.

The 115 troops participating in the basic training joined the CTB two months ago, on November 9. Their training will finish on February 18 – says the head of the department while we are walking from one training site to the other on the shooting range. Before commencing the live fire exercise, every soldier has to practice how to assemble and dismantle their rifle and pistol, how to load the magazines and aim their weapons as well as how to calculate the distance and throw their practice hand grenades.

The drill instructors and students of the HDF ‘Pál Kinizsi’ NCO Vocational School also participate in the training program in Szentendre. We meet LTC László Korcsog, the deputy director of the school by the access road leading to the Csobánka training area. Lt-Col. Korcsog tells us that today we can watch the so-called final module exam of regular students attending in a 10-month “OKJ" (National Qualifications Register) day training course, which is often called ‘sergeant training’ as well. This means that at the end of the semester, the 54 would-be NCOs of the Hungarian Defence Forces will have to pass their theoretical and practical exams.

Motivated team on patrol

Today half of the team is taking the practical exam at the training base in Csobánka. They form squads consisting of eight soldiers and go on a patrol which involves executing a number of tasks at eight checkpoints. Just to name a few, they have to engage a small-sized enemy force, advance across a dangerous terrain sector and practice camouflaging.

In the opinion of LTC Korcsog, the team is very motivated. This is understandable since the lucky team members were selected from among 900 applicants to begin the training last September. In the first semester they acquired some basic military skills but from February on they will specialize further so that they can take their ceremonial oath in the summer as NCOs qualified as professional GBAD personnel, signalers, SIGINT specialists, radio system operators, and airframe engine mechanics.

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Photo: Veronika Dévényi