Basic Skills Development Week at the Multinational Division Headquarters

Maintaining and developing basic military skills, as well as the knowledge of soldiers is paramount in sustaining the combat readiness level of military units.

The Basic Skills Development Week was opened by CSM Mario Mateljic, Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the headquarters, who was in charge of organizing the event. In his speech, he expounded the goals of the week's activities and the order of sessions. As highlighted, theoretical lessons form the basis of the practical and modular training events.

With the help of guest speakers from the Hungarian Defence Forces Medical Centre, the staff repeated their medical knowledge, starting with the academic level and then in practice: reanimation, battlefield first aid and treatment of various injuries.

Taking into consideration the specifics of the sending nations’ equipment, the staff conducted weapon handling sessions with their own authorized weapons, putting special emphasis on how the CZ BREN 2 assault rifle and the P9RC pistol, as well as the VHS-K2 assault rifle and HS2000 pistol operate.

During the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defence lessons, the soldiers received a lecture on the dangers of CBRN weapons and the possible defence posture against them, then practiced the use of personal protective equipment, especially gas masks.

In a presentation on Improvised Explosive Device (IED), with many practical examples, not only the devices’ features, but also options for actions on such an attack was explained. Participants were able to learn useful information about the types of mines, unexploded ordnance, their hazards, and the basic procedures for locating a mine or following a possible explosion, meanwhile the rules for radio trafficking and related regulations belonging to the Communications and Information System, were also reiterated by the audience.

The personnel reported on the knowledge, gained and refreshed, in the form of a written test at the end of the preparation. According to the soldiers’ opinions, the medical training session was considered as the most valuable part of the week, since what was learned could be life-saving not only during missions or on the battlefield, but also in everyday life.