Taking up an international challenge

This unique international cadet patrol competition in Central Europe is organized every year at the HDF Recreation, Training and Conference Centre, concurrently with the finals of the NMTC. This year, 11 teams, among them, respectively, two Hungarian, British, Serbian and Czech as well as one Polish, one Romanian and one Austrian team entered the international trial of strength. They are competing along the same seven obstacles that the county-level winners of the NMTC did, who have qualified themselves into the finals from the autumn rounds. The objectives of the competition are to increase the secondary school students’ performance and to convey the values of national defence.

“One cannot successfully function without physical and mental well-being. Neither in everyday life nor in the military vocation” – said Lieutenant General Mihócza in referring to the shared values of sports and national defence. “It is the competitions that refine our knowledge, sharpen our minds and develop our skills. Teamwork, cooperation, discipline and the respect for rules are basic principles in all walks of life. Competitions like this also teach us that we are incomplete alone.”

From ancient through medieval times, tournaments and war games were occasions for warriors to demonstrate their aptitude in peacetime, noted the lieutenant colonel in recalling the historical antecedents of military tournaments. Today, these competitions are conducted in a similar spirit, although within modern frameworks – he added, and called the progress and the road leading to the Balatonakarattya start line more important than the final placing.

Orientation run in a matrix labyrinth, administering first aid, relay run with laser shooting, obstacle course, shooting combined with small ball throw, relay run with weapons, as well as map reading and land navigation, distance ranging and drone handling – these were the tasks awaiting the four-member teams at the HDF Recreation, Training and Conference Center in Balatonakarattya.

“It gives us special pleasure to see that the competition still has a prestigious place on the international scene. This indicates that the values we represent, that is, the dedication to national defence, the love of sports and the power of community are valid even across borders” – said the Deputy Chief (Territorial Defence) of the HDF Defence Staff, and went on thanking the organizers and the preparatory teachers.

On Monday, the teams participated in calisthenics workout, to be followed by a two-day competition. The opening ceremony was attended, among others, by Colonel András Polyák, Deputy Commander, HDF Territorial Defence and Military Augmentation Command, Colonel Dr. Zoltán Eleki, Deputy Chief, Training Directorate, HDF Defence Staff and László Farkas, the acting vice-chairman of the Budapest Honvéd Sports Association.