Second-year cadets undergo winter training

The winter training programme for second-year cadets of the General Milan Rastislav Štefánik Armed Forces Academy (AOS) Liptovský Mikuláš took place on Kamenica nad Cirochou Training Area, located at Humenné, from Monday to Friday (10-14 February 2020). 77 SVK cadets have been joined by 10 CZE cadets of the University of Defence Brno.

Cpt Michal Frič, officer in charge of the second-year cadets, said: “We began the training with a tactical march across a dangerous zone and a movement to contact drill on Monday. Defensive and offensive tactics are scheduled on Tuesday, firing pistols and submachine guns while on the move will be on Wednesday, defensive and offensive tactics are up again on Thursday, and a control exercise will await all cadets on Friday.”

Col Ľubomír Matta, AOS Deputy Commandant for Military Affairs, said: “I am very pleased that over the past three years we have managed to move winter training for first- and second-year cadets from around the Academy to a real training area. So, it is no longer only about marches across the meadows around the Academy but, so to say, live training led by experienced instructors.” He then praised the cooperation with the armed forces for making available three fully crewed infantry fighting vehicles from the 22nd Mechanised Battalion Michalovce. “Recently, we have tried to reinforce the military profile of our graduates and the more similar exercises they undergo over the course of the study programme the better prepared they will be once they are posted to individual units,” he added.

Pte Martin Hancko, second-year cadet specialising in signals, said: “Ever since I was a little boy the military uniform has always been a challenge for me and this type of exercises is, metaphorically speaking, the best spice of our study programme.” On completion of the 5-year cadet programme, Pte Hancko is interested in serving with the Armed Forces as an IT specialist.

Cpl Marie Daňková, cadet of the University of Defence Brno, said smilingly: “For me, this is the first international military experience and it is great to familiarise myself with this type of training as well as with all types of winter weather.” She went on to explain that the first two days of the week-long training were marked by freezing rain, high winds, and heavy snowfalls before finally the sun showed up again.