Tactical battalion-level exercise dubbed Slovak Rifles is underway at Lešť

A tactical battalion-level exercise dubbed Slovak Rifles, involving 13th Mechanised Battalion Group, which had to be put off from June until August is now underway from 10 August to 4 September 2020 at the Training Centre Lešť. The exercise was scheduled to take place in June, however, had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commander of 13th Mechanised Battalion Levice Lt Col Richard Király said: “Exercise Slovak Rifles is the culmination of the Battalion′s and the other Group units′ two-year preparation period. It will serve as a true mirror and show where we are on planning, command and control, and practical training.”

During the first weeks of August, a large focus of the involved commanders was on integrating the Group′s elements. Built around 13th Mechanised Battalion Levice, 13th Mechanised Battalion Group is also composed of a platoon from Engineer Battalion Sereď, an IGLA platoon from Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade Nitra, a CBRN platoon from CBRN Battalion Rožňava, elements of Deployable CIS Base Ružomberok, a tactical CIMIC and PSYOPS team from Martin, a HUMINT unit from ISTAR Battalion Prešov, an artillery platoon from Self-propelled Artillery Battalion Michalovce, and a logistical platoon from Combat Service Support Brigade Trenčín.

A command post exercise was held in early August, meeting the set objectives and confirming the Battalion Group′s readiness for the tactical exercise, while 1st Mechanised Company (13th Mechanised Battalion Levice) concluded its own training with a tactical live-fire exercise. TC Lešť also hosted integration training for all elements of the Battalion Group. According to Battalion Commander Lt Col Richard Király, tactical drills were conducted shortly before the tactical battalion-level exercise. The Battalion Commander praised the work of all company commanders, especially that of Combat Support Service (CSS) Company Commander Cpt Jozef Varchol and his Company Sergeant, MSgt Zoltán Varga.