Training Command – Military Academy

On 2^nd June 2010 a graduation of 34 civilian employees of the NATO commands and agencies who attended a NATO Civilians Pre-deployment Course at Training Command – Military Academy (TC – MA) took place in the Austerlitz Castle. This 16th course was also attended by two Czech civilians who work for NATO agencies.

Course graduates in Austerlitz Castle

From Thursday morning till Sunday noon the participants in the course passed both theoretical and practical training which prepared them for a top course`s exercise – a two-day field exercise. The first day of training they worked independently in small teams and had to solve role situations which were both planned and improvissed and all the participants had to demonstrate what they had learnt. They had to cope with a mine-field, they had to negotiate a transit through a checkpoint among the “local” paramilitary forces as well as deal with a car crash. They also encountered the “locals” affected by the previous conflict. The participants were trained how to prepare a meal afield and were acquainted with other techniques required for a survival such as a practical use of both standard and improvised extinguishers. The trainees and instructors moved to the Cabin Camp at Březina MTEA after the first day of training. The area was designed in a way to resemble an advanced base in Iraq or Afganistan as much as possible. There they got familiar with the rules in the base and also experienced a night mortar attack. The following day afer being divided into two teams, they picked up on the night training and were trained on the fire track how to leave the base in case of emergency. During their movement to another position they were attacked and kidnapped by a militant group. Afterwards they experienced a rescue operation by an allied military troop and were evacuated both on foot and by armoured vehicles and helicopters.

The majority of the participants agreed that they had experienced such a first-rate training for the first time in their career. A former British officer, who did not want to be named, said:
“The thing which surprised me as well as other participants was a high level of professionalism we encounter here. I think I know how to judge and distinguish quality. I noticed that your training involves also current knowledge from operations, which is extremely important. We want to thank the Command of the Vyškov base and, namely MAJ Adamec, Course Commander and ISAF Operation ex-serviceman, and all his crew.”

A handover of the certificates was another great experience for the foreign graduates. The graduation ceremony was attended by COL Josef Kopecký, TC – MA Chief of Staff, and took place in the Theatre Hall of the Austerlitz Castle. On the 2^nd June 2010 many of them were leaving the Czech Republic convinced that they would find an opportunity to come back to our country and know it better.

Kidnappers were harsh to their captivesTeamwork is vitalCOL Kopecký (left) congratulates the graduates

Text: Capt Pavel Kočvara, TC – MA Press and Information Officer
Photo: Hana Jurčová