From 13 to 17 March, the training grounds of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade (10BKPanc) hosted the brigade’s combat proficiency competition for reconnaissance teams. Subunits from the reconnaissance company and the 1st and 2nd Tank Battalions took part.
Truly springlike weather welcomed the competitors at the Infantry Combat Shooting Range (SBPiech) on Thursday, 13 March. Clear skies, sunshine and crisp morning air provided almost ideal conditions for the start of the competition.
The teams arriving at the range were welcomed by Captain Zbigniew Rymarz, chairman of the judging committee. He briefly presented the rules of the events to the soldiers and wished everyone success. Lieutenant Marek Ostrykiewicz then familiarized the competitors with the competition regulations, after which the subunits moved to the starting area. The events scheduled for that day were subunit fire control and observation and target indication.
The first involved running 3,000 meters in full gear while detecting and destroying emerging targets. Everything had to be completed in no more than 20 minutes. It is a very exhausting event, requiring great physical endurance and determination from the competitors. As they covered the distance along forest paths, the soldiers had to carry—not only their own equipment, consisting of a helmet, weapon and gas mask—but also a PK machine gun and an ammunition box.
Observation and target indication took place on the fairly flat terrain of the Tactical Exercise Area. The sandy terrain surrounded by forest proved a good place to conceal more than 300 objects of various kinds, located between 400 and 2,000 meters from the observation point. The scouts’ task was not only to find as many targets as possible, but also to measure the distance to them and prepare a sketch and a list of coordinates within no more than 60 minutes.
After the first day of the competition, the reconnaissance company team was leading. The subunits from the 1st and 2nd Tank Battalions followed immediately behind.
On Monday, 17 March, the two remaining events were held. They consisted of precision shooting, which took place at the Infantry Combat Shooting Range, and identifying equipment silhouettes, conducted in the brigade planning room. The final event involved identifying as many equipment silhouettes and weapons components as possible, appearing on slides every 10 seconds. The scouts demonstrated sharpness and powers of observation, while obstacles such as poor-quality photographs or incomplete equipment caused them little difficulty.
The proper conduct of the competition was overseen by a committee consisting of: Captain Zbigniew Rymarz, chairman of the judging committee; Captain Grzegorz Sularz, deputy chairman; Second Lieutenant Marta Miś, secretary; as well as Lieutenant Marek Ostrykiewicz, Second Lieutenant Łukasz Dzięcielski and Second Lieutenant Łukasz Herbet.
The reconnaissance company team commanded by Second Lieutenant Jan Wańczyk proved to be the best in the 10BKPanc reconnaissance teams’ combat proficiency competition. Second place went to the second reconnaissance company team under the command of Second Lieutenant Adrian Karolczuk. They were followed by the team of Second Lieutenant Piotr Kuriata from the 2nd Tank Battalion and the team of Second Lieutenant Łukasz Jędrzejczak from the 1st Tank Battalion.
(information: Katarzyna Przepióra/ii)