“I hope that this wonderful sports and defence competition will also be a step towards choosing your future profession, hobby and interests. It is wonderful to develop a sense of patriotism, think about national defence and compete in the spirit of sportsmanship,” said during the ceremonial opening of the rally’s second edition the commander of the “Black Division,” Major General Jarosław Mika. “This year’s rally has a special significance. For the first time in the rally’s history, young people from Ukraine are taking part. I hope that the idea of the rally and this wonderful competition will lead to it becoming even more international, and that young people from other countries will participate in its subsequent editions.”
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of National Defence, Colonel Jerzy Gutowski, deputy director of the Social Communication Department, stressed before the official opening of the rally the cooperation carried out for seven years between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of National Education in supporting initiatives promoting defence-related matters and patriotic education in schools. He also pointed to joint initiatives with non-governmental organisations in this area, highlighting the good cooperation and organisation of the rally by the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Special Company and the 11th Lubusz Armoured Cavalry Division.
“United We Conquer” – united, we will win. May the motto of the 1st Independent Special Company accompany you throughout the rally,” concluded the rally’s inauguration the vice-president of the Commando Association, Bogdan Fiałkowski. After the parade, participants received promotional materials provided by the Ministry of National Defence.
Several days of competition lie ahead for the participants. It will not be a simple test, as in addition to theoretical knowledge they will face a series of fitness events. Until Thursday, students from military uniformed classes will complete various tasks and take part in a range of competitions. One of the task blocks will involve firing long- and short-barrelled air weapons and throwing a grenade.
Another scored stage is the cross-country march. After running an eight-kilometre loop, the 15-person teams will face additional tasks, such as carrying ammunition crates, evacuating a wounded person over a distance of 30 metres and throwing a training grenade. The team’s strength will also be determined by the time achieved while pushing a vehicle. Tired from the run, the competitors will also have to fire air weapons.
Throughout the students’ stay, military equipment from the “Black Division” units will also be presented, including Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2A5 tanks, the KTO Rosomak, the 122-mm WR-40 Langusta rocket launcher and the 152-mm Dana self-propelled howitzer.
At the same time, the rally participants will learn about the traditions and present-day reality of Polish arms, chiefly those of the 11th Lubusz Armoured Cavalry Division.
The final stage of the competition will be a drill and marching-song contest, as well as presentations by students of their schools and regions.
The organiser of the 2nd Central Rally of Military Uniformed Classes is the Association of Former Soldiers of the 62nd Special Company “Commando,” which is carrying out the event as part of a task commissioned by the Ministry of National Defence. The 11th Lubusz Armoured Cavalry Division is the co-organiser of the event.
Capt. Remigiusz Kwieciński/ii