Mountains, snow and extreme conditions – an ideal environment for training soldiers who must be prepared for any situation. That is why every winter the Krkonoše Mountains become the venue for special courses where members of the 7th Mechanised Brigade learn how to effectively move, survive, and fight in mountain terrain.

The individual courses cover a wide range of skills, including avalanche awareness, terrain navigation, movement in the mountain environment, basic tactical training in the mountains and transportation using various means of transport, including improvised ones. Soldiers learn not only the theoretical basics, but also the practical skills necessary to survive and function effectively in a mountain environment. The courses are divided into basic, advanced and instructor courses. The improvement course focuses on independence and builds on the foundation from the basic course.

The units train from December to the end of April, this is mainly due to the fact that in the Czech Republic we have a very short winter, but even so, in our highest mountains there is an oceanic climate, thanks to the Scandinavian current, which is very demanding in terms of model situations on any PSaL topic, the conditions for training in terms of weather are very variable and extreme.

"Skialp skis are a key tool for us. They allow us to move quickly, no matter how difficult the terrain is," explains Sgt. Petr Stach, senior special training instructor of the 73rd Tank Battalion. Together with Lieutenant David Absolon of the 72nd Mechanised Battalion Přáslavice, he leads teams of instructors who pass on their experience to other soldiers.

Moving in deep snow and avalanche prevention

Soldiers in the courses learn to ski in difficult terrain, but also to correctly assess avalanche danger. Special snow stability tests and snow profile analysis are used for this purpose. The biggest challenge of moving around on alpine skis is usually the exposure, both how exposed the slope is and the condition of the snowpack. "Every step in the mountains has to be well thought out. An avalanche can break loose even with a seemingly safe move," warns Lt. Absolon.

Rescuing the stranded and bivouacking in the cold

One of the most important tasks is the rapid rescue of persons buried by an avalanche. Soldiers train with avalanche searchers, snow probes and quick digging techniques. Time is of the essence in such a situation. Every minute determines survival. During this exercise, they also shower each other with snow, which helps them to better understand its power and at the same time to realize the psychological demands of such a situation.

Rescuing people is also one of the frequent unexpected situations, whether it is rescuing people who overestimated their strength or those who lost their bearings and were lucky that the soldiers were nearby. At such times, human life always takes precedence over training.

But it's not just avalanches - soldiers learn to survive in extreme conditions. Bivouacking in the cold, building emergency shelters and ensuring thermal comfort are among the basic skills. The most commonly used snow cave in this training is the snow cave, which provides small units with protection from adverse weather conditions with a reasonable effort to build it. "In the field, we have to rely on ourselves and our team. When a snow storm comes, there is no room for error," notes Petr Stach.

Modern technology in the snow

In addition to skis, soldiers also use helicopters, snowmobiles and snowmobiles during their movements. These vehicles enable the rapid transport of troops and material, even in hard-to-reach areas. When moving by helicopter, it is crucial to be able to communicate with the pilot using signals and to know the conditions for landing, approaching and hovering. Every instructor must master these skills to ensure safe unit transport.

"Moves in the snow are specific and require different planning and logistics. Every resource has its limits and we need to know them well," said Lt. David Absolon.

Prepared for every situation

Winter training in the Krkonoše Mountains is demanding, but it gives the soldiers of the 7th Mechanised Brigade invaluable experience. "Our goal is for the soldiers to be able to move in the mountains with the same confidence as in the lowlands. Whether it's movement, combat operations or rescue operations, they have to be ready for anything," said Sgt Petr Stach.

Thanks to the combination of a top instructor team, modern equipment and cooperation with experts, the 7th Mechanised Brigade ranks among the best units of the Czech Armed Forces in mountain training. And while the snow is melting in the Krkonoše Mountains, the soldiers are already preparing for the next winter season, because in the army you never stop learning.

Our instructors work closely with the administration of the Krkonoše National Park, the Mountain Service and other experts in this field, such as Radoslav Groh, a ski mountaineer, climber and cross-country skier who focuses on first ascents. He gives the soldiers his experience, experiences and feelings from expeditions. In this way, he brings interesting knowledge into the theoretical part of the course, which concerns survival in extreme conditions and can inspire soldiers how to behave in certain situations, how to manage water and food, how to properly equip and prepare for extreme conditions they might encounter.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the KRNAP administration, which allows us to train in the Krkonoše National Park in these exceptional and unique cases, when the Czech Armed Forces train their soldiers to be able to intervene anywhere and at any time. Soldiers are always instructed on the rules of movement in protected areas prior to training and observing the principles of nature protection is a matter of course during training," concludes Sergeant Petr Stach.