How does Alpha Warrior training benefit Airmen. What are the key components of the Alpha Warrior obstacle course. Why is this program gaining popularity in the Air Force.
The Evolution of Air Force Fitness: Introducing Alpha Warrior
The United States Air Force has long prioritized the physical fitness of its personnel, recognizing that a well-conditioned force is crucial for mission readiness. In recent years, the Air Force has embraced an innovative approach to fitness training known as Alpha Warrior. This program represents a significant evolution in military fitness, combining elements of obstacle course racing, functional fitness, and mental toughness training.
What Is Alpha Warrior Training?
Alpha Warrior is a state-of-the-art obstacle course specifically designed to test every aspect of an Airman’s physical and mental capabilities. The program goes beyond traditional military fitness tests by incorporating a wide range of challenges that simulate real-world scenarios and push participants to their limits.
Key Components of Alpha Warrior Obstacles
- Climbing walls and ropes
- Gymnastic rings
- Balance beams
- Weightlifting stations
- Agility tests
- Endurance challenges
These obstacles are carefully crafted to assess and improve various aspects of fitness, including muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and coordination. The diverse nature of the course ensures that participants develop a well-rounded fitness profile.
The Benefits of Alpha Warrior for Airmen
Alpha Warrior training offers numerous advantages for Air Force personnel, extending far beyond physical fitness alone. By engaging in this comprehensive program, Airmen can experience improvements in various areas crucial to their military service and overall well-being.
Physical Fitness Enhancements
The program targets multiple fitness components simultaneously, leading to improvements in:
- Muscular strength and endurance
- Cardiovascular fitness
- Flexibility and mobility
- Balance and coordination
- Overall body composition
Mental Resilience and Problem-Solving Skills
Alpha Warrior challenges participants to think critically under pressure, enhancing their ability to:
- Overcome obstacles in high-stress situations
- Develop strategic thinking skills
- Improve decision-making abilities
- Build mental toughness and perseverance
Team Building and Camaraderie
While individual performance is important, Alpha Warrior also fosters a sense of unity among Airmen by:
- Encouraging teamwork and mutual support
- Creating shared experiences and challenges
- Promoting friendly competition and motivation
Implementing Alpha Warrior Across Air Force Bases
The Air Force has been gradually introducing Alpha Warrior training facilities at bases worldwide. This initiative aims to provide Airmen with access to cutting-edge fitness equipment and training methodologies, regardless of their location.
Base-Specific Adaptations
Each Air Force base may tailor its Alpha Warrior program to suit local needs and resources. Some bases have constructed permanent outdoor courses, while others have integrated modular equipment into existing fitness centers. This flexibility allows for widespread implementation while accommodating base-specific constraints.
Training and Certification Programs
To ensure the effective use of Alpha Warrior facilities, the Air Force has developed comprehensive training programs for fitness instructors and participants. These programs cover:
- Proper technique for navigating obstacles
- Safety protocols and injury prevention
- Progressive training methodologies
- Performance assessment and improvement strategies
Alpha Warrior Competitions: Fostering Excellence and Esprit de Corps
The Air Force has embraced the competitive aspect of Alpha Warrior training by organizing annual events that pit the best performers against one another. These competitions serve multiple purposes within the Air Force community.
Structure of Alpha Warrior Competitions
Alpha Warrior competitions typically follow a tiered structure:
- Base-level qualifiers
- Regional championships
- Air Force-wide finals
- Inter-service battles (involving Army and Navy teams)
This structure allows for broad participation while identifying top performers who can represent the Air Force at the highest levels of competition.
Impact on Morale and Motivation
Alpha Warrior competitions have a positive impact on Air Force personnel by:
- Providing a goal-oriented focus for fitness training
- Recognizing and rewarding exceptional physical performance
- Inspiring others to improve their fitness levels
- Generating excitement and pride within the Air Force community
The Future of Alpha Warrior in the Air Force
As the Alpha Warrior program continues to evolve, the Air Force is exploring ways to further integrate this training methodology into its overall fitness and readiness strategies. Several initiatives are being considered or implemented to enhance the program’s effectiveness and reach.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Integration
The Air Force is investigating the potential of VR and AR technologies to supplement physical Alpha Warrior training. These technologies could offer:
- Simulated course navigation for mental preparation
- Performance analysis and feedback tools
- Remote training options for Airmen in deployed locations
Customized Training Programs
Future iterations of the Alpha Warrior program may include more personalized training regimens tailored to individual Airmen’s needs and goals. This could involve:
- AI-driven performance tracking and improvement suggestions
- Adaptive difficulty levels based on progress
- Specialized training modules for different Air Force career fields
Alpha Warrior’s Impact on Overall Air Force Readiness
The implementation of Alpha Warrior training has had a measurable impact on the overall readiness of Air Force personnel. By challenging Airmen to push their physical and mental limits, the program contributes to a more resilient and capable force.
Improved Physical Fitness Scores
Many bases have reported improvements in traditional Air Force fitness test scores among Airmen who regularly participate in Alpha Warrior training. This suggests that the program’s comprehensive approach to fitness translates well to standardized assessments.
Enhanced Job Performance
The skills developed through Alpha Warrior training often carry over into job-specific tasks. Airmen have reported improvements in:
- Physical endurance during long shifts
- Ability to perform under pressure
- Quick thinking and problem-solving in operational settings
- Overall confidence in their physical capabilities
Reduced Injury Rates
By focusing on functional movements and overall body strength, Alpha Warrior training has contributed to a decrease in training-related injuries at some bases. This reduction in injuries translates to:
- Fewer lost workdays due to physical rehabilitation
- Increased overall unit readiness
- Lower medical costs for the Air Force
Expanding Alpha Warrior Beyond the Air Force
The success of the Alpha Warrior program in the Air Force has not gone unnoticed by other branches of the military and civilian organizations. There is growing interest in adapting the Alpha Warrior concept for various applications outside of its original Air Force context.
Inter-Service Adoption
Other military branches, including the Army and Navy, have begun to explore Alpha Warrior-style training for their personnel. This cross-service adoption has led to:
- Joint training exercises and competitions
- Sharing of best practices and training methodologies
- Increased standardization of functional fitness across the armed forces
Civilian Applications
The principles behind Alpha Warrior training have potential applications in civilian fitness and occupational settings, such as:
- Law enforcement and firefighter training programs
- Corporate team-building and wellness initiatives
- Extreme sports and obstacle course racing events
- Physical education curricula in schools and universities
As the program continues to gain recognition, it’s likely that we’ll see more adaptations of Alpha Warrior concepts in various sectors of society.
Overcoming Challenges in Alpha Warrior Implementation
While the Alpha Warrior program has been largely successful, its implementation has not been without challenges. The Air Force has had to address several issues to ensure the program’s effectiveness and sustainability.
Resource Allocation
One of the primary challenges has been the allocation of resources for Alpha Warrior facilities and equipment. To address this, the Air Force has:
- Prioritized bases for phased implementation
- Explored partnerships with civilian fitness companies
- Developed modular obstacle designs for easier installation and relocation
Injury Prevention and Risk Management
Given the intensive nature of Alpha Warrior training, injury prevention has been a key focus. The Air Force has implemented several measures to mitigate risks:
- Comprehensive safety training for all participants
- Regular equipment inspections and maintenance
- Gradual progression systems for new participants
- On-site medical support during training and competitions
Integration with Existing Fitness Programs
Balancing Alpha Warrior training with traditional Air Force fitness requirements has required careful planning. Strategies have included:
- Aligning Alpha Warrior performance metrics with standard fitness test criteria
- Creating hybrid training programs that incorporate both traditional and Alpha Warrior elements
- Offering Alpha Warrior as a supplementary rather than mandatory program in some cases
The Role of Technology in Alpha Warrior Training
As the Alpha Warrior program evolves, technology plays an increasingly important role in enhancing training effectiveness and participant engagement. The Air Force is leveraging various technological advancements to improve the program.
Wearable Fitness Trackers
The integration of wearable fitness technology allows for more precise tracking of Airmen’s performance and progress. These devices provide:
- Real-time heart rate and exertion data
- Detailed metrics on obstacle completion times
- Long-term progress tracking for individual Airmen
Mobile Applications
Custom mobile apps are being developed to support Alpha Warrior training, offering features such as:
- Training schedules and workout plans
- Technique tutorials and safety information
- Performance leaderboards and social sharing capabilities
- Nutrition tracking and advice
Data Analytics
Advanced data analytics tools are being employed to gain insights from Alpha Warrior training data, helping to:
- Identify trends in performance across different Air Force demographics
- Optimize training programs based on data-driven insights
- Predict and prevent potential injuries through pattern recognition
By embracing these technological advancements, the Air Force aims to continually refine and improve the Alpha Warrior program, ensuring it remains at the cutting edge of military fitness training.
DVIDS – Images – Dyess Airmen complete Alpha Warrior training [Image 5 of 8]
Staff Sgt. Leigh Ann Kemerer, 7th Bomb Wing safety occupational safety technician, swings across the devil’s ladder during an Alpha Warrior training workout at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, May 1, 2019. The Air Force Alpha Warrior is a state-of-the-art obstacle course specifically designed to test every aspect of ability, muscle strength, mental fortitude and the body’s endurance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. David Owsianka)
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05. 02.2019 12:06 |
| Photo ID: | 5316611 |
| VIRIN: | 190501-F-CB366-1076 |
| Resolution: | 3624×4917 |
| Size: | 4.16 MB |
| Location: | DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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Airmen ‘battle’ in Alpha Warrior final; team set for inter-service showdown > Air University (AU) > Air University News
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) —
Twelve Airmen battled it out in a showdown of strength, grit and determination during the third annual Air Force Alpha Warrior Final Battle, Sept.
12, at Retama Park, Selma, Texas.
After racing through 32 obstacles and fitness tests that included climbing, pull-ups, gymnastic rings, running, jumping, and weight-lifting challenges, Capt. Noah Palicia, from Yokota Air Base, Japan, and 2nd Lt. Arielle Miller, Edwards Air Force Base, California, posted the fastest times to earn first place.
The fastest three male and female finishers will represent the Air Force against Army and Navy teams in the second annual Inter-Service Alpha Warrior Battle, Sept. 14.
First place
Men: Capt. Noah Palicia, Yokota AB, Japan: 18:39
Women: 2nd Lt. Arielle Miller, Edwards AFB, California: 22:39
Second place
Men: 2nd Lt. Rhett Spongberg, Laughlin AFB, Texas: 21:32
Women: 2nd Lt. Michelle Strickland, Columbus AFB, Mississippi: 23:42
Third place
Men: Staff Sgt. Seth Golloway, Hurlburt Field, Florida: 24:45
Women: 2nd Lt. MaryCaitlin Dominguez, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia: 26:23
The event was an opportunity to showcase the Air Force’s “ultimate warriors” and the Airmen’s commitment to total health, said Maj.
Gen. Tom Wilcox, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center commander and host for the event.
“Today’s about (the competitors) and ultimate fitness. You can’t come out here just being a runner; you can’t come out here just being a weightlifter and succeed,” he said “It’s all about the core, muscular fitness and nutrition. It’s the ultimate warrior who can come out here, think through it, put it all together, all those pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness – spiritual, mental, social and physical. That makes us the best military in the world.”
Miller echoed the general’s comments, saying she was happy for the opportunity to compete with her peers and demonstrate those CAF pillars.
“Being here with my fellow Airmen who are like minded — same goals, same drive, same passion on the same level — it’s been wonderful,” she said. “To make these connections to be able to compete with them, motivate each other and just be able to say ‘hey, here’s this obstacle, we’re overcoming it together,’ it’s amazing.
“
For Palicia, a two-time champion, this year was a lot more challenging than last year.
“This year has been a lot more challenging … a very strenuous qualification process to get here. The people who are here are very, very good athletes. So it was always in the back of my mind today to just keep pushing, because they are right behind me,” he said. “And the course — don’t even get me started — it was the most difficult thing you could do, hands down.”
Launched by the Air Force Services Center in 2017, the Air Force Alpha Warrior program has delivered and installed state-of-the-art fitness apparatus called battle rigs and stations at more than 70 Air Force installations. The multi-station devices strengthen functional fitness, promote ready and resilient Airmen and families, and build morale and camaraderie as units exercise together and encourage each other to complete fitness challenges.
Airmen aren’t just running or lifting weights; they’re building on their overall fitness to become more resilient and fit to fight, Wilcox said.
“No matter what, we’re the best Army, we’re the best Navy and we’re the best Air Force. We’re unmatched because of you,” he said.
The final battle was the culmination of smaller Air Force installation, regional and super regional competitions that began in May. Airmen with the overall fastest times at the super regional events — six men and six women — advanced to today’s larger, more difficult final battle.
With the program in its third year, this year’s crop of athletes was impressive, said Jim Anderson, AFSVC recreation and business branch chief and Alpha Warrior program manager.
“Without a doubt, this year’s athletes are primed. Any one of these athletes could blow away this course,” he said.
Later in the day, Army and Navy athletes competed for a spot on their services’ teams for inter-service championship Sept.14. The Air Force team won last year’s inaugural event but organizers expect competition to be fierce.
“The Army and the Navy are little more prepared this year so it is going to be a tight race,” Anderson said.
Visit the Air Force Alpha Warrior program’s website for more information.
Alpha Warrior 12-Week Fitness Challenge Workouts
ALPHA WARRIOR® 12-week Fitness Challenge
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No purchase is necessary for participation in the Fit Family Challenge Home Edition. Attendance at all virtual fitness classes is free of charge. The odds of winning the $1,000 grand prize are dependent on the number of participants. San Antonio Sports Foundation reserves the right to cancel, suspend or modify the Fit Family Challenge Home Edition if any problem prevents the program from running as planned. Participants agree to release and hold San Antonio Sports Foundation harmless from and against any claim associated with the Fit Family Challenge Home Edition. San Antonio Sports Foundation is not responsible for and cannot be held liable for any technical errors or other unexpected occurrences that prevent the Fit Family Challenge Home Edition from running as planned. San Antonio Sports Foundation reserves the right to substitute any prize with another prize of equal or greater value if the advertised prize is not available.
The last warrior of Africa’s ‘Forgotten Army’: Gambia and WWII
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Brikama, The Gambia – On an early November morning, 102-year-old Ebou Janha rests a pair of pliers next to his jeweller’s anvil and collects his breath before demonstrating how he gunned down Japanese soldiers for the British Empire, 77 years ago.
Speaking in the small white-walled workshop he built in the 1950s when The Gambia was still a British colony, Janha manages five or so Wolof words at a time while his daughter, 55-year-old Mamtutti, translates.
His memory flickers into action as he recalls how, in 1941 when he was 22 years old, he was captured by village elders and sent off to fight against an enemy he had never heard of before.
During World War II, the recruitment of Gambian soldiers was often enforced via a quota system with the 36 local chiefs pressured to supply Britain with 48 servicemen each every month – a number that increased to 75 in March 1943.
British officials also conducted round-ups of unemployed men in the capital, Bathurst (now Banjul), to enlist them into military service. While some soldiers chose to fight, such as the men from Balangar – a village steeped in martial tradition where 35 friends signed up to fight on the same day in 1941 – many others were forced to.
When British army recruiters called for volunteers to sign up, Ebou Janha had little interest in war or the martial culture of his ancestors.
He was born the son of a jeweller in Bathurst and had become his father’s silversmith apprentice. He also joined his family in yearly seasonal migrations “upcountry” to their ancestral village of Bwiam, where he harvested groundnuts to be sold in Bathurst with the profits ploughed back into the family’s jewellery business.
Janha works in his workshop in Brikama [Muhamadou Mughtarr Bittaye/Al Jazeera]
But Janha’s wishes counted for little. During one of his seasonal migrations to Bwaim, he was chosen by his chief for his stocky frame and stubbornness; destined to become one of the few from the village to fight.
With ropes tied around him to prevent his escape, he was given days to compose himself and accept his fate.
The young jeweller became one of 4,450 recruits split between two regiments: 2 Gambia Regiment, which stayed in The Gambia to defend home soil; and 1 Gambia Regiment – 1,350 men including Janha who were given training in jungle warfare, before the Royal Navy put them on boats to war in Burma, (modern-day Myanmar), which had been part of British India, in January 1944.
Founded in 1901, The Gambia regiment existed until 1958. Its men fought in both world wars, but Janha is the last surviving member of the regiment to have fought in Burma.
Each day hundreds of people walk or drive past his shop in the sprawling town of Brikama, cars beeping their horns and kicking up the dry-season sand just a foot from the door, unaware that a World War II veteran works inside, carving out silver-coated earrings, bracelets and rings.
Preparation and protection
In 1942, after Janha and the rest of the recruits had finished their basic training, they were given eight weeks to “prepare their bodies”, an ancient code meaning to gather their possessions, prepare their wills and begin a “juju” pact with the spirits.
Followers of the ancient West African belief system sacrifice a goat or a calf and offer a shilling to the marabou or medium in exchange for protection or blessings. During World War II, Gambian soldiers often carried elaborate juju amulets on their belts.
Following jungle training in The Gambia and Nigeria, the 81 West Africa Division’s 6 Brigade – which included Janha’s battalion from the 1 Gambia Regiment as well as battalions from Nigeria and Sierra Leone – set sail from Nigeria on July 10. They arrived in Bombay, now known as Mumbai, India on August 14, 1943.
Troops leaving Nigeria to travel to Burma in 1943 [Courtesy of the Gambian National Archives]
Six months of training followed, before 6 Brigade travelled to Burma, making an amphibious landing as Royal Navy guns blasted Japanese positions in the distance.
“The firing started on the ship. Heavy fire! It continued until we landed and everybody rushed into the bush,” Janha explains, becoming animated as he remembers his first taste of war.
The sleeves of his delicate white tunic flutter as he mimics the Royal Navy’s big guns launching their shells.
“Private Amadou, Private Banta and Sergeant Njie,” he says, reeling off the names of his closest friends. “The three of us together.”
They formed part of a force historians would later call ‘The Forgotten Army’ on account of how their operations in the Burma Campaign were overlooked by Fleet Street and the rest of the contemporary press.
The Forgotten Army
Officially called the United Kingdom’s Fourteenth Army, the Forgotten Army was formed in 1943 to fight the Japanese in Burma. It was made up of 13 infantry divisions with nearly a million men by late 1944, drawn from two West African Divisions, one East African Division, eight Indian Divisions and two British ones.
The two West African Divisions included emigre Polish officers who had escaped to Britain when Nazi Germany occupied Poland. As many of the Poles could not speak English, they communicated with the West African soldiers in pidgin English, which had been used as a trade language in West Africa for more than 200 years.
The 1 Gambia Regiment company after returning from Burma in 1946 [Courtesy of the Gambian National Archives]
After a hurried beach landing and with his bayonet fixed, Janha was soon hacking his way through the dense undergrowth, heading for the steep, verdant summits where he and his comrades would engage Japan’s formidable 55th Division. It was this Division that had smashed China’s own 55th Division as it conquered Burma and drove British troops out in 1942.
The terrain in the isolated Arakan region of western Burma was inaccessible and harsh, but for the next two years, it would become home to more than a thousand Gambian soldiers.
In the early days of the campaign, the enemy looked like little birds at the top of those tall hills, says Janha, describing how the Japanese and African soldiers jabbed and slipped like two prizefighters trying to get a feel for each other’s power in the opening rounds; both aware they were in for a long fight.
Just three days after landing on January 22, the West African troops had to cross the Kaladan River – which traverses mountain passes before snaking down to the rice paddies below – to get at the Japanese, who were well dug in inland and out of range of heavy artillery.
But soon after crossing the river, three members of the 1 Gambia Regiment were killed in an ambush. Janha found himself stealthily crawling along the ground, cutting his way through shrub and thicket, making sure his amulets stayed tied to his belt.
Gambian soldiers cross the Kaladan River in January 1944 [Courtesy of Kachikally Museum]
“You will meet the Japanese standing and you would not know whether this person was a human or not, because of the masks they used, and the traps they made, but they used to say of us when we captured them, ‘Gambians, small but hot,’ because we used jujus and they couldn’t take many of us,” Janha recalled as a regular customer entered his shop, looking to get a signet ring adjusted and joking about how the “old man” still refused to use a smartphone.
Enemies on all sides
Janha fought for two years in the jungles and on the hilltops of Burma.
There were exceptional acts of bravery and stoic acts of resistance as 6 Brigade defended strategically important locations against often relentless enemy fire.
But that did not stop many of its members wondering how they had got there, then later, when they returned home, questioning why their exploits had been ignored.
When German leader Adolf Hitler went on a blitzkrieg to Paris in 1940, causing the French to surrender and the establishment of the puppet Vichy regime, the British colony of The Gambia had found itself surrounded by enemies on all sides. French West Africa – a federation of eight French colonial territories which are now Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Benin and Niger – was suddenly at war with the UK and its colonies.
The tiny sliver of land on the lush banks of the River Gambia had served Britain’s interests during the transatlantic slave trade. And afterwards, when Britain colonised the country, many years of bountiful groundnut harvests had yielded profits that were siphoned off into governing the UK’s priorities along the coast in Sierra Leone.
A mix of West African troops on leave in 1945 after the war, waiting to travel home [Courtesy of the Gambian National Archives]
Yet The Gambia remained a colony Britain did not know what to do with and had little interest in developing.
A succession of British governments had used the territory as a bargaining chip, hoping the French would trade Guinea – or another of its colonies in the region – for their smallest colony in Africa.
But now, with Britain at war, The Gambia was an important asset in danger of invasion. When the British took the fight to the pro-German Vichy French administration at The Battle of Dakar in September 1940, two British battleships and two cruisers were damaged.
The loss made Britain increasingly aware that Bathurst was of naval importance and so the Royal Air Force built three bases in 1941 from which their Hurricane fighter planes could dominate the region’s skies.
But as these defences were being built, Britain’s army was licking its wounds thousands of miles away as Japan captured Hong Kong, Malaya (now called Malaysia), Singapore, and Burma. Soldiers from the British colonies in Africa would now be needed to help stem that tide, and block Japan’s advance into India.
‘Thank God I’m alive’
The first months of fighting went badly for the Gambians. The jungle was thicker than anything the men had experienced before and dozens were struck down by snake bites, booby traps and malaria.
“Our men weren’t very well prepared for the jungle involved,” says historian Hassoum Ceesay, surrounded by books in his study at the Gambia National Museum, where he is the curator.
“Remember these are mostly village chaps or men from the savannah. Yet perhaps the British thought, well, ‘these are Africans and they are used to the bush,’ calculating they were used to being in jungles, being around snakes, spiders and eating wild fruit. ‘So let’s send them into the jungle’. It’s not surprising that initially, these Gambian soldiers had this ecological fright, and needed a moral regrouping.”
Members of 1 Gambia Regiment in Burma in 1944/45 [Courtesy of the Gambian National Archives]
The majority of the 127 Gambian soldiers who died in Burma were killed during the torrid months of February to April 1944; a chapter defined by merciless treks deep into the jungle as blood-sucking leeches attached themselves to their exposed skin and concealed enemy fighters lay waiting to ambush them.
On February 12, Janha’s D company suffered nine losses with almost 30 wounded as they besieged Kaladan village. The Japanese were waiting for them with a machine gun the Gambians nicknamed “Kaladan Sam”. Its rounds tore through flesh at ease, creating exit wounds the size of mangos. The regiment was forced to retreat.
One week later they crouched on the flank of the 4th Nigerian regiment as they charged up Pagoda Hill – a landmark that gave its occupier the advantage of a prime view over the Kaladan River. The Nigerians destroyed the Japanese position.
Then, on March 1, 1 Gambia Regiment was given orders to defend Pagoda Hill “at all costs”, but when the Japanese initiated their counterattack the Gambians were outflanked, overrun and forced to retreat north with the rest of the 81st West Africa Division. They were pursued by the Japanese for more than a week.
The capitulation on Pagoda Hill was Private Janha’s and the regiment’s nadir in Burma. Twelve Gambians were killed, another 30 were wounded, and 21 went missing, “presumed captured, mutilated and executed by the Japanese,” says Ceesay, as he reads from an archive.
Ebou Janha shows the scars he suffered from a grenade explosion in Burma in 1944 [Muhamadou Mughtarr Bittaye/Al Jazeera]
When Al Jazeera asked Private Ebou Janha about the retreat from the hill, he lifted his shirt to reveal clusters of scar tissue running from his chest to his waist. With four other members of his unit, he had fallen into a deep booby trap the Japanese had set, hoping to impale the Gambian soldiers as they fled. Before they could escape it, a Japanese soldier threw a grenade in.
“The grenade was powerful! It made me like this. My eardrums were burst. But thank God I’m alive,” Janha says, recalling how he managed to control the urge to scream in pain as he burned and then to climb out of the trap as his four friends lay dead inside it.
More than 10 men from D Company 1 Gambia Regiment were left behind Japanese lines on Pagoda Hill. It took three weeks for most to find their way back to the battalion.
Acts of heroism
The Gambian soldiers were continually forced to retreat and a nasty cholera outbreak ripped right through them, causing many to believe they had been cursed.
Historian Ceesay says it was “a certainty that all men in the regiment practiced juju” and those still alive would have likely attributed the deaths of their comrades to a lack of juju discipline – breaking their side of the deal they had entered into with the spirit realm.
They believed the spells could be broken by blunders such as not taking their amulets off when they prayed, went to bed, or relieved themselves, or by getting them dirty in the mud of the jungle – or some other failure to fulfil the promises they had made to the spirits before setting sail.
The officers of 1 Gambia Regiment decided it was time for drastic action. They reorganised the men to ease their concerns, dividing the Gambian soldiers between various platoons. They were taken out of action, joining the Indian units of 7 Battalion of the 16th Punjab Regiment for a few days away from the front.
Janha and family outside his house [Muhamadou Mughtarr Bittaye/Al Jazeera]
“Many of these men were Bambara (a Mandé ethnic group throughout much of West Africa) and they had this primordial attachment to not being humiliated, to not being defeated in the battlefield,” says Ceesay.
“So, you have that and you have the juju power they practiced, and then you have a very potent recipe to go back and fight and restore their honour.”
Rested and reorganised, the Gambian soldiers were soon back on the march again, and their chance for atonement quickly arrived.
Between May 14 and 20, 1944, the entire 1 Gambia Regiment had to defend Frontier Hill, an elevation guarding Mowdok, and the Mowdok-Baungprei track leading into India.
For one week the Gambians fought off “three major and six minor Japanese attacks”, refusing to budge an inch. These victories spurred the Gambians on, just before the monsoon months came, and with it the rain and mud that forced both sides to stop the relentless attacks, and give their men some rest.
Some months passed and the rains stopped, and when they did, one of the greatest acts of heroism in modern Gambian history took place.
Janha wearing his medal on the porch of his home in Brikama [Muhamadou Mughtarr Bittaye/Al Jazeera]
One-man attacks
Sitting down with his older brother in Serekunda, the largest city in The Gambia, Momodou Kindi Camara waits as his son and niece return from work and enter the family compound.
The muezzin fills the air with the early evening call to prayer.
One by one the family members perform their ritual Islamic washing as Momodou Camara explains how on December 19, 1944, his father Kindi Camara marched with the regiment as they moved out through villages and rice fields under the noonday sun.
As they passed through a farm, the men suddenly launched themselves to the floor. Bullets whizzed by and mortar fire exploded all around them. As Kindi Camara’s medal citation reads:
“Without hesitation, firing his Bren Gun from the hip, Pte *Kamara charged the enemy position across 200 yards of open paddy. The enemy concentrated LMG [light machine gun], rifle, and grenade discharger fire on him, but totally disregarding personal safety, he continued his charge. In face of this deadly persistence, the enemy abandoned his positions and fled in confusion.”
Momodou Kindi Camara holding a photo reenacting his fathers charge against Japanese lines [Will McBain/Al Jazeera]
This was not the first or last instance of a single Gambian soldier forcing an entire Japanese unit to retreat, before the aircraft Enola Gay’s bomb bay doors were opened on August 6, 1945 to drop “little boy” on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, changing the world forever.
Three days later the United States dropped a second nuclear bomb on Nagasaki. Emperor Hirohito ordered the Japanese army to lay down its weapons.
For the Gambian soldiers, the war was over, but they had to wait until December 1945 for the troopship SS Empire Pride to sail them home. They reached Bathurst in January 1946. The day after they arrived the Gambia Echo newspaper reported the deputy British governor saying all the returning troops did “was talk, talk, talk”.
But these trained soldiers could not only now fight, they had also learned mechanics and engineering and discovered new agricultural methods during their time in Burma and India, and as the renowned Senegalese film director and former colonial soldier, Ousmane Sembène, put it: “In war, we saw the white men naked and we have not forgotten that picture.”
It would take some time but the death knell of colonialism had been rung. In 1965 The Gambia won its independence. Many of Gambia’s Burma veterans joined the pre- and post-independence security and police forces.
Others like Ebou Janha and Kindi Camara spent their post-war lives trying to work their way out of grinding poverty.
“What I get from this shop is what we eat,” says Janha, with a mischievous smile as Mamtutti hands him his packed lunch of “domada” – a peanut stew – and encourages him to eat.
Old photos of Ebou Janha are displayed on the walls of his workshop [Muhamadou Mughtarr Bittaye/Al Jazeera]
Momodou Camara and his family hold Kindi’s legacy close but are bitter at the way the British washed their hands of him and his descendants, after running the country into the ground.
When American President Franklin D Roosevelt visited The Gambia in 1943, he was so appalled at the homelessness and disease he witnessed that when speaking to UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill, he referred to it as “that hell hole of yours”. What he saw in Bathurst further consolidated his anti-colonial views according to his son, Elliot, a lieutenant colonel in the US Army Air Corps.
One son of a Gambian Burma veteran said that all the British left “was a prison, a hospital, and an asylum.
”
For decades following the war, the British and the Gambian Legion’s, and the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League (RCEL) – an organisation founded in 1921 to represent the interests of Commonwealth citizens who have served with either the British or Commonwealth Forces – have provided grants, medical funds, and scholarships to veterans and their children, but not all received help.
Many Bambara men picked up the semi-nomadic life they had left in 1943, and others filtered back into their rural villages, hoping to forget the bloodshed.
Alpha Jallow, whose father crossed a river behind enemy lines in Burma to save a badly wounded Rhodesian (now Zimbabwe) officer, and swim with him back to safety, helped set up the World War II Veterans Family Association. For years they have been scouring the country supporting widows and attending the funerals of the last remaining soldiers. Jallow hopes “learning about Gambia’s war heroes will become part of the national curriculum.
”
On Remembrance Sunday, as people in the UK and elsewhere remember the sacrifices of some of those who died, Ebou Janha will likely be in his workshop.
“Even if I’m sick I like to come to my workshop,” he says. “I thank God I’m alive now. And I’ve thrown away all my juju,” he adds as he tucks into his stew.
BHM FALL HEALTH SUMMIT
The Billboard Top Ten songs chart for 1995 contains the following names: Coolio, TLC, Seal, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Madonna, and a man named Montell Jordan. This Is How We Do It was a breakout new jack-swing song that topped the Hot 100 for seven weeks and R&B charts for eight. Jordan, tall and handsome with a silky-smooth voice, established himself as a powerful presence in music, brimming with talent, savvy, and charm. Over his nearly twenty-year career in music, Jordan has released seven studio albums, fourteen singles, and is a Grammy nominated artist selling more than 10 million records worldwide. Montell is a graduate of Pepperdine University where is studied Organizational Communication and Business.
Following years of awards, achievements and accolades that never seemed to satisfy, Montell learned that without music he’s a husband, a dad, and a friend. He stepped away from the music business for many years in search of significance over success. “I had to learn who Montell was outside of music to determine that I make music and music doesn’t make me.” In that time away, Montell was able to reevaluate his priorities and ultimately find his passion. This was found as he connected with his childhood faith.
Ministry:
Montell began to realize the difference between gifting and calling. He was gifted to do music, but he was called to minister. Speaking, teaching, mentoring, counseling and writing are some of the many ways Jordan is fulfilling his purpose in ministry today. Montell is a sought-after voice of influence regarding diversity and inclusion and is an advocate to reconciling cultures to unite our nation. Jordan is a Champion Ambassador for Special Olympics North America, and at his church he served more than 14,000 people from 140 nations around the world each weekend for the last decade as an executive pastor of music, marriage, and men’s ministry at Victory Church in Norcross, GA.
Montell is not only a musician and minister, but a voice of reconciliation for this generation.
Jordan has authored two books, his autobiography, “Becoming Unfamous” during the summer of 2016 and he and his wife of 20+ years, Kristin Jordan released a marriage book in October 2017 titled, “This Is How We Do It! Making Your Marriage A Masterpeace.” Montell and Kristin are now marriage missionaries, and have founded Marriage Masterpeace Inc, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that seeks to help marriages all around the world by helping men and women reconcile with God and then to each other in efforts to eradicate divorce by taking the option off the table.
Music:
Montell’s latest album, Masterpeace, is available everywhere to purchase, download and stream! The album features the hit single, “When I’m Around You” featuring Grammy award winning rap artist, Lecrae.
Montell’s Faith is the reason he desires to share the good news of his journey with all who are willing to listen, be encouraged, and possibly transformed as he was.
He and Kristin have been married for over 25 years to each other and they are the parents to Christopher, Catharine, Sydney, Skyler and Samantha. They are “Mimi and Big Poppa” to three grandsons, Karden, Cruz and Cash.
www.montellandkristin.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/MontellJordanTV
Facebook: www.facebook.com/montellandkristin
Instagram: Mrjordan1911
Instagram: Montellandkristin
| Name | Quantity | Price per unit | Cost, ₽ |
|---|---|---|---|
Bib CCM Tacks 9040 or equivalent OKPD2 | 5 pieces | – | 30 987.50 |
CCM FITLITE 50 COMBO Helmet or equivalent OKPD2 | 5 pieces | – | 26 125. |
CCM Tacks Gloves 9040 or Equivalent OKPD2 | 5 pieces | – | 32 237.50 |
Warrior Alpha DX4 Elbow Pads or Equivalent OKPD2 | 5 pieces | – | 18 250.00 |
KONO Groin Guard or Equivalent OKPD2 | 5 pairs | – | 2 737. |
Shields CCM Tacks 9060 or equivalent OKPD2 | 5 pairs | – | 36 437.50 |
Shorts CCM Tacks 5092 or equivalent OKPD2 | 5 pieces | – | 28 437.50 |
KONO Neck Guard or Equivalent OKPD2 | 5 pairs | – | 2 862. |
Men’s training tank top OKPD2 | 5 pieces | – | 2 408.75 |
Rubber track OKPD2 | 1 PC | – | 14 865.00 |
Men’s leggings PRO or equivalent OKPD2 | 5 pieces | – | 3 650. |
30.15.292
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30.15.299
50
30.15.299
50
13/30/190
00Royal Special Forces Competition.Special Forces “Alpha” – World Champions! World Championship in Jordan special forces
From March 21 to March 28, the 5th Annual Warriors Competition for the prizes of the King of Jordan was held in Jordan at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC).
King Abdullah II of Jordan is himself a former Special Forces soldier who continues to maintain excellent physical and combat form.During the competition, nothing prevented him, personally piloting a helicopter, landing at the shooting range, successfully shooting from his favorite 45 caliber Colt and wishing all the participants good luck, retire just as he appeared. That is why Jordan attaches great importance to this tournament, and it is always held at the highest level. Every year, active special forces units from all over the world take part in the competition. This year, 36 teams from 19 countries took part in the competition. The team consists of 7 people: 5 “attack aircraft” and 2 “snipers”.To the disappointment of both the participants and the organizers, not all the strongest divisions were able to attend.
The first thing worth noting is the KASOTC itself. The scale of this structure and the scale with which its creators approached the matter are impressive. There are about 50 different shooting ranges on the territory of the center. A dozen educational cities have been built inside the complex. At any of the polygon objects, you can perform exercises with live shooting and the use of almost any special equipment. The complex is adapted to work both during the day and at night.It is possible to perform various training tasks using helicopters, and aviation also has the ability to use combat at the training ground. All objects of the complex are equipped with the latest technology. On all lines – electronic scoreboards showing targets – going to the targets to view the results is no longer relevant … At a distance from the main objects there are positions for long-range shooting, which are a very complex sniper range.
Russia has not previously participated in these competitions.Russia was represented by a group of veterans of the Russian special forces.
– We had a goal – to see what others can do and to show what Russian special forces officers (albeit veterans) are capable of. And we have achieved this goal.
By the way, the Russians came to the competition without the main weapon with which they can work at KASOTC. Weapons could be rented locally. In a minimum time, the Russians mastered the work with the M4 A1 carbine. Speaking about weapons, it is necessary to note the excellent quality of foreign samples.I liked the “emka” very much – a great carbine, soft recoil, very balanced. The pistols that were provided to them during the competition also left the best impressions. All participants were especially impressed by the weapons presented by the Swiss and Dutch manufacturers – SigSauer and Fenix.
But with equipment and equipment, the situation was diametrically opposite. If usually at international championships, Russian military personnel are surprised to look at the luxurious uniform and equipment of foreign teams, then this time the whole world, in the literal sense of the word, looked with envy at the Russian special forces who came to the competition equipped as super-soldiers from science fiction films.The Russian Internet has long had a term for this level of equipment – “juggernauts” (a term taken from a computer game and used to refer to a fighter armed with the most powerful weapon and the heaviest armor). The Russians really had all the best – the latest camouflage and tactical equipment, the most modern body armor and anti-splinter helmets. And one of the main wonders brought from Russia was the sniper rifle from which ours fired – the famous ORSIS T-5000 under the caliber 338.
Most of the exercises in the tournament were associated with increased endurance and strength training. A lot of accelerated movements with access to a position and subsequent combat shooting. The entire competition program was designed for 9 days. The competition itself lasted 4 days.
1st day:
1. Cross 5 km in full gear (carbine, pistol, protective equipment: helmet, body armor 5 item, flashlight, knife, assault suit, boots).
2. Throw at 150 m and shooting from a machine gun at 300 m, then quickly move to another shooting range and shoot at emerging targets.Finish with the whole group. For each miss, there is a penalty of 10 seconds. The best team is determined by timing.
3. High-speed ascent to the 8th floor and shooting at an angle of 45-60 degrees.
4. Assault on the building with live fire.
5. Shooting from different positions after the obstacle course.
Day 2:
1. The assault on the aircraft with the firing of marker ammunition.
2. Combat in urban conditions with live fire and evacuation (700-1000 m) of the wounded.
3. Release of hostages at night with shooting.
4.Night fight in a building with marker weapons.
3rd day:
Royal Marathon 10 km (exercise developed personally by King Abdullah). March through mountainous terrain with 5 firing lines: sniper 500-700 m, automatic 300 m, pistol 20-40 m, automatic with an angle of up to 60 degrees at 200-250 m, large-caliber pistol from different positions.
4th day:
1. Fight in the city with shooting at emerging targets as part of the unit.
2. Pistol duel.
In 2013, the indisputable leaders were the employees of the Chinese special forces.
– Coincidentally or not, most of the exercise this year has been associated with increased endurance and strength training. And it is useless to compete with the Chinese in terms of physical fitness. The average age of the Chinese participants is 23, ours is 44. The sniper is already 50! At a 10-kilometer distance passing through the mountains, it was simply impossible to keep up with them. We ran in 1 hour 10 minutes, they ran in 42 minutes! At the same time, the Chinese sacrificed the quality of the exercise for the sake of speed. In the event of a miss, the employee simply dropped the weapon and ran penalty circles, compensating for the failure in shooting with speed and endurance.Someone jokingly called the Chinese “robots”. But the winners, as they say, are not judged.
The results of the exercises were assessed not by tactical execution, but by speed, penalty time was added for misses. In general, with regard to the load, this competition is a real test of endurance. The Russians’ first assault on the plane began at 9 am. The final exercise of the first day began closer to 2 am! And so every day! The participants managed to sleep for 4–5 hours,
no more.
Reserve officer (veteran) Taras Shevchenko:
– During the assault, it was necessary to clean up a 4-storey building and take out the “wounded” from there.On all floors of the skyscraper there are targets that need to be hit with live ammunition. The “wounded” himself is a 90-kilogram something with a variable center of gravity. You can only carry it on yourself. Our soldier (veteran) took it upon himself and ran with him about 800 meters, and we covered him with a tactical group. A senior US Army officer then came to look for our participant who was dragging the “wounded” man in order to personally shake his hand. He said that he knew that Russian men were strong, but did not know that they were so strong.Many teams could hardly lift this “body” by four of them.
Sergei Vasilenko, Colonel of the A Control Center of the FSB of Russia:
– After storming the plane, the French asked the instructor: “What did the Russians do on the plane for more than two minutes, when the Chinese average was 1 minute 20 seconds? The task is to find and neutralize 20 terrorists ”. To which the instructor replied: “The Russians did not perform the exercise – they stormed the plane.” We actually got on the plane and cleaned it all up, including the luggage compartment.We were one of the few teams that actually practiced the situation.
The sniper duel was no less interesting. When the participants moved to the training ground, all equipment was taken away from everyone, without exception. No rangefinders, no ballistic calculators, no phones. They were allowed to leave only a primitive observation tube (without a grid), the weapon itself, optical sights and a notebook with a pencil for calculations. In conditions of absolute uncertainty about the target situation, the second number needed to detect targets in 2 minutes and give the sniper all the necessary information.The shooter must hit 5 targets in 2 minutes, with a maximum of 6 shots.
This is where the true skill of sniper pairs was shown.
It should be noted that the atmosphere at the tournament was very friendly. Nobody pissed on anyone, no crooked looks. From the first minutes, the Russians found a common language with representatives of many divisions, and often the members of the rival team came up and helped prepare for the upcoming exercise.
As the members of the Russian team themselves say, they did not see anything special in terms of tactics and working out tasks at these competitions.I was struck only by the material base and the opportunities that it opened up for working out various situations. For example, the elements of firing from a carbine with large angles turned out to be very interesting – in Russia there are simply no polygons with such conditions. First of all, it is difficult to calculate the trajectory of a bullet. After all, the bullet itself is light, the shooting distances are large, about 300 meters, targets the size of a phone.
From the exercises I remember one called “Kogan’s Alley”, the essence of which is a battle in the city.The group moves around the real city, destroying all the targets that appear. Targets sometimes appear in rather unexpected places, at uncomfortable angles.
It is impossible not to mention the level of organization of the competition. Small facts. The results of the group were known within a minute after the finish of the last team. The photo booklet was ready five minutes after the end of the competition.
This visit will undoubtedly not be the last for the Russians. It is already clear that the potential of the Russian special forces allows them to claim the highest places on the podium.
Russians became world champions at the competition of special forces in Jordan
April 28th, 2015
The Royal World Championship among fighters of elite special forces “Warrior-2015” in Jordan ended with a sensation this year. Despite the biased attitude of the American and Canadian judges, the Russian commandos became the absolute world champions, leaving far behind both the Americans and Europeans and last year’s favorites – the Chinese. The Russian national team consisted of two teams, which were completely formed from the employees of the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Chechen Republic.They unanimously dedicated their victory in the competition to the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, and the head of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, said that “our fighters wiped their noses on those who seek to look down on the world.” Unlike the Stavropol OMON, the head of Chechnya is satisfied with his special forces.
“We fly in like tanks!”
Jordan has a special attitude to special forces, because the current ruling king Abdal II himself was a special forces soldier in the past. The King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center is held here annually – a world-class competition among representatives of elite military units on the basis of a special training ground with an area of 10 square kilometers.In the Royal Center for the Training of Special Military Units, about 10 townships have been built, some of which are copies of real-life settlements. At these facilities of the training ground, it is possible to carry out exercises with live shooting, the use of explosives, various special equipment, and even with the use of aviation. According to official figures, the construction of this complex cost more than $ 200 million, but many of those who saw it firsthand assume that the real amount is much higher.The agreement on the participation of special forces from Chechnya in the world championship was reached in June last year during the visit of the king of Jordan to the republic. Then the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov demonstrated to the king the teachings of the special forces on the outskirts of the ancestral village of Tsentaroy. As a result, two teams from Russia, fully formed from among the employees of the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs, went to the international championship for the prize of King Abdullah II, the Grozny State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company reported.
To participate in the world championship, 43 teams from 19 countries gathered, consisting of the best fighters from all over the world.The Russians were opposed by strong rivals from Iraq, the USA, Canada. The Jordanians have assembled nine teams at all, including one for women. But even the absolute favorites, the Chinese, who had become champions of these competitions for two years in a row, were discouraged by the pressure of the Russian special forces. “Guys, we do everything silently and quickly. Like tanks we fly in there! ”- these were the parting words our soldiers received from their commanders, who, in the course of extremely tough competition, sought the honor of representing Russia at such a prestigious championship.The preparation for the competitions of the Russian national team was carried out with the involvement of international class coaches. The final stage of preparation was carried out by the Chechen security forces in Jordan, so that the soldiers of the special forces could fully acclimatize and get used to the local conditions as much as possible.
The competition program, which lasted five days, included 10 challenging exercises to assess endurance, speed, and team coordination in various conditions. Before completing each task, the soldiers performed a special warm-up under the strict guidance of an instructor, and also received a special massage to increase their concentration.The head of the Russian national team, assistant to the Head of the Chechen Republic, Daniil Martynov, carefully conducted a debriefing, analyzed every mistake and explained to his wards the nuances of the rules of the competition and the features of the exercises.
Sharing his impressions with Russian journalists, instructor of the Royal Anti-Terrorism Center of Jordan Mohannad Toualba noted: “The Russian team turned out to be very trained. We, as experts, can clearly see that your fighters were preparing extremely seriously, ”reports“ Rossiya1 ”.According to the instructor of the national team of Kazakhstan, Eldar Batalov, serious competition reigned in the championship, since the strongest fighters, equipped at the highest level with weapons and equipment, came to Jordan from all over the world. But the Russians also approached the material training thoroughly – the uniform of our special forces was truly an exclusive tactical and special training instructor for the Roma national team. “The uniform for the competition was made of various types of fabric,” said Dmitry Pilipenko, instructor for tactical and special training of the Russian national team.- Breathable inserts, hard material pads with the ability to insert elbow pads and knee pads, a special elastic belt that does not slip. The whole form was developed under our control – we tried, tested, said what to improve and what to change. ”
“We broke the Americans”
As a result, our law enforcement officers, showing character and will to win, were at their best in all competitions. For example, the Chechen police coped best with the task of evacuating the wounded and destroying the bandit group.By a huge margin, the Russians completed the exercise of transporting weights. After the transfer of a metal ladder weighing 75 kg, it was necessary to perform aimed shooting from different positions at different distances. And here the team “Russia-1” outstripped the former favorites of the competition – the national team of China. And only one of the competitors managed to cope with the task of freeing the hostages in a multi-storey building faster and more correctly than the Russian team – the second Russian team improved the already high result by one more second.
The awards ceremony of the competition in Jordan became the finest hour for the Russian special forces, who climbed the podium in T-shirts with images of a formidable bear. Our fighters became absolute world champions, having won four gold, two silver and three bronze medals in various disciplines. The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, who actively supported his charges, said in his official Instagram account: “This is a very pleasant fact. Behind him is a gigantic work, the hardest training, fantastic loads.Our fighters went through all this with dignity and, as they say, wiped their noses on those who seek to look down on the world. So here’s some interesting data for you. Team USA in 23rd place! The head of our team, assistant to the Head of the Chechen Republic, Daniil Martynov, says that the Americans have good equipment, but “we broke the Americans.” They did not expect this from us, they were shocked, they could not oppose anything to character, will, skill. And the Canadians were particularly arrogant, which let them down. Despite the attempts of American and Canadian judges to sue them, they did not rise further than eighth place.And the Europeans, having made sure that it makes no sense for them to compete with Russia at all, turned from participants into spectators. I am proud of our fighters, I am sure that all true patriots of the Fatherland are proud of them! These officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have proved that there is no warrior in the world who can compete with the Russian special forces! ”
According to Kadyrov, hundreds of people gathered with him to meet the winners at the Grozny airport. When the officers of the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Chechen Republic walked along the carpet, the team leader – assistant to the head of the republic Daniil Martynov said that the team had made a unanimous decision to dedicate their victory to the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory in the Great Patriotic War, saying that they were always ready to defend the Fatherland – Russia …
It is noteworthy that three months before the start of the competition in Jordan, Ramzan Kadyrov announced that the elite of the world special forces would be trained in Chechnya. “The Chechen Republic will become one of the world’s main centers for the training of special forces. For this, a complex is being built on the outskirts of Gudermes that meets the strictest international standards. I checked the construction progress, the work is being carried out strictly according to the schedule, ”Kadyrov said. According to him, they plan to train both special forces units of all branches and types of troops and special services of Russia and other countries.In a unique tactical town there will be buildings of a high-rise apartment building, a school, a hospital, a kindergarten, a cinema, designed for classes to free hostages and destroy terrorists. The center will be able to conduct parachuting, mountain, forest, water and other training. Until now, there have been no analogues to such a center in Russia.
“Sending fighters from Chechnya to such competitions is a very smart move,” political scientist Oleg Sobolev told the SP-Yug correspondent. – Firstly, taking into account the geopolitical situation, we now really need such victories in the international arena.This is a symbolic slap in the face of those who, until recently, tried to tear the Caucasus away from Russia. And secondly, each such victory is beneficial to the process of reconciliation and integration of Caucasians with Russians. After all, reading such news, I want to say with pride – “These are our people!”.
I am often asked the question: what place does Alpha occupy among the leading special forces? There is no literal answer to it, since the activities of the spetsnaz cannot be assessed on the scale of rating agencies. However, some criteria still exist, and I can argue that the Russian “Alpha” is one of the best combat units in the world.
A visible confirmation of my words was the 29th Super SWAT International Round-Up – 2011, held in the USA in Orlando, Florida. This is an open world championship among police officers (mostly) special forces. This year, his sensation was the performance of the team of Directorate “A” of the Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia. The team consisted of eleven people, including two snipers.
After the employees of “Alpha” showed the highest results, specialists from other countries approached them and asked questions: where did you come from, guys ?! Although at first the Americans curled their lips in private conversations: you, they say, should be glad for the mere fact of your arrival at such a prestigious tournament.And, accordingly, do not think about any prize places.
And now – a sensation!
First and second places in Super SWAT, silver in “Remington super sniper” in the credit box of our squad. And the title of “Best International Team”.
At the start, seventy-two teams declared themselves, and only fifty-nine reached the finish line. Several were disqualified, someone left on their own initiative – there were big claims to refereeing.
As our comrades note, the Americans openly condemned their competitors.I will tell you about one typical episode. Exercise – Rescuing an Injured SWAT Personnel.
A sniper and four attack aircraft, on command, run up to the traverse, over the water overcome an obstacle with the help of rollers, then a wall or pipe, run up to the firing position and, wearing gas masks, open fire from machine guns at paper targets from a distance of 15-20 meters, however, at competitions were all counted in yards. Four shots into the affected area.
After that, a new run, overcoming an obstacle and firing a pistol at metal targets, also four shots.Then, when the team reaches the designated area, they are assigned a “wounded” who is evacuated to the place of overcoming the water hazard.
At this time, the sniper is working from the sloping roof on two small white plates with a diameter of ten centimeters. The distance is two hundred meters. Only two shots can be fired.
After that, the sniper puts on a gas mask and runs to the firing position, where he makes four shots from the pistol. The distance is ten meters, the plates are the same. Then he runs up to the assault team and overcomes the traverse in reverse order, returning to the finish line.
Since our comrades were openly condemned at the first exercise, adding unproven time to them, the team leader specially took a camera and a video camera, and filmed all the affected targets so that there would be no arbitrary interpretations from the organizers.
The time was one of the best – 3 minutes 40 seconds. When the overall result was posted, it turned out that “Alpha” added four minutes, ie. it became 7 minutes 40 seconds! One can imagine the indignation of people who have clearly performed the exercise, and they are fraudulently stealing a victory.
However, all attempts to achieve justice were in vain. The protest was rejected. Motivation? It is amazing: under the terms of the competition, photo and video-film documentation is not proof! The criterion is only the opinion of the judges.
Faced with such outright rudeness, the head of our team asked to bring the hit targets – then everything will be obvious! An hour later, he was informed that the targets were … destroyed!
The guys were outraged and depressed at the same time.We contacted the management in Moscow, they say: pack your things and go home! And then the officers of “Alpha”, having gathered and discussed the situation, decided to stay. From the principle! Alpha is not used to retreating. The employees, as they told later, remembered our heroic ancestors, about the “gene of the winner”.
Therefore, it was necessary not only to win, but to do it at the highest level – so that, with all the will, the organizers could not turn the result inside out.
The Super SWAT Championship drill included running.In military ammunition, you “wind” one mile with overcoming a water barrier, obstacle course, including natural (forest or relief). Having reached the firing line, you shoot from any kind (pistol, machine gun or rifle) into a 10-centimeter circle.
The counting system is as follows. Zero penalty points – zero minutes is added, the diameter is a little more than five centimeters – one minute, the diameter is ten centimeters – a circle – two minutes are added. Missing the target means three minutes. Then the participant takes off the gas mask and runs the second mile.Having shot, you run another mile – the same, with water obstacles, with an obstacle course. Then he works from the machine.
From the outset, the four Alpha employees selected for this exercise set a fantastic pace, with two heading straight into the lead. What can you say: there is nowhere to retreat – Moscow is behind!
When our guys finished, nobody around could believe: “What, Russians ?!”. They managed to hug, take a picture, wash, change – and only then the whole main group pulled up to the finish line.
And then the bargaining began. The organizers tried to persuade ours to give the first place to the American, who came second with a large number of misses. Then they wanted to retroactively introduce two age groups in order, again, to get the coveted first place. But how can you challenge the obvious? In the end, the truth prevailed.
The Brazilian, who should have been second in total time, is in third place. And he was very upset, saying that he would not go to these competitions again.And the head of the Hungarian team (the Magyars have been traveling to Florida for ten years) stated in their hearts: “Yes, I realized that after all, the Americans are bitches!”
… At the solemn ceremony, our employee Mikhail N., who became the Super SWAT World Champion, was awarded a certificate for the right to free choice of a Glock of any model. In any store. And again, “American nuances”: no one will sell weapons to a foreigner. And it is not possible to take it out. Then why are these beautiful gestures? ..
Whatever it was, the officers of “Alpha” showed courage, composure and tremendous will to win.They prevailed not only with skill, but also with strength of mind. At one of the exercises, our friend, having received a sunstroke (the temperature was + 35 °), reached the finish line and lost consciousness there.
We are proud of the guys, honor and glory to them! However, not a single official TV channel reported on the enchanting victory of the Russian special forces in the United States. I am filling this gap. The country must know its heroes. Even if not in the face.
I am often asked the question: what place
is Alpha among the leading special forces? On
there is no literal answer, since the activity
spetsnaz cannot be assessed on a rating scale
agencies.However, some criteria still exist,
and I can argue that the Russian “Alpha” is
one of the best combat units in the world.
Visible confirmation of my words was
29th Super SWAT International Round-Up – 2011,
held in the USA. Orlando, Florida. it
open world police championship
(mostly) special forces. This year his
a sensation was the performance of the “A”
Center for special purposes of the FSB of Russia. Command
numbered eleven people, including two snipers.
After Alpha employees
showed the highest results, they were approached
specialists from other countries, and asked questions: where
did you guys show up ?! Although at first Americans in
in private conversations, lips curled: you, they say, should
to be glad for the mere fact of your arrival at such
prestigious tournament. And, accordingly, do not think about
some prize places.
And now – a sensation!
In the credit box of our squad, the first
and second place in Super SWAT, silver in “Remington
super sniper “.And the title of “Best International Team”.
Seventy-two declared themselves at the start
teams, and only fifty-nine reached the finish line.
Several were disqualified, someone left for
own initiative – there were big complaints about
judging.
As our comrades note, the Americans
openly condemned competitors. I’ll tell you about one
characteristic episode. Exercise – “Rescue of the wounded
SWAT employee. “
Sniper and four attack aircraft on command
run up to the traverse, overcome an obstacle over the water
using rollers, then a wall or pipe, run up to
firing position and, wearing gas masks, open fire from
automatic machines for paper targets from a distance of 15 – 20 meters,
however, in the competition everyone counted in yards.Four
shot into the affected area.
After that, a new run, overcoming
obstacles and pistol shooting at metal
targets, also four shots. Then when the command
reaches the designated area, she is assigned a “wounded”,
which is evacuated to the place of overcoming the water
obstacles.
At this time, the sniper is working with an inclined
roofs on two small white plates with a diameter
ten centimeters. The distance is two hundred meters. Can
fire just two shots.
After that, the sniper puts on a gas mask
and runs to the firing position, where he makes a pistol
four shots. Distance ten meters, plates
the same. Then he runs up to the assault team and in
in reverse order overcomes the traverse, returning to
the finish.
Since our comrades are frankly
condemned on the first exercise, adding without evidence
time for them, the team leader specially took
camera and video camera, and filmed all the stricken
targets so that the organizers do not
no free interpretations.
The time was one of the best – 3 minutes 40
seconds. When the overall result was posted, it turned out that
that “Alpha” added four minutes, i.e. it became 7 minutes
40 seconds! One can imagine the indignation of people
who clearly performed the exercise, and they cheated
steal victory.
However, all attempts to achieve
justice was in vain. The protest was rejected.
Motivation? She’s amazing: competition photo
and video-film documentation is not
proof! The criterion is only the opinion of the judges.
Faced with such an outspoken
rudeness, the head of our team asked to bring
hit targets – then everything will be obvious! In one hour
he was informed that the targets were … destroyed!
The guys were outraged and depressed
simultaneously. We contacted the management in Moscow, there
they say: pack your things and – home! And then the officers
“Alpha”, having gathered and discussed the situation, decided to stay.
From the principle! Alpha is not used to retreating. Employees,
as they told later, they remembered our
heroic ancestors, about the “gene of the winner”.
Therefore, it was not easy
win, but do it at the highest level – so that when
the organizers could not twist the result
inside out.
Super Champion Exercise
SWAT included running. In military ammunition
“winding” one mile overcoming a water hazard,
obstacle courses, including natural (forest or
embossed). Having reached the firing line, you shoot from
any type of weapon (pistol, machine gun or rifle) in
10 cm circle.
The counting system is as follows. Zero penalties
points – add zero minutes, the diameter is slightly larger by
five centimeters – one minute, diameter ten
centimeters – circle – add two minutes. Miss in
target means three minutes. Then the participant removes
gas mask and runs the second mile. Having shot, you run
another mile – the same, with water obstacles, with a strip
obstacles. Then he works from the machine.
From the very beginning, four employees
The alphas selected for this exercise were asked
fantastic pace, two went straight ahead.Whats up
you say: there is nowhere to retreat – Moscow is behind!
When our guys finished, around
no one could believe: “What, Russians ?!” They had time
hug, take a picture, wash, change – and
only then the whole main group pulled up to the finish line.
And then the bargaining began. Organizers
tried to persuade ours to give first place
the American who came second with the highest number
misses. Then they wanted to retroactively introduce two
age groups, in order, again, to get the cherished
first place.But how can you challenge the obvious? Eventually
the truth has triumphed.
Brazilian who is on the total time
was supposed to be second, ended up in third position. AND
was very upset, saying that more on these
competition will not go. And the head of the Hungarian
teams (Magyars have been traveling to Florida for ten years) in hearts
stated: “Yes, I realized that after all the Americans are bitches!”
… At the solemn ceremony, our
employee Mikhail N., who became the World Super Champion
SWAT was awarded a certificate for the right to free choice
Glock of any model.In any store. And again
“American nuances”: no one weapons to a foreigner
will sell. And it is not possible to take it out.
Then why are these beautiful gestures? ..
Whatever it was, the officers of “Alpha”
showed courage, composure and tremendous will to
victory. They prevailed not only with skill, but also with strength
spirit. In one of the exercises, our friend, having received
sunstroke (temperature was + 35 °), reached the finish line
and there he passed out.
We are proud of the guys, honor and glory to them!
However, no official TV channel reported on
enchanting victory of the Russian special forces in the United States.I AM
I fill this gap. The country must know its heroes.
Even if not in the face.
Well, a little video:
KING OF SPECIAL FORCES
Veterans of the Russian special forces, who came to Jordan for the first time, made a worthy presentation. And the indisputable leaders of the competition were the employees of the Chinese special forces, who took all possible prizes, including the team competition. The colors of the Red Dragon were protected by two teams – the Snow Leopard Police Force and the Military Intelligence Unit.
In general, to be honest, the Jordanian special forces are lucky that they are supervised personally by Abdullah II. The monarch is a professional soldier, graduated from the Royal Military Academy in Great Britain, served in a tank battalion. Having “got sick” with special forces, he trained in seven countries where traditions and training of these elite units are strong. Including visited the Soviet Union and Russia – in one of the guards units of the Winged Infantry.
By the way, on every visit to Russia, the special forces monarch always visits, as he himself says, fellow soldiers.In the reception room of his residence, a shield with knives from special forces from different countries hangs on the wall. In the place of honor, in the center, the Russian knife of “Uncle Vasya’s troops” is fixed.
He ascended the throne on February 7, 1999 after the death of his father, who ruled the country for forty-seven years. The choice of Hussein, who made this particular son heir, fell on him precisely because Abdullah was loved in the army and was called a prince-soldier.
Abdullah was the eldest son of the late King Hussein and his second wife Antoinette Gardiner (Princess Muna), an Englishwoman who converted to Islam and was Queen of Jordan until her divorce in 1972.The prince received his education at Oxford, and later at Georgetown University in Washington.
Of course, Hussein risked a lot, declaring his son, who had been cut off from his homeland for so long, as heir to the throne. However, the army was on the side of the career officer Abdallah, as already noted, from the very beginning, which played a significant role in his appointment. In addition, his wife, Rania, is a Palestinian, which is very important in a country with a large and influential Palestinian population. Despite Jordan’s good relations with Israel, Abdullah is forced to listen to the views of the Palestinians, who make up 70% of the country’s population.
During the life of his father, Prince Abdullah was first deputy commander of the MTR, later headed them. Under him, they received a new development, were reformed – and taking into account the training and structure of our special forces.
Becoming the head of state, Abdullah II created the Special Operations Command. Although the kingdom cannot even be called an average in terms of living standards, they do not spare funds for special forces. The king himself is in good physical shape. He knows how to fly a Cobra combat helicopter and perform long parachute jumps.
During the current competition, nothing prevented the king, personally piloting the “turntable”, to land on the shooting range, successfully shoot from his favorite “Colt” .45 caliber and, wishing all the participants good luck, retire to the subject of Makar.
Every year, the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) is attended by active special forces units from around the world. This year, thirty-six teams from nineteen countries, including Russia, took part in the competition.
The composition of the team participating in the championship consists of seven people: five “attack aircraft” and two “snipers”. To the disappointment of the participants and organizers, many of the strongest divisions were unable to attend this year. The GSG-9, SAS, Delta units did not arrive, and the American SWAT police units were also not represented.
The first thing worth noting in the competition is the KASOTC itself, built with the help of American and Saudi allies. Its scope is really impressive: ten by ten square kilometers.A dozen cities have been built inside the complex, and some of them are copies of real-life ones. At any of the polygon objects, you can perform exercises with live shooting and the use of almost any special equipment, including explosives.
The complex is adapted for spetsnaz work at any time of the day. Here you can hone the performance of various training tasks using helicopters, and aviation can use military weapons at the training ground. The facilities are equipped with the latest technology.At the borders, electronic boards showing targets are mounted. Shooting positions, located at some distance from the entire “urban” infrastructure, represent the most difficult range for snipers, including those with winds in five or six directions.
According to official figures, the construction of this complex cost more than $ 200 million, but many of those who saw it firsthand assume that the real amount is much higher. Its
The creators of the center did not hide their political predilections and the fact that quite definite tasks, necessary for quite definite forces, would be practiced there.For example, in one of the training grounds, you can easily find an exact copy of the residence of Bashar al-Assad – the current president of Syria, the very same Syria where fierce battles with rebels and “jihadists” are now taking place.
It is here that the American, French and British military train the Syrian “good guys” from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to confront the “bad guys” from Damascus.
SHOW YOURSELF, OTHERS SEE
Our country has never participated in these prestigious competitions before.And now the first path has been laid. In Jordan, Russia was not represented by the official team of the current special forces, but by a group of special forces veterans who individually took part in the tournament on their own initiative. Such a trip became possible thanks to the financial support of the Redoubt Security company, which assumed all the financial support.
The participation of our special forces officers made a lot of noise. It is noteworthy that the arrival of the Russians came as a shock even for the Russian military attaché, who was extremely surprised to see his compatriots at the opening ceremony.
– Nobody planned to take prizes in this tournament, – Taras Shevchenko, a major in the special forces reserve of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, clarifies. – Let’s not be dreamers: so that the Russians come somewhere for the first time and they are immediately “allowed” to take the prize? This will not happen at any foreign championship. We had a goal: to see what kind of competition it was and to show what the employees of Russian special forces are capable of. And we have achieved this goal. We had a veteran team.Both by status and by age. One of the participants, when he found out how old the youngest of us is, said: “Your results simply cannot be considered next to the results of fighters who are, in fact, twice your age. You generally need a separate category! ” But we did not pursue such a goal.
By the way, what is typical: ours came to the competition without the main weapon, since the 5.56 mm caliber is not widespread in Russia, with which you can work at KASOTC.
The weapon, fortunately, could be rented locally.In a minimal period of time, the Russians mastered working with the M4 carbine so skillfully that they were able to teach lessons on how to handle it to “experienced users” of these types of weapons. For example, they taught foreigners to clean the emka correctly.
Speaking of weapons, our participants mention the excellent quality of foreign weapons, especially the pistols that were provided to them during the tournament. After Russian weapons, it was … “how to change to a Mercedes after a Zhiguli.”Alas, this is so!
All participants were particularly impressed by the weapons used by the Swiss and Dutch units – SigSauer and Heckler & Koch. It could be tested in action, and representatives of different teams were happy to give what they brought with them “for trial”. Only the Americans distinguished themselves, who stubbornly did not want to show the Russians their shotgun, but in the end this “fortress” also fell.
On the other hand, the situation with equipment and equipment was equal to
dia.Usually at international championships, ours look at their colleagues with white envy, but this time the rest looked at the Russians, equipped as a Super Soldier. The Russian Internet has long had a term for this level of equipment – “juggernauts”. The term Juggernaut is taken from a computer game and is used to refer to a fighter armed with powerful weapons, heavy armor and unprecedented strength.
Ours in Jordan really had all the best: the latest camouflage and tactical equipment, the most modern body armor and anti-splinter helmets.And one of the main wonders brought from Russia for foreigners was the T-5000 ORSIS sniper rifle for caliber 338, which has already caused a stir at the most prestigious sniper competitions.
Last year, the “alpha” fighters, who fired from the T-5000 ORSIS, became World Champions at the championship in Hungary, defeating their competitors in a very tough and uncompromising struggle.
They approached to be photographed with a rifle, they asked her to hold her, shoot, they looked at her with surprise and, as it were, even incomprehension: how could such a high-quality weapon be made in Russia?
INCREASED ENDURANCE
Most of the exercises in the 2013 tournament were related to increased endurance and strength training.A lot of accelerated movements with access to a position and subsequent combat shooting.
An example of just one of the exercises: moving 300 meters, reaching the firing position, firing single shots for the accuracy of the results. Then moving to a seven-story building, going up to the top floor. Shooting at a very sharp angle at popper targets located in front of the building using 5.56 mm carbines. And, finally, the subsequent evacuation from the building to the starting line.
In addition, among the exercises were those where it was necessary to take out the wounded from the battlefield, assault on an aircraft, night combat, sniper competitions and many others.There are about fifteen stages in total.
One of the most difficult, in terms of physical endurance, was the so-called Royal Marathon. Its essence lies in the fact that a team in full gear needs to overcome ten kilometers over difficult rough terrain – a desert, quarries. Sometimes, in order to reach the firing position, it was necessary to climb mountains.
At each stage, one of the participants must shoot effectively from an M4, then from a Colt 45 caliber pistol.Shoot with both a strong and a weak hand. Naturally, this presents a certain difficulty, since the caliber is quite decent, the recoil is strong. And you have to shoot on the run!
“By accident or not,” says Sergei Vasilenko, Colonel of the reserve of Directorate A of the Special Forces Center of the FSB of Russia, “but most of the exercises this year were associated with increased endurance and strength training. Well, it was almost useless to compete with the Chinese in this area.Why? For one reason: we are veterans, they are all active. For the Chinese, the average age of the participants was twenty-three, for us, forty-four. The sniper has already turned fifty dollars …
However, we showed the class! At a 10-kilometer distance passing through the mountains, it was simply impossible to keep up with them. We ran in 1 hour and 10 minutes, they ran in forty-two minutes! At the same time, the Chinese sacrificed the quality of the exercise for the sake of speed. What they did: to the detriment of shooting, in case of a miss, the fighter simply dropped his weapon and ran penalty circles, compensating for the failure in shooting and tactics with speed and endurance.Someone jokingly called the Chinese “robots”.
… The results of the exercise were calculated not by the quality of execution, accuracy of hits, but by the time it took the teams to complete the exercise. There was some unhealthy focus on safety. For example, according to the conditions of the competition, the bolt of the carbine during the time when it is not used for shooting must always be in the rearmost position. Most of the participants, including the Russians, were armed with M4 carbines, and the peculiarity of this weapon is that when passing an obstacle course, the bolt can break into a combat position from a simple touch to the weapon.
Already from the start, some “misunderstandings” began with the Russian team. Accidentally or not, but on the running distance someone “confused” the routes, and ours had to run an extra kilometer! Then the team was returned to the start, saying that someone had “forgotten” to stick the flag in the right place. The forces, of course, have already been spent. And no one stopped time. Say, sorry, it happened.
Despite the debut, the Russians were able to immediately gain trust and authority. Representatives of all other divisions were reaching out to them.
Major Taras Shevchenko reports:
– We were faced with an assault with the liberation of a four-story building, from where the “wounded” was to be taken out. On all floors – goals for which you need to work out with live ammunition. Himself “wounded” … This is a 90-kilogram something with a constantly changing center of gravity. According to the rules, you can only carry it on yourself. Our fighter in the team took it upon himself and so ran about eight hundred meters, and we covered him with a tactical group.
Later the general of one of the teams came to look for our participant, who was carrying the “wounded”.“I knew that Russian men are strong, but I didn’t know that they are so strong!” He said, shaking hands. Members of his team could not lift this “body” as much as four. The Chinese dragged the “wounded” man with a group of four or five fighters, periodically hitting the “body” with his head on the ground. And the Americans generally carried it out on a stretcher, which seems to be against the rules.
… In general, as far as load is concerned, this competition is a real test of endurance. The Russians’ first assault on the plane began at 9 am. The final exercise of the first day began only closer to 2 o’clock in the morning.And so every day! Exercise after exercise. With little or no respite. The participants managed to sleep for four to five hours, no more.
“After practicing the assault on the plane, the French,” says Colonel Sergei Vasilenko, “asked the instructor:“ What did the Russians do on the plane for more than two minutes, when the Chinese average was 1 minute 20 seconds? To which the instructor replied: “The Russians did not perform the exercise – they stormed the plane.” And we actually got on the plane and cleaned it all up, including the luggage compartment.Our task was to conduct an assault on the plane with a complete sweep, find and neutralize twenty terrorists. and we have completed the task!
We were one of the few teams that did not perform the exercises, but actually practiced the situation – we worked tactically, covered each other, worked the corners. One of the American brigadier generals pointed to the Russian command to his subordinates and said in front of everyone: “These guys are the only ones who work tactically.”
By the way, we took a picture with the Americans later for a general photo, giving them the flag of the Airborne Forces, which they were incredibly happy about when they learned that these were the elite units of the Russian special forces, called Airborne, i.e.e. Airborne assault.
“ALLEY KOGANA”
One of those who surprised foreign anti-terror pros was the first number of a Russian sniper pair. He bypassed his opponents in all respects, “shooting” competitors in all exercises.
At the training grounds for sniper exercises, the organizers, without exception, took away cameras, phones and computers. Even ballistic calculators. They were allowed to leave only a primitive observation tube, the weapon itself, optical sights and a notebook with a pencil for calculations.
In these conditions, the most elite snipers from all over the world dramatically lost their fighting spirit and the only ones who, in such Spartan conditions, were able to show real shooting, were shooters from Russia and Canada. They completed their tasks without auxiliary electronics.
Sniper drills proved to be the most difficult. In the conditions of absolute uncertainty of the target situation, the second number needed to find targets in two minutes and give the first number all the necessary information.The shooter must hit five targets in five minutes, with a maximum of 6 shots.
The American special forces major was so imbued with the work of our snipers that right at the shooting range – after the Russians had completed the exercise – he took off his stripes and chevrons and presented his attributes as a sign of deep respect. They approached the Russians and shook hands with the words: “Guys, you are the best. Here you showed what some of them will learn from and analyze for a long time. ”
As already noted, if it were not for the age factor, it is very possible that the places on the podium would have been distributed differently.
As noted by the Russian participants, the atmosphere at the tournament was not at all competitive. Nobody pissed on anyone, no crooked looks. From the very first minutes, our pros found a common language with representatives of many departments. And sometimes it got to the point that the members of the opposing team helped prepare for the upcoming exercise, although according to the rules this could not be done.
According to the veterans of the special forces, they did not see anything new in terms of tactics and working out some tasks in Jordan.But I was pleasantly impressed by the material base and the opportunities that it opened up for working out various situations. For example, the elements of shooting from a carbine with large angles turned out to be very interesting – in Russia this is difficult to work out due to the lack of a profile range. The difficulty is the calculation of the trajectory of the shot. The bullet itself is light, the shooting distances are large, about three hundred meters. And the targets themselves are the size of a mobile phone.
None of the Russians, according to one of the participants, have ever fired at such distances in principle.Perhaps in the mountains. Although there, too, the distances were two to three times less.
Of all the practical exercises, perhaps the most memorable is the one called Hogantown or Hogan’s Alley. The group moves through an almost real city, destroying unexpected targets in unexpected places and at awkward angles. They had to shoot from different hands. Depends on a situation.
Russians note the high level of organization of the competition. A typical example: the results of the group were known within a minute after the final exercise of the last command.A booklet with photographs was ready five minutes after the end of the championship and was promptly distributed to all participants.
Summing up the results of the Royal Tournament, Colonel “Alpha” Sergei Vasilenko gives the following assessment:
– I think that if we brought an active division to these competitions: “Alpha”, “Vympel”, “Vityaz” – any of these divisions would be guaranteed first place! I voiced exactly this point of view to the special forces from the United States, who told me in a personal conversation: “We thought that the Russians would be a little faster.”- “Who is your most senior in rank in the team?” – “Senior Lieutenant”. – “If acting lieutenants from the Russian special forces came here, then everyone else would simply have nothing to do at these competitions.”
In the near future, I plan to contact Sergei Ivanovich Lysyuk, so that he can help bring the team of the Vityaz CSN of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia to this competition.
“CHALLENGE!”
The main detachment for fighting terrorists in Jordan is the “Special Operations Squad-71”, created in 1971.The main tasks: the fight against Islamic terrorists and drug trafficking. The unit’s fighters are trained in conjunction with American and British special forces. After 1976, not a single hostage was killed during the operations, but there were casualties among the special forces.
In late 1996, the importance of the Special Forces in the country’s national security was reinforced by the creation of the Kingdom of Jordan Special Forces Command. Parts of the special forces and the royal guard were united under a single command.
The core of this unified fist is the Special Forces brigade, which has the following units: a special forces group, an airborne battalion, a sabotage and reconnaissance battalion, an airborne artillery battalion and a special forces training school.
As experts of the International Institute of Anti-Terrorism note, Jordanian special forces are distinguished, first of all, by the ability to quickly deploy anywhere not only in the country, but throughout the Middle East.Fire support is provided by the Air Force grouping with military transport aircraft C-130 Hercules and CASA 212A Aviocar.
Some time ago, a squadron of UH-1 Iroquois helicopters was created, equipped specifically for the transfer of special forces through the dangerous areas of the country. For long-range large-scale operations, special forces can use the heavy “turntables” Aerospatiale AS.332M “Super Puma”. For close air support – modern AH-IF class “Cobra” attack vehicles.
Instructors teach beginners every day: “Challenge and excel in training.Challenge and excel in battle. Challenge and remain the best unit in the country’s Armed Forces. ”
Only in Jordan there is a special kind of martial art – an offensive method of cold-blooded killing and removing a sentry, which is called “Sijal” (that is, in Arabic, “Challenge”). Armed with razor-sharp cleavers and bamboo sticks capable of breaking bones, the Jordanian paratroopers conduct their training. To warm up, they practice Taekwon-Do techniques for an hour.
A unique shooting range was built in Zarka, the main training base of the special forces. Here you can see how the combat training is going. On a particularly hot day, when the temperature in the shade reaches 40 degrees, a reconnaissance and sabotage squad in camouflage suits takes up a position.
… Unexpectedly, militants armed with Kalash and posing as the enemy open fire with live ammunition. Bullets fall a few centimeters from the advancing saboteurs.Those, in turn, fall to the ground and shoot from M-16 rifles at paper targets located fifty meters away from them.
Such harsh and sometimes dangerous training methods are due to the fact that it is very difficult to fight in border areas, for example, with Iraq, where it is extremely hot during the day and cold at night, it is very difficult. This requires fighters of a special type, capable of not only enduring such climatic conditions, but also making tedious marches with a 40-kilogram load, firing to kill in the way that reconnaissance saboteurs are trained to do this.
Thus, soldiers who want to finally hang the golden “wings” of the paratroopers on their chests and show off in maroon berets must undergo grueling physical and psychological tests. Only then will they be allowed to submit a school enrollment report.
Cadets who complete a year’s reconnaissance paratrooper training course and receive a certificate become full-fledged soldiers of the airborne battalion. The best fighters after several years of service are given the opportunity to become volunteers to join the special forces battalion.
Moscow | The legendary commander of the special forces group “Alpha”
is 85 years old
85th anniversary of the Hero of the Soviet Union, one of the first commanders of the legendary “Alpha” Gennady Zaitsev. His whole life is a service to the Motherland. He was responsible for the storming of Amin’s palace in Kabul, personally negotiated with terrorists, rescued hostages.
I came to work behind the wheel.The handshake is firm. It’s just according to the passport – 85. Of these, eleven were given to group “A”.
Those who have been here do not happen. Unlike the special forces of other countries, both young people and officers with vast experience serve in “Alpha”. Those who started with Zaitsev talk about “Alpha” only this way: family.
Candidates were selected primarily by their IQ level. It was not terminators who got into “Alpha”, but people with the highest intellect.
Everyone remembers Zaitsev as a strict but fair commander.
“ The most important teacher in my life, because even if you figuratively count, I came to group ” A “for 20 years, served there for 28 years, so my backbone in general, everything that I have in me, built this unit , group “A”, – admitted Alexander Matovnikov, Hero of Russia, Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasian Federal District.
“ It is a great honor for me to congratulate Gennady Nikolaevich on such a worthy anniversary on behalf of the Kremlin soldiers, the commandant’s office of the Moscow Kremlin, first of all, the presidential regiment ,” said Sergei Khlebnikov, commandant of the Moscow Kremlin, a former employee of the Alpha special forces group.
“Is heroism being brought up or is it in the blood? – No, I think, not in the blood. It is brought up, of course,” Zaitsev noted.
Of course, they are afraid of death, but not in the same way as ordinary people. Fear for Alpha employees is secondary.
“They are overcoming this fear, they are overcoming it, because it is necessary to do a job – to save the hostages,” says Zatsiyev.
Certainly not without losses. 32 officers all the time. For such a unit as group “A” this is a lot.An unrecoverable amount. The best of the best are gone, saving others. The names, if they are announced, are not immediately. Ordinary people say thank you to the whole group. As in Beslan.
“ When you walk into school, it says in big letters: Alpha and Pennant, thanks guys.” This is probably the most important thing for our officers, “says Sergei Goncharov, president of the Alpha Anti-Terror Unit Veterans Association.
The main thing is to believe that your own people will never let you down.And then, even for the first time, it is not so scary to go under the bullets.
How to teach a soldier not to be afraid? This is part of the mental preparation. And you just need to stand opposite each other and open fire. That’s how it is now. Therefore, I am wearing a helmet, special glasses and a bulletproof vest.
Words in words, but the commander, if he himself was not on the verge of death, is unlikely to be able to explain to others how to act in a critical situation. Zaitsev had such a right.
In 1979, a man sneaked into the US Embassy in Moscow.He demanded asylum. Threatened to blow himself up.
“We sat with him for two and a half hours, talking with you, and so on. Of course, it was scary when you sit and see there, here it is – in front of you – an explosive device,” – says Zaitsev.
The criminal was liquidated. The improvised bomb exploded only partially. None of the employees of the American embassy were injured.
Group “A” has no equal in the ability to neutralize the enemy.
In order to act absolutely confidently and professionally at the height, it takes at least six months to train fighters, and even after that they train almost every day.
“ When you go to a combat operation, it’s completely different. It’s not just some kind of tremor or fear. This is the responsibility that cannot be passed on to someone ,” says Mikhail Golovatov, commander of the group “ Alpha “in 1991-1992.
Training is not only daily, but sometimes very hard. In the literal sense of the word. This shield in my hands weighs 34 kilograms.
Hits from a machine gun at a distance of 500 meters. This is how instructors shoot, who are sometimes entrusted with the right to train Group A officers.
Gennady Zaitsev was a guest at the Russian Special Forces University. He said that the guys here are worthy. And for many, this is the highest mark.
“ It is difficult to talk about Gennady Nikolaevich Zaitsev, because this man is so legendary, his role is so powerful and strong in the formation of ” Alpha “, and in general, in general, in the development of both the unit as a whole and each employee.” , – believes Daniil Martynov, a former employee of the group “ Alpha “.
The awards can be counted, but he will not tell about every one. Most of Alpha’s operations are still classified. From 1974 to the present day, they have been saving the world.
Full Spectrum Warrior
Tips
Full Spectrum Warrior is a single player tactical game played over 11 levels. The manual contains general operating instructions and a complete walkthrough for all levels.The solutions mentioned in it are not the only ones – there are always at least a few ways to win – so I encourage you to experiment.
Training mission 1
Five training missions (MOUT missions) discuss in detail the management of our units. The tutorial is only available to beginners, that is, people who have chosen the sergeant or sergeant level in their profile – if you play at an authentic level, these missions will be blocked!
In the first tutorial, you will learn the basics of moving and monitoring your unit.Follow the series of instructions. When you hear the recording, press the TAB key or the middle mouse button – Use these keys to move between departments. The next task is to learn about the branches – using the keys B, I, S, D, which are used to select individual soldiers. Select each of the soldiers of both teams in turn.
The next task is to position the team correctly – according to directions, in the following order: west (W), south (S), north (N) and east (E). You can do this by moving the camera and pressing F.Then aim the sniper – it is indicated by a blue triangle – and look at its position by zooming in. Now you need to determine your location using GPS (E key) and check the mission objectives (left mouse button on the GPS screen).
The next task is to stand in the corner of the building – this can be done by clicking the right mouse button. (activate motion mode) by pointing to a corner (marked with a blue triangle) and clicking the left mouse button. The angled position provides fire protection. Then move to the following positions, pursuing one of the soldiers.In case of a miss, just press space – the soldiers will automatically find the nearest safe place. This part of the workout will end when you reach the end point.
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Science Fiction: Battle Fiction: ≡ 16 ≡: Blaine Pardow: read online
≡ 16 ≡
Great Hope, also known as McEvedie Town
Tiki Province
Circe
October 22, 2823
Khan McEvedy watched the docking ships land around Great Hope. The journey here was a hasty one, using pirate jump points and fast flights to confuse the spies who might be watching her. She reached Circe in record time. Sarah still called the city Great Hope, but the lower castes always called it the city of McEvedie. This was one of the things for which Nikolai had made her a suggestion two years ago. She was now glad that it had hurt the ilkhan so much.
The city nestled in a tiny river valley that opened onto a seaport complex. This was the capital of the Wolverines, one of the first places they vacated. The capital of the Snow Ravens was on the opposite side of the planet. She ordered the battleships to take up positions and ensure that the shuttle circuit between Great Hope and the transport ships was hidden, setting up a mini-blockade of her own capital.
The evacuation lasted for several days, while without any attempts at interference from the clans.There were sporadic reports of clashes, of clan troops advancing and probing Wolverine’s domain, but the main assault had not yet begun. For the most part, they ended up in already abandoned cities and complexes. With two dozen docking ships around Great Hope, it was easy to see that her clan’s mobilization was complex and should have confused her would-be enemies.
When she barely descended to the thermakad, several officers joined her, each asking about orders, explanations, signatures on the endless sea of papers.There was a lot to do. “How did Alexander Kerensky deal with this? Yes, it is true, all the SLDF supported him. ” Even Nikolai, who managed to organize a flight to the Land of Dreams at the beginning of the Pentagon’s civil wars, performed a small miracle. There was an incomprehensible amount of detail that she had to entrust to her officers.
While crossing the spaceport, she heard the crash of one of the Mule-class heavy docking ships. Fly away to safety, I hope. She made all the scheduled face-to-face meetings with Nikolai and the Grand Council.They will come for her, Nikolai confirmed this. Wolverines will be donated for the sake of the unity of the clans. The saddest thing about this was that no one fully understood that Nikolai wanted to sacrifice one of his clans for the sake of domination and power. Destroying Wolverines was like a situation where a person wants to cut off his hand in order to insist on his own.
A man in a white lab overalls approached and bowed his head respectfully. It must be him, McEvedie suggested.
– Dr. Voone, I presume?
“I am glad to meet you in person again, Khan McEvedy,” said the old doctor.
Sarah knew about him because of his work in the Wolverine genetic program. This man was a genius, as evidenced by his notes.
“I would hope you change your mind and join us, Doctor,” she said.
Vaughn smiled.
– I’m an old man. I will take the place that someone needs who can shine a light on the future of our people.
– Great minds are hard to replace.
– That’s why I offered you this plan.
Plan. McEvedy saw him. A way to save a copy of the genetic samples of the Wolverine warriors. Copying genes to preserve them for the future was brave and dangerous.
– I looked it over, Doctor. There is some risk.
– You will take with you the main samples of the genes of the warriors who have earned the generic name. I will only keep a small amount of material. But I will make sure the Wolverine warriors live on.
It was a bold plan, one that offered some hope for the survival of her warriors if Operation Return went wrong.
– You mustn’t neglect risk, Doctor.
– I am loyal to you, Khan McEvedy. You understand our people and their freedoms. Nikolai seeks to destroy the slightest signs of what is left of family life. There are dangers in my plan, but in the end it will work. You know this.
– But if you are discovered, you will be killed.
– By the time they reveal what I intend to do, I will already be dead and the rest of your people will be safe.My job guarantees a different future.
“I hope you are right, Dr. Voone. I hope you are right … “
Rooster Plains
Circe
Clan space
October 22, 2823
Warmech Trinary Wolverine curved in the middle and seemed to retreat. The green hills were pitted with fleeing ‘Mechs, and the turf was torn apart by the shifting battle.Often, a small, smoking hole — a beam or autocannon projectile that passed a target — gaped in the tall grass of the Circe Plain. Heavy raindrops, “Circe’s wrath,” as they called it here, fell down onto the battlefield, further limiting visibility.
This battle was fierce, much more brutal than any of its participants could have foreseen. The Fire Mandrills have lost the right to battle to the Steel Vipers. The vipers decided that they would strike at the sibgroup stationed at Rooster Plains [5] and very quickly defeat the enemy.After all, these were just children, not experienced fighters. Surprise will be a guarantee of victory. The storm began just before the battle, and in the middle of the thunderstorm, the Vipers hit the Wolverines.
Those deployed a reinforced bellows trinary. Their infantry dug in and fought well, but they were no match for the Steel Vipers who took up their positions in the hills next to the training facility. As the Steel Vipers advanced towards the camp, they came across a string of vibromines buried in the turf. It cost them two bellows, their legs twisted and twisted.
Placing mines is a cowardly act. Not the deed of a warrior of clans. This young sibgroup will pay for it, or so the Vipers thought when the battle began. Quickly advancing south of the training facility, they pushed the Wolverine Mechs back, but it cost them dearly. The Wolverines put up several new models of battle mechs that seemed to be capable of doing more damage. Even worse, there was only scattered information on these new models, and this made them dark horses on the battlefield.Ilhan told the Grand Council that the Wolverines are doing such research. The greatness of Nikolai Kerensky again manifested itself here. These new mechs were not found in the battle computer bases, which meant that the Vipers had a difficult way to learn about their capabilities, strengths and weaknesses – in battle.
They chased the Sibs to the undulating plains. No doubt they had an experienced commander, perhaps a coach who was once a veteran. It is a pity that such people should die. The Steel Vipers have offered a challenge to absorb the Wolverines to allow them to fight with honor.They refused. Now all that remained was to crush and smash them. It was unpleasant, but necessary.
Khan of the Steel Vipers Bryn saw a deflection in the enemy’s ranks and felt that victory was near.
– They lose the center of the formation. Head over there, hit and rip off their flanks.
He served with Khan McEvedie and the other first Sahan Wolverine, Robertson. He was sad about the death of Robertson, who was protecting his clan from the wrath of the Widowmakers. Now the Steel Vipers were one of the Wolverine’s tools of destruction.The only good news was that when he won, this complex and lands would become part of the Viper enclave on Circe.
His troops, Canine Cluster 80, followed orders exactly. They hit the center, but he just stepped back, refusing to break. Suddenly Khan Breen saw what was happening. Pressing down on the center, his troops suddenly came under fire from the flanks, deadly cross-fire.
He saw one of the Hussars, though the most damaged of them, quickly collapse.The Shadow Hawk received an extended-range charge to the head, and a shot was fired across the entire battlefield. The beam pierced the cockpit on one side and exited on the other. The warrior was instantly charred by the stream of particles, and the ‘Mech toppled to the ground, sinking deep into the moist soil.
A crash louder than thunder resounded across the battlefield. Turning around, through the rain, the khan saw an orange column of flame and a ball of fire rising into the air. The Wolverines did what shocked him – they blew up their own training center.His’ Mech swayed under a hail of short-range missiles and laser fire from three Wolverine Mechs. The explosion caught Breen’s warriors by surprise, giving the Wolverines a chance to take advantage of the situation. Another Viper fur was hit. The odds were quickly shifting towards Wolverine. Fighting against the rules of the clans, they crushed the 80th Fang in a few minutes.
“It’s not worth it. Not now, not now that the complex has turned into a blazing ruin. Not these losses, ”the khan decided.
– Vipers, this is the True Viper.We retreat to the starting positions in pairs. Open suppression fire on the Wolverines while we retreat.
He saw the Wolverines rush in the opposite direction, towards the borderlands with the Snow Ravens. Their capital, Dehradun, was only 60 kilometers away. The surviving Wolverines are now the Snow Ravens’ problem, not his.
“I hope you handle them better than we do,” Bryn said to the Crows in his mind. He was about to send a message to Khan Joyce Merrell to let her know of the threat coming towards her, but he stopped.”If she wins where I couldn’t, what will that say to ilkhan and others about my Vipers?” He hesitated.
“Joyce has to deal with them herself.”
Outskirts of Great Hope, also known as McEvedie Town
Tiki Province
Circe
Clan space
October 22, 2823
The Wolverine-owned Tiki province was covered in a mixture of scraps of landscape stretching over thousands of square kilometers.Dense forests, eroded mountain ranges, arid flat plateaus, swamps, it was a whole microcosm of land surface types in a relatively small area. The center for the coveted prey was Great Hope, also known as McEvedie. “Only the arrogance of the Wolverines could allow the city to be named after such a traitor as Sarah McEvedy,” thought the Widowmaker Khan with disgust.
Khan Carridge knew that in the eyes of equals he seemed petty in his political maneuvers against the Wolverines. It didn’t bother him.He wanted the Wolverines to suffer, weaken, die. It will consume their property, their resources, their territories and people. He already had a list of what he needed. Choosing the most profitable, Kerridge will ensure that the Widowmakers are the most dominant clan. “Who cares what the other khans think of me?”
His Widowmakers won the right to try to fight the Wolverines here so he could gain access to the mines in the area. So far the siege has been problematic. Over the territories of Wolverine, above Circe, there was a screen of warships.On the way here, his assault force was surrounded by Wolverine fighters and warships. Kerridge asked for free passage, and he was given it. But this concentration of firepower was nerve-racking. “They’re up to something …” He knew Sarah too well. “She wants me to be the first to open fire, so that the blood is on my hands. She respects our traditions only to the extent that she avoids those battles where she is shown to be wrong or unjust. ” Until now, the fighting Wolverines entered the battle only after being attacked by other clans.
They did not dig in and did not fight fairly. As soon as the troops of Kerridge, the battle cluster, entered the province of Tiki, the Wolverines launched a series of sudden and short raids on them. They approached, opened fire and retreated. It was time-consuming and un-clan-like, at least in Kerridge’s opinion.
Ilkhan Kerensky and a delegation from the Grand Council joined his forces, adding to the onslaught. Nicholas saw directly that the Wolverines had already abandoned the path of the clans and were fighting like marauders.This only strengthened his position against McEvedie and her people. “Everyone will see that I was not mistaken about them … These Wolverines turned their backs on our ways.”
Of course, he had ways to ensure that the Wolverines were presented in a bad light. “It makes sense to have people here with the necessary funds at their disposal. A guarantee … especially since the ilkhan is here. ”
As they got closer to the city, Kerridge watched a strange sight on the roads. Refugees. People who claimed to be supporters of Nikolai Kerensky were expelled.They loved their clan, but did not want to take part in the upcoming battle in any way. He saw a thick cloud of smoke rising from the side of the city, as if to aggravate their fear. Carridge knew that this amount of smoke could only come from one thing – the city was on fire. From time to time he saw docking ships landing and taking off, the lights of their fusion reactors illuminating the sky like meteors. Kerridge slowed down the advance of his troops slightly. Something was happening in the city, and he didn’t want to rush there blindly.
Nikolai had a different opinion.
– Why are you hesitating, Khan Kerridge? You won the opportunity to fight the Wolverines here. Victory ensures that you absorb them. Go to battle immediately. Show them what a real clan warrior is! The ilkhan’s voice over the command line was an annoying reminder of what Carridge needed to do.
While testing his long-range sensors, he tuned them to their maximum range. Kerridge was looking for a signal, a special signal.The Widowmaker Khan knew it was there in Great Hope where he had ordered to be stationed. The last gift to the Wolverines. The last nail in the lid of their coffin. “After that, the takeover will be something that everyone will give little thought to.”
He switched to his YBC sensors. Nuclear, biological and chemical scanners will find what they need, even a few kilometers away. Here! Here it is. His warriors did their job. Their mission was simple: secretly remove a nuclear warhead from Brian’s arsenal and smuggle it into town.The same two warriors stayed with her. In case of a collision, they had the Wolverine infantry uniform, and they could easily pass a surface check. The warhead was armed and linked to the launch code on his battle computer.
“A glorious spectacle is planned … and Nikolai has a place in the first row.”
* * *
From the Overlord-class Huron, Khan McEvedie watched the final four docking ships prepare to depart. Her rearguard troops were the oldest warriors of the clan and amused themselves by pestering the forces of the Widowmaker clan.It was the Zeta galaxy. Most of these people are already very old, having served in their youth with Father Nicholas in the Defense Forces of the Star League. They were all seasoned veterans of the Civil War and Operation Klondike. Where Nikolai suggested that there was no place for old warriors in society, the reforms initiated by McEvedy offered new life to the Zeta galaxy. She evacuated the Binarius of the most standing warriors, resisting the protests. The rest insisted that they would be the last to stay at Great Hope.Everyone wanted to harm the Widowmaker clan.
The city has now become a ghost town, left in ruins and burning in controlled flames. “If the Widowmakers wanted this city, they will find that it is not very valuable to them.” Nearly ten thousand civilians chose not to serve with the rest of Wolverine’s troops. McEvedy was sympathetic to this. Some simply did not want to leave their home on Circe. Some were old and frail and did not want to travel. Others were lower-caste families who did not want to risk their young children on spaceflight into the unknown.Several warriors, most of them recently graduated from their sibgroups, declared that they did not want to fight the ilkhan’s forces. The influence of Nikolai Kerensky, the living god, has spread far. The excuses mattered to her. She accepted them all. “I don’t blame those who sided with Nikolai. They have not seen him for many years, have not seen what he is capable of. ” For a moment she thought of Andrei and shook her head at the memory.
The Widowmakers practically halted their advance on the city ten kilometers from its outskirts, using the ring of hills as a shelter.McEvedy ordered the warriors of the Zeta galaxy to get ready. She moved them from the city center to the distant suburbs. Sarah will not drag the Widowmakers into urban combat. It was tempting, but there were still innocent civilians left there. She didn’t want to put them in jeopardy.
As Sarah watched the troop star quickly leave town, she wondered how Franklin Hallis was doing. For another second, she thought about Andrei again. She knew he would approve of it. Like Nikolai, he had an impulsive streak.In fact, he would have been intrigued by this type of surgery. They retreated right in front of the other clans. McEvedy didn’t give them the battle they wanted. Everything went great so far.
The future looked bright and promising now. Sra let herself smile as she moved to another spot on the Huron for a better view. She hoped that soon she would feel good enough to get back into the ‘Mech cockpit.
* * *
– Ilkhan, we are ready to start the assault, – said Khan Kerridge.His fingers entered the code on the battle computer: zero-alpha-zero-bravo, zero, zero, one. The finger is hovering over the transfer button. Kerridge turned off the microphone in his neurohelmet. The widowmakers climbed the ridge of the mountain. He pushed his mech forward a little to see Great Hope.
– With this, I drive a stake into the heart of an infection that is trying to devour our people.
He pressed a button, and a dozen kilometers away, a new sun exploded on Circe’s surface. It was strangely quiet as the nuclear explosion soared upward and illuminated the earth with bright, man-made sunlight.There was a crash like lightning in a summer thunderstorm, followed by the roar of a thousand docking ship engines operating simultaneously.
The blast wave was so powerful that it knocked back the Widowmaker’s Mechs that had reached the ridge. A howling gust of wind, hot and searing, pounced on the machines. Kerridge watched the Ilhan’s War Mech tilt backward from the force of the blast. Dust, earth, ash, debris, everything flew to the sides, as if thrown out of the funnel of a tornado. The Widowmaker Khan tried to manipulate the ‘Mech, despite the fact that it was he who caused the explosion and was aware of the impending blast wave.In the distance, he saw a mushroom cloud foaming in clouds of fire, growing upward, feeding on itself. The mech’s sensors howled about the radiation threat.
Kerridge has reactivated the communications system. It’s time to continue the show.
– Ilkhan, are you okay?
A shocked voice rang in my ears:
– What happened?
– Nuclear strike. The Wolverines apparently used weapons of mass destruction in their own city.
– There were civilians there.My sensors detected their presence. Thousands of civilians, – the voice was shocked, but slowly turned to angry. – What has Sarah done?
– Sir, high radiation hazard warnings in this area. We need to retreat for a while, for your safety, sir.
Nikolai Kerensky was not scared. Its warmech stood and seemed to lean forward towards the growing mushroom cloud.
“I can’t believe McEvedy did such a thing.” His voice trailed off in amazement at what he witnessed.
– Ilhan, she must have used one of the nuclear warheads from Brian’s secret arsenal. “Everything, all the necessary clues have been communicated,” he cut himself off. Each clan has some nuclear weapons in its possession, this one had a signature linking it to the rest of the nuclear weapons obtained from Wolverine. It was the trail that linked Wolverine to the destruction of the city. A flawless combination. Anyone who could prove that he was involved in the incident was next to the bomb when it exploded.
“I won’t let this get away with it easily,” Nikolai said confidently.
“I understand, ilhan,” said Carridge, moving his’ Mech closer to the leader. – You should not. The Wolverines became criminals because of their deed. You could have died.
There was a pause. The shadow of the explosion cloud loomed over their position, turning day into night in the blink of an eye. Finally, Nikolai Kerensky said:
– This is no longer a takeover test. The Wolverines’ actions changed everything.We must convene a Grand Council and decide what our next steps will be. However, it is clear that Wolverine’s bad genes should not be preserved. They should be eliminated.
– You are wise, ilkhan.
Nikolai’s voice was filled with barely contained rage.
– At the same time, the Wolverines, wherever they go, must understand that they must pay for such actions. The use of weapons of mass destruction is billable.
– What will you do, ilkhan?
– I need to contact the planetary communications network to transmit a message.
