Level I Observer (Evaluator) Course for the first time ever conducted with Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) ended at Juozas Lukša Training Centre of the Lithuanian Land Force last week.
"It was highly beneficial to test a novelty in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, MILES, during the course. Tactical field training simulated with MILES helps troops get a real battle experience and assess damage that is inescapable where there are real combat actions. Tactical operations with MILES demand all the battlefield skills under heavy hostile fire they had acquired over their service. In this course soldiers were able to become certain that even the smallest mistakes may claim lives or sabotage completion of task in wartime," participant of the course Captain Ernestas Senulis said.
Military personnel from the Juozas Lukša Training Centre, King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion, Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion and the General Adolfas Ramanauskas Warfare Training Centre underwent the course.
The course spanned 2 weeks and was delivered in two parts. The first week of training covered theoretical part, participants were learning to carry out the functions of an observer (evaluator), to conduct exercises according to the established procedures, to observe unit-level action, to conduct discussions on the results of actions, and other skills.
On the second week practical training and completion of tasks in a theatre of operation using MILES followed. That allowed observers (evaluators) conduct an objective assessment of the personnel's ability to complete various tactical tasks. Two sections of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion were completing different tactical tasks for three days while participants of the course were training, observing and assessing their actions.
"It is pleasant to march with the pace of development of modern military technologies and to apply them for the enhancement of our soldiers' skills. Employment of MILES for a tactical training event allowed testing conditions close to an actual battle, to move cautiously, to choose covers and aim more carefully so that the adversaries would fall and you would survive in a battle. It was both interesting and beneficial using MILES in this exercise," PV2 Andrius Greičius said.
The course was only the first phase of training a soldier capable of gathering systematically objective data about the ability of a unit to complete its tasks, to analyse them and to assist personnel of the unit to carry out the designated tasks more efficiently. The next stage - observation, training and evaluation of units during field training events held by the Lithuanian Armed Forces on the basis of the kills developed during the course.
The objective of the course is to prepare qualified personnel for the Lithuanian Armed Forces who are able to plan and carry out unit-level instruction, evaluation and training during multinational or Lithuanian military exercises (training events).
Press release by: Combat Training Control Officer of the Evaluation Division of the Juozas Lukša Training Centre CPT Aurelijus Neifaltas.
Photo by SFC Sigitas Maliauskas
