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The 102nd Base Prefers A Training Range

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  • The 102nd Base Prefers A Training Range

    THE 102ND BASE PREFERS A TRAINING RANGE
    by Alexander Tikhonov, Oleg Gorupay

    Source: Krasnaya Zvezda, June 29, 2006, p. 2
    Agency WPS
    DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
    July 3, 2006 Monday

    THE 102ND MILITARY BASE OF THE GROUP OF FORCES IN TRANSCAUCASIA:
    ONLY THROUGH INTENSIVE COMBAT TRAINING IS IT POSSIBLE TO COMPENSATE
    FOR THE PERSONNEL COLLAPSE OF THE 1990S; Meeting of commanders of
    regiments, separate military units, their deputies and commanders of
    the branches and services of the Armed Forces was accomplished in the
    group of Russian forces in Transcaucasia (GRVZ) under supervision of
    GRVZ commander Mayor General Andrei Popov at the 102nd military base
    deployed in Gyumri (Armenia).

    Meeting of commanders of regiments, separate military units, their
    deputies and commanders of the branches and services of the Armed
    Forces was accomplished in the group of Russian forces in Transcaucasia
    (GRVZ) under supervision of GRVZ commander Mayor General Andrei
    Popov at the 102nd military base deployed in Gyumri (Armenia). For
    a month subordinates of commander of this base Mayor General Andrei
    Kholzakov and officers of the GRVZ staff were preparing for training
    exercises and working out a plan a plan of the demonstrative battalion
    tactical exercises.

    Preparation of the meeting was impacted by the fact that simultaneously
    personnel of the military base and the GRVZ in general was occupied
    with withdrawal of armament and combat hardware from the military
    bases in Georgia to Russia and partially to Armenia. Along with this,
    this factor did not impact the quality of the training.

    In the course of the meeting it was noticeable that representatives
    of the younger generation (up to 30 years old) having the posts of
    commanders and deputy commanders of some separate battalions and even
    regiments had a level of training a little lower and sometimes much
    lower than that of representatives of the older generation occupying
    the same posts. Control exercises in the training subjects organized
    during the meeting demonstrated significant difference in theoretical
    and practical level of training of officers depending on their age.

    According to opinion of one of commanders of the branches of Armed
    Forces of the 102nd military base (an experienced combat officer)
    shared by very many people, in current circumstances quitting of
    the Armed Forces by officers born between 1958 and 1969 may result
    in collapse in a level of combat readiness of the Armed Forces. It
    will be simply impossible to substitute them with anyone. To be more
    accurate, the substitution will be unequal.

    There are several reasons for this. The first is the level of training
    of graduates of the military educational institutions of 1995-2004
    (in the troops they are even sometimes called a lost generation). A
    significant part of them tried to retire immediately.

    Second, it is impossible to organize efficient combat training in
    military units of reduced strength. Eight training days a month for
    military units manned less than 50% is probably the optimal possible
    figure, although it is evidently insufficient for training of a highly
    professional soldier, leaving apart improvement of combat skills of
    officers. In such circumstance when an officer in a rank of major
    enters the academy in the best case he manages to receive superficial
    acquaintance with the procedure of preparation and conduction of
    company tactical exercises and to visit demonstrative battalion
    tactical exercises in capacity of a student.

    In the current situation, the 102nd military base is in a slightly
    better situation than some other units. First, every year one of its
    mechanized infantry units (with significant reinforcement) participates
    in joint regimental tactical exercises crowned with firing practice
    with the Armenian party. Second, command of the GRVZ and the 102nd
    base decisively stops attempts of some officers to insist that for
    mechanized infantry units of reduced strength manned less than 50%
    the highest form of training (field training) is firing practice of
    platoons according to normative documents. Finally, there are three
    training ranges at disposal of the 102nd base. These are Nubarashen,
    Kamkhud and Alagyaz (a tank and artillery range). The mountain
    training center Pambak is also used actively under an agreement with
    the Armenian party. Availability of a developed training range base
    allows the maximum efficient use of the training time determined by
    normative documents for units of reduced strength.

    There is no doubt that it is not easy for subordinates of General
    Kholzakov, commander of the 102nd military base, to combine
    fulfillment of the everyday tasks including reception of the Russian
    armament removed from Georgia with the training process. However,
    senior officers say that more active combat training has positive
    influence on all aspects of the base's activities. First of all,
    observance of regulations by servicemen is improved, the field becomes
    a familiar training place for soldiers and company and battalion
    tactical exercises become a norm of life for mechanized infantry. It
    is possible to say for sure now that affairs of the 102nd military
    base are going on well and that only through intensive combat training
    it is possible to compensate for the personnel collapse of the 1990s.
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