There were weeks erstwhile they slept only a fewer hours a day or not. They learned tactics, trained fire skills, conducted reconnaissance, long-distance rallying, planned and performed peculiar operations. 1 of the most hard courses that commandos undergo during their service is the “Gel”, a soldier of the Commando Military Unit.
Forgive my directness, but I thought I'd talk to an experienced soldier... How old are you?
‘Gele’: Twenty-three and I am 1 of the youngest graduates of this year's primary course.
Many of your peers have no precise future plans, And not only did you pass the selection, you finished your basic course. erstwhile did you start your service with the commando military unit?
The thought of joining peculiar forces was born in advanced school. I've been carefully preparing for this due to the fact that I knew what recruiting looked like erstwhile I was 17. unit selectionwhich tests must be carried out and what cognition and skills must be demonstrated by applying to the service. What's more, I knew at the time that I wanted to service in a peculiar unit, which is in Military Commandos units Lublin. I bet myself a point of honor that I would pass the selection. I had the belief that if I achieved this even before putting on my uniform as a civilian, it would mean that I would meet all the another requirements without problems and accomplish my dream goal.
Someone inspired you, possibly they told you?
My physical education teacher, who was besides my MMA coach, told me about peculiar troops. You could say he was my mentor, and he was the 1 who pointed me in the way. It was besides not insignificant that I studied in advanced school with a military profile, so there were many people around me who wanted to go to the army, but besides fewer who managed to get into peculiar troops. Coach erstwhile told me about his erstwhile student who serves in FormosisAnd then he arranged for us to meet at the sports club. Talking to him just confirmed my decision. Therefore, after my graduation I started intensive training and selection preparations. I was hired as a water rescuer and spent all free minute in training for a fewer months. I besides took a preselection course organized by JWK, due to the fact that before the field test I had to learn to navigate and work on a military map. And in order to increase my chances and get into the unit, just before selection, I decided to learn how to ski. But it wasn't a good thought due to the fact that I got hurt. And it was due to my leg injury that I fell out on the second day of my selection.
Did you feel the taste of failure?
On the contrary, I'm even more involved. I moved to the mountains and worked as a lifeguard on 1 of the hotel's swimming pools. I've had my spare time. all day I took a pack weighing respective twelve kilograms, purchased for the intent of selecting shoes and clothing, and marched to the mountains. I've been practicing on steep approaches and descents, training the method of march, run and navigation. After a further 10 months, I again approached the selection and this time this effort was successful.
Did you pass the selection as a civilian?
Yeah, I was 21 at the time. Then things went fast. I volunteered for basic training as part of voluntary essential military service to 1 of Unit 6 Airborne Brigade in Krakow. And I've already done specialist training at JWK. It lasted respective months, and immediately after my transition to professional military service, I took another, possibly the most crucial step for a peculiar soldier. I started basic training.
Why is it so important?
It is said that this is 1 of the most hard trainings that specialists undergo during the service, and at the same time the most important, due to the fact that the completion of the alleged basework opens the way to service in subunits of combat units. It's a hell of a hard training and very exhausting. If individual thinks selection is hardcore, then a "base" is specified a selection, only to power. During the course, we conflict not only with physical effort. We request to learn the tactics utilized by peculiar units, the planning of operations, the conducting of peculiar recognition, direct action. We operate at full velocity throughout the year: we are landing from helicopters with a fast rope, practicing flights under the propeller to the alleged group, storming buildings, conducting long-distance rallying and unconventional activities. Hundreds of hours we spend on the ground in Poland and abroad. We besides usage shooting ranges and another non-military facilities, e.g. schools, hotels or abandoned old factories, etc.
Was it hard?
The training was so intense that you had to practically quit life outside the unit. All that mattered was classes, training, self-education... And over and over.
Muscle pain?
Oh, it hurt. Hands, hands, knees, hips, pelvis and feet besides hurt. I guess it's kind of hard to find a place that didn't hurt. (Laughter)
What kind of class do you remember most?
It's hard to choose due to the fact that I think I liked everything. Whether it was a green tactic, erstwhile with a weight of 37 kg of equipment I had to march in the forest 80 km, conduct three-day observation, and then return, whether erstwhile I was trained in field medicine, or erstwhile I was trained in combat boats and boarding gear, or erstwhile we interacted with chopper crews. If I had to choose, I'd bet on black tactics and propellers. due to the fact that landing from a 120 km/h device is something! specified a descent from 30 m down to the line to the roof, and then storming the building creates truly large emotions.
Sounds like a movie...
That's right, all "baseline" day is simply a challenge and a way of crossing the boundaries. And it's only after the fact that erstwhile you analyse coolly what you did present that it all turns out to be like an action movie.
You finished your basic course. What's next?
I began my service in 1 of the unit's combat teams. I went to a group that specializes in performing HALO/HAHO parachute jumps. This means that I will be trained in tactical jumps, i.e. long-distance parachute rally and jumps from 10,000 m, with oxygen apparatus. I'm just making my dreams come true.
