Soldiers of the 11th Małopolska Territorial Defence Brigade practiced tactics throughout the province, but the activities carried out in the waters of Lake Czorsztyński were peculiarly important. There, the territories of the 111th Light Infantry Battalion trained themselves with a crisis response. They saved drowning people, built line bridges and water dams.
The training took place last weekend in August. The main subject was water rescue and search and rescue operations in flood areas in cooperation with services and NGOs. Part of units from 11 The Malopolska Territorial Defence Brigade She trained together with firefighters from the Volunteer Fire Department of Czorsztyn and the Volunteer Fire Department of Maniowa. The exercises active a number of coordinated rescue and evacuation actions and were held in the waters of Lake Czorsztyński.
The Territorials besides rehearsed evacuation of victims from the vehicle after a road accident and first medical assistance. – We trained with soldiers to extract victims from cars after the collision. We utilized hydraulic equipment for our tasks. The territorials learned to operate them, which is not an easy task at all, due to the fact that they are rather large and heavy. Working with them for a twelve or even a fewer minutes requires considerable effort – says Kazimierz Janczy, Chief of Maniowa OS.
Water rescue, jumps from motorboats to water, crossing the lines are only part of the tasks with which soldiers of 111th Battalion of the Light Infantry of the Lesser Polish brigade of OT were faced. Thanks to the roped air crossing that the soldiers built, they could cross Lake Czorsztyńskie and take the people in the water. – 1 of the biggest challenges was to go from water to boat in wet uniform and shoes. This is not as simple as it seems – said Colonel Tomasz Mardaus, commander of the 111th Light Infantry Battalion.
Another exercise was to prepare a temporary water dam to prevent the protected area from flooding. In this case, soldiers learned to pump water and stack sandbags. They performed typical anti-flood activities," added Chief of OPS Maniowa.
As the commander recalls, cognition and experience gained by the territorialists on Czorsztyńskie Lake may be needed at the least anticipated moment. – The soldiers were full involved, they did their best. I wanted them to get as much out of practice as possible. So they know how to aid erstwhile they see individual fall off a boat on a beach vacation and start drowning – said Lt. Marcin Borcowski, commander of the 3rd company of 111th Light Infantry Battalion.
Summer exercises on Lake Czorsztyński are a fixed point in the yearly training plan of the brigade. However, during the last weekend, the training was besides held in Kraków, Tarnowski, Sąddecki, Limanowski and Oświęcim districts. In total, more than 2,000 territorialists – both professional soldiers and volunteers – participated. As the command of the Malopolska brigade emphasizes, regular field training allows to test tactics and logistics of rescue activities, as well as keep cooperation with local services.
