The Exercise Poskok 16/1 (“Viper“) was concluded with the evaluation of the components of the Special Forces Command as parts of the 4th HRVCON to Resolute Support Mission. The components were found to be fully prepared for the mission and the performance of the complex tasks entrusted to the special forces in the Croatian Contingent, said the Head of the Evaluator Team of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Colonel Mijo Kožić.

The Exercise “Poskok 16/1“, which was held in the “Josip Jović” Barracks at Udbina was concluded with the evaluation of the components of the Special Forces Command as parts of the 4th HRVCON to Resolute Support mission. 

The pre-deployment training of the components is based on NATO standards and requirements, such as the capablity of planning and administration of basic and specialist police instructor and leader training programme and force protection, and featured the lessons learned of the members of the 1st rotation (returned from mision in 2015), which contributed significantly to the quality and relevance of the preparation of subsequent contingents. 

The members of the 4th HRVCON have taken a complex and comprehensive preparators programme comprising a mission-specific pre-deployment training, a visit to the Islamic Centre in Rijeka, the familiarisation with the risks and threats expectable in the area of operations, and the review and analysis of the incidents in the past period, the completed specialist courses and demonstration of the skills required for the advisor duty. 

The Exercise Director underlined that important role in the preparations for the third rotation was of the former Mission participants.  “The second of the two rotations is still in Afghanistan, and we are relying on the advice and essential information from the members of the first rotation which are welcome for quality preparation.

The Head of the Evaluator Team of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Colonel  Mijo Kožić informed us that the scenario, the incidents and events (MEL/MIL) assigned to the component fully supported the evaluator lists and enabled the evaluators determine the readiness and preparedness. 

“The final evaluation of the capablities from the capability matrix has been conducted during the final exercise “Poskok 16/1“ demonstrated the Component ready to participate in Resolute Support mission and to perform some of the most complex tasks of the Croatian Contingent“, asserted Colonel Kožić following the Exercise. 

Colonel Mijo Kožić, Head of the Evaluator Team of the GS of CAF 

The Component has been evaluated ready for deployment in advisory roles, as demonstrated across the functional areas. The protection forces (in charge of force protection within the Camp, at the advisory workposts and along the movement routes) have been evaluated ready for their primary duty, as demonstrated during the Exercise Poskok 16/1. The evaluation of combat morale evinced excellent motivation, cohesion and mutual trust, fostering the quality of the Component. 

The objective of the Exercise is to evaluate the readiness of the members of the Special Forces Command for the participation in Resolute Support Mission. As prescribed by NATO standards, the evaluation was conducted in barracks and in field (comprising the advisory competence and mentoring across the functional areas and the force protection).

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The main task of the Component is the capability of planning and administration of individual and Special Police Training Centre (SPTC) leader training (comprising the intelligence operation, mines and explosives, small arms handling, CIMIC, Tactics Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) and the capability of providing the basic medical care (up to ROLE 1 level), the CIS training and the advisory capability in command and control of SPTC Command in staff roles.