Recent developments in the crisis zones around the world and conflict management by military means require the training of Special Forces (SF) on the levels of planning, command and execution. To focus on these challenges, the first International Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) was launched on 2 February at the HDF Peace Support Training Centre in Szolnok. Another SFQC course with English as the working language is run in compliance with NATO standards in the USA, Fort Bragg, NC, and now Hungary is hosting a similar one.

The 36 candidates from Hungary, Slovakia and Estonia had to pass strict medical, physical and English language proficiency tests before being admitted to the ISFQC that is scheduled to run until mid-October. The nominated instructors of the HDF PSTC, the HDF 34th ‘László Bercsényi’ SF Battalion and the US Mobile Training Team (MTT) are responsible for training the personnel in four MOS (Detachment Commander, Weapons Sergeant, Engineer Sergeant and Communications Sergeant).

The course provides parallel training for the detachment commanders and their subordinates. This phase is called specific training during which the trainees acquire the skills of their respective MOS in detail together with its application within the SF ODA.

Special Forces are mostly deployed under non-conventional, complex circumstances. Accordingly, the servicemen attending the course will learn how to carry out their missions autonomously when they are cut off from their own ODA, and the proper use of the tools available in wilderness living conditions.

The Detachment Commander is responsible for receiving and evaluating operation orders, tasking the soldiers within their respective AOR and commanding the ODA. Weapon Sergeants are in charge of using, handling, zeroing/adjusting and maintaining all other individual and collective weapons and technical equipment applied in SF operations besides the ones they need in their position. Being masters of SUT in the ODA, they are tasked to teach and indoctrinate tactical principles and practical combat techniques. Throughout the training they are introduced to a number of weapon families and types so they can use them anytime anywhere.

The Engineer Sergeant must know the routes to/from the area of operation by land, air and sea for insertion/extraction under any circumstances, the characteristics of the landing zone and all the relevant data on a wide spectrum of man-made features and facilities as well as the techniques for their demolition and annihilation.

The Communication Sergeant furthers the accomplishment of ODA missions by operating the CIS equipment efficiently, maintaining its operational status and establishing contact anytime anywhere with the use of SATCOM or man-portable radio sets.

The practical phase of the training commenced with assessing the weapon handling skills of the candidates at the shooting range of the Szolnok helicopter base. Then followed the initial pistol and assault rifle LFXs along with a string of further LFXs carried out with other types of weapons.

Maj. Arnold Koltai