For a week, a dozen or so police snipers from the Central Counter-Terrorist Police Unit "BOA", partner special intervention units of the European platform "ATLAS" and Ukrainian special units honed their shooting skills in Wierzbica near Radom and Gdynia.
Police snipers, photo: KGP
This time the weather was not the participants' ally. Strong gusts of wind made almost every planned task difficult. Despite these unfavourable conditions, the shooters persistently practiced various scenarios of potentially possible events from morning to evening.
The wind was a challenge
- The classes were planned in two locations: in Mazovia and Pomerania. The workshop participants were divided into 2-3-person teams. They had at their disposal a long (sniper) weapon with an optical sight, which made it easier for them to precisely shoot from a long distance (1,450 m). We operated in designated zones. Each member of the group had specific tasks. Before each one, the safety conditions were discussed in great detail, and the weather conditions were also analysed in great detail: the direction and strength of the wind, visibility (bright sun or fog) - says the head of the Sniper Section of the Training and Combat Department of CPKP "BOA", the workshop coordinator, and adds: - This time, not only the complicated task was a challenge for our workshop participants. When shooting this type of outdoor shooting, the weather is extremely important. And it definitely made it difficult to do the job properly.
Film - KGP
Here, it is not enough to just have excellent eyesight. Exact knowledge is also needed here, especially when the weather conditions are unfavorable and, for example, when, as was the case during the exercises, the wind is a major obstacle. When shooting from a distance of one kilometer, the flight path of the bullet in a strong wind can cause a change in the bullet's impact point that exceeds the width of the target several times.
Special skills mattered
Training a good shooter takes time and many exercises, also in difficult conditions. Continuous improvement of skills allows officers to prepare as best as possible for various, difficult to predict situations. - Special skills of a shooter, such as: the ability to shoot precisely from a long distance, observation skills, camouflage - all this determines the success of the task performed. The safety of teammates also depends on it - emphasizes the workshop coordinator.
- We made sure that participants from BOA, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Portugal and Ukraine had the opportunity to practice shooting in natural conditions, as close to real conditions as possible, under the supervision of instructors. With each subsequent task, the level of difficulty increased. The selection of locations allowed for the organization of workshops in such a way that each team could practice increasingly demanding scenarios. Workshops of this type are an excellent opportunity for officers performing sniper tasks to exchange experiences and best practices, says the BOA coordinator.
Simulation of real operations with Black Hawk
For five years, police counter-terrorists have had the opportunity to conduct exercises using the police helicopter S-70i Black Hawk. - The parameters and characteristics of this machine allow for the quick transfer of officers to the place of operation, air assault of police counter-terrorists, execution of a dynamic approach, landing on ropes, stable hovering, and thus conducting combat operations in difficult conditions, also with the participation of shooters. Cyclical training with the participation of operators allows us to coordinate joint actions in the event of a real operational situation, to respond effectively in the event of a terrorist threat, says a pilot from the Police Aviation Directorate of the Police Headquarters.
– Cooperation with other intervention units is extremely important for ensuring the security of our country and the European Union. Analyzing the current situation in the world, and especially in our region, systematic training, exercises and workshops for officers, organized in the most difficult conditions and environments, provide the opportunity to prepare for situations in which it will be necessary to use shooters, as well as the use of the police aviation fleet - adds the coordinator workshops with BOA.
Text: Junior Inspector Anna Kędzierzawska, BKS KGPFoto/film: Junior Asp. Tomasz Lis, Junior Asp. Kamil Kłeczek, Junior Asp. Krystian Kłeczek, Artur Orliński/BKS KGPEditing: Junior Asp. Tomasz Lis
source - KGP
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