About event

About event

The military Winter Survival is an endurance competition consisting of multiple events simulating military patrol operation in unknown winter mountain area. Three-member teams compete in challenging events and have to show more than just physical condition and stamina.

Winter Survival basically verifies the skills military personnel need in winter conditions. The events encourage the athletes to make their own decisions and use creativity. Everybody has to find an original way out, believe in own abilities and use just the equipment he or she wears. This is the progress and lesson parts in this Survival. Another specific issue is extreme mental stress. All of that make the military Survival a unique competition so dissimilar of any analogy in the world. The Austrian Alpenjäger members, regular and very prominent contestants who make for mountain rescue service back at home, openly confessed they had not met anything of that kind yet. The foreign teams who are the regular participants coming to the Jesenik Mountains from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Poland and Slovakia give the event high credit.

The event is based on selection, nobody without detailed and profound knowledge of the survival art, nobody inexperienced in military climbing or in map work can involve. It is acme training for the military units, a quality test of the best who bring their experience back to the units. The training quality and the championships difficulty are quite leveled. The levels had grown higher until the kind a top in the period of 2002 – 2005 that culminated with the team experience. Today, Winter Survival mirrors in a certain extent unit practice and training. It motivates the participants to practice both individually and together with their teammates. Lessons learnt during the events may be later utilized in training.

The events keep increasing their ingenuity from year to year letting the championship become reputable during the years of existence. The merits should be mostly given to the instructors of the Physical Training and Sports Centre of the University of Defence who go on to think up new and new events and implement the lessons learnt in military training and special physical training into the programme. The new moments of the six recent years include knife and axe precision throwing using a wooden target, archery, broadened tasks to be done within survival skills, avalanche rescue and first aid, rescuing a paratrooper from a high tree trap, shooting duels, fight for bunkers, sleeping two nights outdoor instead of one or administering first aid to those who had been heavily injured by a bomb blast in a chalet. A new feature is the usage of ortophotomaps along with the usual topographic maps.

Military Winter Survival is specific with, besides the challenging mountainous conditions and events, very strict rules. These often disqualify teams with high ambitions for reasons, such as unjustified usage of the sealed cell phone, exceeding daily time limit or accepting assistance.

Schedule

SUNDAY, January 28, 2024

 
  

13:15 – 16:15 hrs.

arrival, attendance registration

16:30 – 17:00 hrs.

technical meeting and drawing lots – team captains

17:30 hrs.

opening ceremony

18:00

dinner

19:30

meeting on Stage I - contestants

  

MONDAY January 29, 2024

 

07:30 – 22:00 hrs.

Stage I start – 1st day of competition. Moving with the use of the map and baseplate compass to travel 35 km distance and accomplish the “Survival” and other specified tasks.

  

 TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY
January 30 – 31, 2024

 

07:00 – 22:00 hrs. 

Stage I – 2nd and 3rd day of competition. Moving with the use of 1:25000 map and baseplate compass to travel 2 x 20-30 km distance in open terrain and accomplish the “Survival” and other specified tasks.

  

THURSDAY February 1, 2024

 
  

08:30 – 11:30 hrs.

Stage II – relay race on cross-country skis, combined with a rubber grenade throw at a distance and target shooting with biathlon - laser rifles

17:45 hrs.

closing ceremony and announcement of results

19:00 – 22:00 hrs.

soirée

  

FRIDAY February 2, 2024

 

07:00 – 08:00 hrs.

breakfast

till 09:00 hrs.

hotel check-out

09:30 hrs.

departure.

NOTE:

The contest organizer reserves the right to make changes in the schedule. In such a case the participants will be notified in time.

Regulations

WINTER SURVIVAL

WINTER OPEN-AIR INTERNATIONAL MULTI-CONTEST CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE CZECH ARMED FORCES 

held under the auspices of Lieutenant General Karel ŘEHKA, Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces

 

 

ORGANIZATIONAL PROVISIONS

HELD BY: 

OdTV SRS MO (MoD PE Dept, Force Development Div.)

ORGANIZED BY:

University of Defence (UoD)

DATE:

January 28 – February 2, 2024

PLACE:

the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains, VZ Ovčárna pod Pradědem, VŠZ UO Veronika

 

GPS 50°4'15.528"N, 17°14'19.615"E

 

https://www.volareza.cz/vz-ovcarna-pod-pradedem/en

HONORARY BOARD:

 

ACR Chief of GS

Lieutenant General Karel Řehka

MoD FDD Director

Brigadier General Petr Milčický

UoD Brno, Rector-Commandant

Brigadier General Zuzana Kročová

VLRZ Director

Ing. Libor Tejnil

 OdTV SRS MO Head

COL (GS) Jiří Malík

  

CONTEST DIRECTOR:

COL (GS) Libor Švec

SPORTS DIRECTOR:

COL (GS) Jiří Sekanina, Ph.D.

LOGISTICS DIRECTOR:

CAPT Michal Víta

HEAD OF CONTEST:

LTC František Vaněček

CHIEF REFEREE:

MAJ Viktor Novotný

HEAD OF CONTEST OFFICE:

LTC Stanislav Chvosta

TEAM LINE-UP: 

international teams  - 4 people: 1 team leader + 3 members

Czech ACR teams    - 3 people:  contestants, (one contestant is simultaneously a team leader)

 

PARTICIP. CRITERIA:     professional soldiers, applies to Czech ACR teams,

Sending applications in time, ID documents, travel order. The contestants agree that the video and photo materials made by the contest organizer may be published.

APPLICATIONS: filled out specified forms, endorsed by the commander;

delivered no later than December 31, 2023 to:

email: international@unob.cz

 

point of contact

Tel.: +420 973 442 872

Mob.: +420 606 092 892

 

University of Defence

International Office

Kounicova 65

662 10 Brno

Czech Republic

 

The application must include:       

  • rank, acad. degrees, first and last name;
  • military unit/facility code number;
  • ID / Military ID number;
  • date of birth;
  • permanent address;
  • e-mail address where the Contest Guide shall be sent!

     

Eventual changes in applications are to be sent electronically no later than January 19, 2024.

The contest history and other information (rules and regulations, application form) can be found at:

https://edu.unob.cz/wintersurvival-en/

Target NUMBERS FOR CONTEST CATEGORIES:

International teams

8 teams

Land Forces

5 teams

Air Force

1 team

Military schools

2 teams

Military Police

1 team

Agencies and MoD

2 teams

ARF (RMC Brno)

1 team

In the event of not meeting the target numbers by individual categories, the numbers may be adjusted.

1. ORGANIZATIONAL INSTRUCTIONS

1.1 PARTICIPATION ADMINITRATION STATUS:

Jan. 28, 2024

duty trip upon the pertinent travel order;

Feb. 2, 2024

duty trip upon the pertinent travel order;

Jan. 29 till Feb. 2, 2024

continuous military training.

 

1.2 ARRIVAL:   

The contestants are to report their arrival in the VZ Ovčárna pod Pradědem at the Contest Office on January 28, 2024 from 13:15 till 16:15 hrs. Departures from HVĚZDA Hotel at 13:00, 14:00, 15:00 and, at the latest, 16:00 hrs!

Transport to the venue is under the responsibility of each team. The organisers will have reserved parking lots near the hotel for the participating team vehicles free of charge during the competition.

Traffic in the last 6 kms from the last crossroads at 50°4'0.668"N, 17°18'17.062"E is organised on shuttle principle – every hour the uphill gate opens while every half hour vehicles may go down. It is recommended to have snow chains or similar tools handy in the vehicle.

During the attendance registration each team leader is to submit:

  • travel orders endorsed by the commander;
  • team list endorsed by the commander;
  • certificate of medical fitness for the participants;
  • personal documents (military ID, ID or passport – foreigners).

1.3 CONTEST OFFICE:

Location: in the VZ Ovčárna entrance hall, working hours:

January 28, 2024

13:00 - 22:00 hrs.

January 29, 2024

07:00 - 18.00 hrs.

January 30, 2024

07:00 - 18:00 hrs.

January 31, 2024

07:00 - 24:00 hrs.

February 1, 2024

07:00 - 16:00 hrs.

During the attendance registration each team leader will receive the following printed documents: The Contest Guide and Instructions for Guests Staying on the Premises of VZ Ovčárna.

1.4 MEALS and LODGING 

Meals for Professional Soldiers

Meals until dinner on Sunday January 28, 2024 will be at their own expense, which will be reimbursed on the basis of the submitted travel order at the current rate of the meal allowance. Serving meals will commence with a warm dinner from Sunday Jan. 28, 2024 and end with breakfast on Friday Feb. 2, 2024. From 00:00 on Monday Jan. 29, 2024 to 24:00 on Thursday February 1, 2024 all soldiers will be ordered the continuous military training and will be granted free meals at the basic meal allowance with extra food rations C and D. Meals from breakfast on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 will be at their own expense to be reimbursed on the basis of the submitted travel order at the current rate of the meal allowance. 

Send extracts from the commander's order to provide free meals electronically to pavel.kucera@sis.acr no later than 15:00 hrs, January 25, 2024 or submit them in hard copies upon arrival at the Contest Office in the Ovčárna Hotel.

 

Meals for Civilian Employees.

Meals until dinner on Sunday January 28, 2024 will be at their own expense, which will be reimbursed on the basis of the submitted travel order at the current rate of the meal allowance. Serving meals for civilian employees will start with dinner on Sunday January 28, 2024 and end with breakfast on Friday February 2, 2024. Meals from breakfast on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 will be at their own expense to be reimbursed on the basis of the submitted travel order at the current rate of the meal allowance. The amount of the meal allowance will be reduced proportionately during the duty trip according to the number of meals provided.

 

Lodging

Lodging will be provided in line with the applications from January 28 till February 2, 2024.

The rooms shall be vacated and keys handed over to the lodging provider on February 2, 2024 by 09:00 hrs.

During the competition (i.e. from dinner on Sunday Jan. 28, 2024 till breakfast on Friday Feb. 2, 2024) the Czech Armed Forces teams are provided with free meals and lodging at the expense of the organizer.

 Foreign teams shall pay for meals and lodging directly at the hotel (VZ Ovčárna pod Pradědem). The expected daily expenditures for accommodation and meals should not exceed CZK 1200 per person due to be paid at the hotel reception desk that accepts cash Czech currency or all major bank cards.

 2. INFORMATION FOR COMPETITORS

2.1 MANDATORY EQUIPMENT:

a) Each member in the team:

  1. Skiing outfit, snowshoes:

for stage I:           ski-alp skis, sticks, helmet, snowshoes.

for stage II:          cross-country skiing accessories, cross-country skis, boots, sticks.

Should an item of skiing outfit be damaged, competitors are permitted to replace it. The replacement points and conditions will be specified in the Contest Guide.

  1. Individual mountaineering equipment:

Combined or full-body harness + flat loop to connect the sit and chest harnesses, 2 round loops 6mm in diameter – length: 1.5m and 5m, sewn flat loop, 3 screw lock carabiners (out of which at least 1 HMS carabiner), rappelling gear, helmet. 

  1. Baseplate compass.
  2. Convenient khaki or black backpack.
  3. Head flashlight + 2 spare batteries.
  4. Items and food for survival and sleeping in the open air.

b) Team:

  1. First-aid kit.
  2. Cooking necessities.
  3. Items for outdoor sleeping - TENTS ARE FORBIDDEN!!!

c) Recommended and optional equipment:

Securing items, rope clamps, pulleys and other mountaineering outfit.

Mandatory equipment may be specified additionally in the Contest Guide to be sent via e-mail!

NOTE to Stage I: Use of navigational equipment (GPS) is FORBIDDEN. Each team must carry all their mandatory and optional equipment (as recorded at the starting line) to the finish of the endurance stage!

2.2 MAIN SURVIVAL TASKS 

during the endurance stage:

  • downhill skiing in open and adapted terrain;
  • running with snowshoes on, running with skis on;
  • shooting with small arms and infantry weapons provided by organisers;
  • elementary survival skills;
  • military climbing and surmounting obstacles;
  • orientation using the baseplate compass by data from the map;
  • rendering first aid;
  • grenade throwing, distance and target;
  • others may be specified in the Contest Guide.

3. CONTEST SCHEDULE:

SUNDAY, January 28, 2024

 
  

13:15 – 16:15 hrs.

arrival, attendance registration

16:30 – 17:00 hrs.

technical meeting and drawing lots – team captains

17:30 hrs.

opening ceremony

18:00

dinner

19:30

meeting on Stage I - contestants

  

MONDAY January 29, 2024

 

07:30 – 22:00 hrs.

Stage I start – 1st day of competition. Moving with the use of the map and baseplate compass to travel 35 km distance and accomplish the “Survival” and other specified tasks.

  

 TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY
January 30 – 31, 2024

 

07:00 – 22:00 hrs. 

Stage I – 2nd and 3rd day of competition. Moving with the use of 1:25000 map and baseplate compass to travel 2 x 20-30 km distance in open terrain and accomplish the “Survival” and other specified tasks.

  

THURSDAY February 1, 2024

 
  

08:30 – 11:30 hrs.

Stage II – relay race on cross-country skis, combined with a rubber grenade throw at a distance and target shooting with biathlon - laser rifles

17:45 hrs.

closing ceremony and announcement of results

19:00 – 22:00 hrs.

soirée

  

FRIDAY February 2, 2024

 

07:00 – 08:00 hrs.

breakfast

till 09:00 hrs.

hotel check-out

09:30 hrs.

departure.

NOTE:

The contest organizer reserves the right to make changes in the schedule. In such a case the participants will be notified in time.

4. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

4.1 PROTESTS:

Protests may be submitted in writing by the team leaders to the Contest Director via the Contest Office within 15 minutes following the announcement of results on the official board.       

Protests will be judged by the jury composed of:

  • Contest Director;
  • Sports Director;
  • Chief Referee;
  • Representative of TV SRS MO;
  • Person in charge for the discipline

4.2 TITLES:

The winning team in the OPEN Category will be titled “2024 International Champion of the Czech Armed Forces”.

The Czech Armed Forces team in 1st place will be titled “2024 Champion of the Czech    Armed Forces”.

 

4.3 PRIZES: 

            Teams in 1st through 3rd place will be awarded sports trophies.

4.4. CLOTHING INSTRUCTIONS: 

  • For ceremonies:
  • Czech Armed Forces military personnel - camouflage uniform (model 95);
  • Other competitors – as specified by the sending organization;
  • civilians - sportswear.
  • For the contest - participants:
  • camouflage uniform;

Should any garment (except for camouflage BDU) be inconvenient, the participants may also use other outfit items of black or green colour (underwear, caps, gloves). The use of the prescribed clothing and outfit and the visible marking of the team with the start number will be required for each discipline.

  • Foreign teams shall wear military outfit – winter camouflage BDU and other military items.

4.5 CONTEST GUIDE:

  • The Contest Guide will be sent to the participants 1 week prior to the beginning of the contest at the latest to e-mail addresses as stated in the applications!