Description

The "International Austria Patrol" is a reconnaissance mission in "enemy occupied" territory (with enemy skirmishing patrols) taking place in part during daytime, in part at night, in difficult and mountainous terrain. Comparison under competitive conditions as well as the deepening of relations of friendship among soldiers from different countries is of special value during this mission.

Scope of the mission

Participants

Eligible are teams consisting of active and reserve soldiers. Armies of 30 foreign countries have been invited to send teams, primarily from PfP (Partnership for Peace) member states.

Team

A team will be composed of 4 soldiers, the team commander must be a commissioned officer or a sergeant. Any other rank is admitted for the remaining part of the team.

Historic survey

In 1986 Colonel Koska participated in a reconnaissance exercise in Luxembourg's Ardennes, in 1987 he headed an Austrian team. This experience inspired him to organize a competitive reconnaissance exercise in Austria. He presented the idea to General Philipp, the army commander at that time, and, approving of the idea, General Philipp asked Brigadier Vogel, head of the military education department, to implement the idea together with Colonel Koska. Colonel Zach from the Signal Corps school was assigned to cover the telecommunication of the project. After all an area of 30 by 15 kilometers had to be covered, a suitable task for a final exercise of the FMUO (telecommunications school on the non-officer level).

The first International Vienna Woods Patrol finally was organized together with the LWSR infantry regiment 37 at WR. NEUSTADT, Lower Austria. The part of the enemy was taken by LWSR 34, LWSR 35 and PzB 1 (tank battalion) as well as a company of the guard battalion. This scheme worked for five years. Already during the first year 1989, 48 teams from 7 nations participated. The number of participants increased further to 64 teams from 11 nations.

Five years later the exercising possibilities of the southern Vienna Woods area were exhausted and the patrol relocated for the following three years to the JWSR 54, later JgR 5 (fighter) to STRASS, Styria. The 7 Grabenland (seven valley area) in southern Styria was an ideal terrain. With the support of this unit under Colonel PUNTIGAM the competition - now named "International Austria Patrol"- reached its maximum with 83 participating teams. The "brand awareness" for the program had increased tremendously.

In 1997 a further location was chosen which implied that another support unit was involved. JgR 4 (infantry regiment) was now in charge of the support. In the FREISTADT, Upper Austria, area it was possible to implement new ideas. In 1999 the JgB 15 of the 6th JgBrig was a first class partner with its especially active commander Lt.Colonel MAUN. More participants from more nations took part.

In 1999 it was the first time to organize a cross border event with the CZECH REPUBLIC. The authorities of the Czech Republic, especially the army, turned out to be also first class partners. The echo, also in the international press, was great and commensurate with the event. A touch of united Europe was in the air.

In 2000 the KIRCHDORF area in Upper Austria was chosen for the competition, again with the JgB 15 of the 6th JgBrig, then again it made sense to change the location. For 2001 the commando of the 6th JgBrig, suggested to hold the International Austrian Patrol at LIENZ, East Tyrol, under the auspices of the JgB 24. As the JgB 24 is in charge of infrastructure and logistics and many of its members are fully trained mountaineers, the scope of the assignment for the competitors could be enlarged and the JgB was able to concentrate exclusively on its role of being the enemy for the night reconnaissance.

Over the last 16 years 28 nations have participated in this competition. In recent past it happened several times that a nation had to withdraw its registration in the last minute because the solders assigned for the exercise were sent to a real mission.

Both the international cooperation as well as the task, guided by the requirements of multinational assignments for peace keeping measures, prove that this event makes sense. On the other hand the Austrian soldiers taking the enemy role are able to prepare for their mission to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing Austria's eastern borders to get into the European Union.

So far the following nations have won the competition:
Great Britain (2x), Germany (3x), Slovakia (4x), Austria (6x).

Basically every team that passes the competition can be counted a winner. It also shows that the qualifications of Austrian soldiers are equivalent to those of other armies.