From November 15 to 18, militiamen from the Vorarlberg military command exercised during an “ordered weapons exercise” in the barracks in Bregenz and in the Walgau barracks in Bludesch. The exercise participants reinforce the military command after mobilization. The purpose of the exercise was to deepen the soldiers’ existing knowledge and refresh the skills they had learned.
This is to ensure that the militia soldiers can be deployed in the Vorarlberg military command in the event of mobilization, after the shortest possible preparation for deployment. Reinforcement by the militia particularly increases the endurance of the military command during deployment. The necessary content was taught in various training modules.
Since the last exercise, the digital systems in the military command have been further developed. The militia soldiers received an update on the current electronic communication systems as well as a briefing on the new situation center and carried out situation reports using the Phoenix digital system. The “Militia information module” offers service and information from the militia for the militia. A presentation on the wide range of services, opportunities and, above all, news, such as the modular militia NCO training, “Militia recruits militia” or the expert system in the Armed Forces, gave the participants an overview of the last one and a half years of work by the information module. Divided into small groups, the training contents “live firing” and “scenario training” were carried out in the Walgaus barracks. In realistic situations (scenarios), the soldiers were faced with the challenge of applying their executive powers appropriately and in accordance with the law. Sharp shots were fired with pistols and assault rifles at the indoor shooting range of the Walgau barracks. During the farewell ceremony at the end of the exercise, individual soldiers were promoted, honored and awarded for their achievements as part of the militia.
Colonel Kunibert Gasser was given special thanks and recognition when he completed his compulsory military service as an officer in the militia. He had entered militia officer training in 1976 and made a career in various functions in the Vorarlberg militia force. He acquired special qualifications through his numerous deployments abroad – including in Afghanistan, Western Sahara, Israel and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
