Training in the use of MP combat vehicles
Members of the Serbian Armed Forces are being trained in the use of the VPB M-86 MP combat vehicle in peacekeeping operations. The training is being conducted at the Borovac Range and Base South near Bujanovac.
The training involves leaders and professional soldiers who will be performing the roles of combat vehicle crew commanders, drivers and gunners in the military mission, and it is only one segment of a monthslong preparation they need to undergo before being deployed to the mission area.
The training, which is being delivered by instructors from the Army Training Centre and the 3rd and 5th MP Battalions, includes theoretical content and practical lessons carried out in labs and training areas. The trainees are being taught to conquer obstacles and drive the vehicles safely through rough terrain, learning at the same time how to utilize the vehicles and fix any potential problems. In addition, they are being taught to handle the weapons and carry out fire and tactical missions.
The Army Training Centre’s driving instructor Second Lieutenant Aleksa Mičić says that after completing the three-week training programme, members of the Serbian Armed Forces will be evaluated and awarded a training completion certificate, which is a requirement for participation in peacekeeping operations.
One of the trainees, Sergeant Major Siniša Milenković from the 4th Army Brigade, emphasizes the importance of this training for gaining new skills and refreshing old ones, and adds that it helps personnel successfully perform all their tasks in a multinational operation.
— I already have experience with this combat vehicle, considering that I was deployed on a mission four years ago, but any additional knowledge I can get from the instructor is very important for the execution of tasks — said SM Milenković.