Brief to Nordic Team Captains

1
Brief to Nordic Team Captains

• Col A M Thurgood
• Vice Chairman Combined Services and Army Nordic
  Skiing
• Director Ex RUCKSACK
• All References are available via the Defence
  Intranet

2
British Armed Forces Nordic Ski Committee (BANSC)

• Chairman Brig Neil Marshall
• Navy and RAF representation
• Responsible for the policy, management and
  continuing development of Biathlon, Cross-Country
  skiing and the Military Patrol race in the Armed
  Forces, under the guidance of the Chairman Army
  and Combined Services Nordic in coordination with
  the other Single Service Winter Sports
  Associations
• Biathlon Shooting and Training Policy
• Biathlon Training Courses
• Biathlon Weapon Policy
• AWSA Nordic Rules

3
Army Winter Sport Activity (WSA) Instruction

• 2014DIN07-092
• Overarching Instruction for all Winter Activity.
  Diplomatic Clearance, Staff Clearance, Transit
  Clearance, Funding, Health Safety, injury,
  compassionate and casualty procedures

4
Status of Sports in the Services

• 2014DIN01-099
• Nordic Skiing at Divisional, Corps and Army is
  Individual Training not sport or AT

5
Safety in Military Training and Exercises

• JSP 375 Volume 2 Leaflet 11
• All Nordic activity is conducted in accordance
  with JSP 375, as any other Individual Training

6
Security

• LAND Forces Standing Order 2007 (4th Revise)
  dated Jun 11. Paras 2.7.076 to 2.7.082. (5th
  revise to be issued)
• The security regulations in paras 2.7.076
  2.7.082 apply to all Army personnel involved in
  organised Biathlon (skiing and .22 rim-fire rifle
  shooting) training and events, regardless of
  whether the weapons are issued or privately/unit
  owned and regardless of duty status

7
Security and Administration of Biathlon Rifles (1)

• 2014DIN07-135
• Direction for the storage, issue, transport,
  security and return of the 2 weapon systems. A
  2 Security Risk Estimate (SRE) covers their use
  and it incorporates 5th Revise of LFSO 2007 (not
  yet issued)
• When not guarded, Anschutz rifles, bolts and
  ammunition are to be stored and locked
  separately. Up to 12 rifles and 10,000 rounds of
  ammunition may be transported in a single
  vehicle. Teams are to bring locking boxes for
  ammunition and bolts and locking cases or chains
  for rifles. This is a different security
  procedure to that of the .22 converted SA80 A2
  rifle
• DSG will supply an armourer, spares pack and STTE
  to Ex SPARTAN HIKE, PIPEDOWN and RUCKSACK
• Anschutz rifles are to be returned to DSG (UIN
  CA060G)

8
Security and Administration of Biathlon Rifles (2)

• Team Captains are responsible for bringing 4 x
  SA80 A2 rifles fitted with iron sights and the A2
  modified .22 conversion kits to Ex SPARTAN HIKE,
  PIPEDOWN, RUCKSACK. 5.56mm working parts are to
  be left at Unit Armouries. Fitted and matched by
  Unit armourer
• For SA80 A2 rifles there will be centrally
  guarded storage facilities at Ex SPARTAN HIKE,
  PIPEDOWN, RUCKSACK and SKI RLC. All SA80 A2 will
  be placed into storage at Unit registration
• When issued from centrally guarded storage
  (including transit from Unit locations) weapons
  are to be guarded at all times under the control
  of Team Captains
• Units considering the use of .22 converted SA80
  A2 on other training events must staff an
  additional 2 SRE through their own Chain of
  Command
• Rifle conversion kits are to be returned to DSG
  (UIN CA060G)

9
Army Nordic Biathlon Shooting Training Policy

• AGAI Vol 1 Chap 13
• The rules for the conduct of biathlon are
  published in the AWSA Nordic Ski Competition
  Rules which follow the International Biathlon
  Union (IBU) Event and Competition Rules
• All Army Biathlon training is to adhere to the
  Safe System of Training (JSP 375 Volume 2 Leaflet
  11)
• The Army Biathlon Shooting Training Policy
  applies to all training and competition shooting
  on ranges using a biathlon rifle in biathlon
  events and the Military Patrol Race. It does not
  apply to the use of the SA80, with a .22"
  Conversion Kit, in the Military Patrol Race. It
  also does not apply to the use of a biathlon
  rifle on MOD Ranges, for which the authority is
  the Range Standing Orders
• Biathlon Shooting Training Policy details the
  minimum training requirement for safe and
  effective biathlon weapon handling and shooting

10
Biathlon Rifle Training

• 2014DIN07-146
• It is a Unit responsibility to train rifle users
  in accordance with the direction in this DIN
• AGAI Vol 1, Chapter 13 Army Nordic Biathlon
  Shooting Training Policy
• Non Service Pattern Light Weapons Handbook Fourth
  Edition 2014
• Pamphlet No 21. Training Regulations for
  Armoured Fighting Vehicles, Infantry Weapon
  Systems and Pyrotechnics - 2014
• Training to be delivered by an AASAA Instr and
  Biathlon SME
• CO to ensure training is delivered and recorded

11
Nordic Rules

• AWSA Nordic Race Rules 2015
• Qualification criteria for Ex RUCKSACK
• Annex C 22 male teams. Top 6 from PD and SH,
  next best 7 from both, 2 Wild Cards (one from
  each Ex) and one final Wild Card which Chairman
  Nordic controls
• Annex C approx 25 Army women will be selected
  based on individual performance and formed into
  Corps Teams
• Only unit teams with the correct Military Patrol
  Race rank structure (see Para 5.5) will be
  qualified to compete at the Army Championships.
  Ex Director will send a team home if necessary
  but you deny the next team on the list, who did
  meet the rules, the opportunity to compete.

12
Regional Competitions

• 2014DIN07-114
• Ex SPARTAN HIKE Instruction
• 2014DIN07-125
• Ex PIPEDOWN Instruction

13
Ex RUCKSACK

• 2014DIN07-118
• Competitors arrive 21 Jan 15. Accn will not be
  available before this date
• Competitors depart 6 Feb 15
• On arrival, all Team Captains are to
• Check Team Registration details
• Provide proof of insurance cover
• Complete initial race entry forms to be handed
  in at 1000 hrs Thu 22 Jan 15
• Collect a Team Information Pack
• Receive accommodation details
• Sign a weapon security certificate
• Hand in trophies from previous year (engraved)
• A standard, non-refundable entry fee of 250
  (reduced from 300) will be charged for each team
  (max 6 athletes). Individual competitors and
  those over the squad of 6, will pay 10 per race
• Teams and individuals are to provide their own
  ammunition
• Accn for unqualified athletes charged direct to
  Team Captains who can reclaim via Unit Travel
  Budget (subject to BUDMAN)

14
Ex RUCKSACK Medical Instruction

• 2014DIN07-129
• Medical and physiotherapy available
• The Bergwacht will provide emergency medical
• All personnel are to carry F Med 965 on which
  interactions will be recorded. This is to be
  updated by unit medical staff prior to
  deployment. All personnel are to have a JMES
  grading MFD, or with an appropriate Appx 9 and
  Appx 26 Medical Risk Assessment (MRA). If a
  competitor is not MFD then it is the Team
  Captains responsibility to ensure that the
  members of the team are competing within the
  parameters of their Appx 9 and Appx 26 MRA
• All competitors who have suffered from previous
  NFCIs are to make the medical team aware at
  registration
• Personnel on long term prescription medication
  are to ensure that sufficient supplies are taken
  for the season