Instructions of the Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge
Overview
The Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge is essentially a long distance recon patrol challenge, the duration of which is at least 48h and is decided separately for each Challenge by the organizer.
The Challenge comprises the following main activities:
1. Covert movement on terrain, during day and night, according to a pre-determined schedule and coordinates.
2. Evading "enemy" forces, acquiring information about them and transmitting the information to base.
There may be some of the following additional activities:
1. Locating and freeing/liberating of hostages.
2. Locating of "missing" groups.
3. Teamwork challenges.
4. Knowledge of international military law.
5. Knowledge of military history of the world.
The Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge is organized by the Estonian Defence League (EDL) in cooperation with the Estonian military, government, civil organizations and businesses.
The official languages of the Challenge will be Estonian and English.
Goals
a. To determine the best teams who can perform the set tasks under enormous physical strain.
b. To further international military cooperation.
c. To enable the testing of new military equipment and skills.
Concept
There are four members in each team. Any team traversing the course must include at least 3 people (add. 2). The entire area of the Challenge is considered "hostile territory", except checkpoints and an area with a radius of 1 km surrounding each checkpoint. The teams must conform to their movement tactics, maintain camouflage and utilize hidden passages to evade the "enemy". Travel on the roads marked on the 1:50 000 maps is forbidden, the teams can only cross these (this does not include trails marked with a dotted line). The teams will get their preliminary orders at least 31 days before the Challenge mandate. In the mandate and the following meeting, the teams will be given all of the necessary operational information compiled by E2 and E3 (add. 1). The teams will traverse the course on foot; using terrain features to stay hidden from the "enemy" (add 3). The course must be traversed as a solitary reconnaissance/rescue group and cooperation between teams is forbidden. Also, the teams are not allowed to make contact with other teams or support crew (except in pre-determined map locations, with a referee present). If a team has 4 members, only 1 member is allowed to abort. If a team has 3 members left and another member (members) needs to abort, the entire team must abort. The team of the aborted participant must leave all of the aborted participant's gear, except for food and ammo. The team can only use the food supplies available on the course. It is forbidden to aid a team with additional food and water (except if the rules of the specific Challenge state otherwise). The decision will be made by the ruling referee of the Challenge.
Facilities provided during the Challenge
Accommodation – during Challenges which last longer than 48 hours, the organizer accommodates all accredited foreign participants in a tent camp. During Challenges which last less than 48 hours, the organizer only accommodates the referees and the Challenge crew. All teams must provide their own accommodation.
Catering – all accredited participants will be given three hot meals a day. During the Challenge, the teams must use carried supplies for sustenance.
Transportation – all foreign teams must arrange their own transportation to Estonia and back. The teams' support crew vehicles will be registered in the mandate. Only vehicles with a vehicle-permit may enter checkpoints. The vehicle-permit will be given to one car only; this is to ensure that the vehicle enters and leaves the checkpoint at pre-determined times. The team's other vehicles are forbidden from entering checkpoints (except the visitors' day checkpoint).
First aid – the base has a field hospital, which provides first aid 24 hours a day. All the checkpoints on the course have first aid capabilities. Should the need arise; teams can receive first aid from the "enemy" (this emergency contact will not result in a penalty).
Communications – during the mandate, the participating teams will be issued military radio units. Members of participating teams may use their own radio communication equipment to maintain contact within the team; their frequencies must be registered in Estonia. The teams will have the capability to contact the organizers and use data and emergency communications during the entire Challenge.
Security – there will be an ambulance/medical crew in constant readiness on the course and at base. The course will be secured by a SAR-crew of at least 4, in constant readiness.
ADDENDUM 1
POSITIONS AND STRUCTURE
Important positions:
Main organizer – Estonian Defence League (EDL)
Challenge crew – a group of people, formed by the Commander of EDL, who make preparations for the Challenge and manage it.
Commander of the Challenge – the Commander of EDL
Chief of Staff of the Challenge – a senior officer, appointed by the Commander of EDL, who manages the Challenge staff, conducts daily meetings of the Challenge staff and delivers the orders and guidelines given by the Commander of the Challenge.
Ruling referee – a senior officer, appointed by the Commander of EDL, who manages and coordinates the referees according to the Challenge instructions and principles.
STRUCTURE:
Challenge staff (Staff) – managing body of the Challenge. It directs and manages the challenge and makes operational decisions to ensure the continuation of the Challenge. The staff cannot make decisions altering the core aspects of the Challenge, the course, or the scoring system without the Challenge crew's consent. During the challenge, the staff is on duty 24 hours a day. It has the following duties:
1. To provide the necessary facilities and services to the teams.
2. To coordinate the actions of the referees and the observers.
3. To coordinate resistance.
4. To coordinate the actions of the support crews and cooperation with the Estonian Police, Rescue Service, Environment Department and other services.
During the challenge, all teams, support crews, visitors and observers must obey the orders and directions of the challenge staff. The staff headquarters are off limits to all team members, observers and visitors.
Staff structure:
- PR and protocols
- personnel S1
- course S2
- operational staff S3
- logistics S4
- referees S5
- communications S6
PARTICIPATION IN THE CHALLENGE
To participate in the Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge, all Estonian teams must qualify through a preliminary challenge, with the exception of last year's winner. For the 2013 Challenge, the top 5 teams of the 2012 Eel-Erna challenge and the finishing teams of the 2013 Utria Assault challenge qualify. Starting with the 2014 Challenge, the preliminary challenge will be the Utria Assault. Estonian teams must include at least 2 members who participated in the preliminary challenge.
A maximum of 15 foreign teams will be admitted to the Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge. There can be only 1 team from each foreign country, but the organizer reserves the right to decide otherwise.
If a foreign country is represented by 2 teams, its teams can no more have the privileges of the previous year's best foreign team. This means the maximum number of teams from each country is 2, if the organizer of the Challenge does not make an exception.
TEAMS
The participating teams must comprise 4 participants and a maximum of 2 mandatory support crew members, 6 people in total. Foreign teams may have more companions. If a unit or a country has 2 or more participating teams, each team must include 2 support crew members. All members of a team must be a part of the same unit. In case of unforeseen circumstances, the Commander of the Challenge and the ruling referee may make an exception. A team must not include members who have participated in the Admiral Pitka Recon Challenge as staff members, instructors or support crew during the previous five years. In the spirit of fair game, during the registration phase a team may recommend one of their support crew to participate in the Challenge as a referee under the supervision of the ruling referee. A person in this position cannot participate as part of the support crew, which means they are only allowed to communicate with their team as a referee. A support crew member registered as a referee is subordinate to the ruling referee, starting from the time of registration. If a foreign team brings a press representative, they must be registered, too. After the challenge mandate, they are subject to all of the rights and duties of press.
ADDENDUM 3
THE COURSE
The course comprises the following three types of sections:
1. Checkpoints and mailboxes.
2. Territory of the battle command (reconnaissance/rescue mission).
3. The rest of the course.
Navigating the course – the course must be navigated on foot (except if a mission requires another mode of travel) and without outside help. This means contact with other teams (including radio contact) and "enemy" (except being detected) is forbidden. Teams must not collect extra supplies/equipment or leave any of their equipment on course. With no prior warning, an equipment check may be performed in checkpoints.
Only 1 participant per team is allowed to abort. The Challenge staff must be notified immediately if a team member aborts. The teams must move covertly, using the terrain to their advantage. All roads are off limits in terms of movement (except if the Challenge addendum specifies otherwise). Teams are allowed to cross roads. Teams may use footpaths, forest rides and power line clearings (i.e. use of trails and tracks marked with a dotted line on the Challenge map is permitted). During travel, it is important to keep a separation distance between the members, because when a trip mine (may be located in several positions on the map) is triggered, the entire team is hit according to the rules. Maintaining a separation distance also decreases the chances of being spotted by the "enemy". During travel, firearms must be loaded with blank cartridges (all magazines must be loaded with blank cartridges) and ready to fire. Additionally, it is important to maintain the cleanliness of firearms. Without any prior warning, a firearm safety and cleanliness check may be performed in checkpoints. A referee assesses the state of cleanliness of firearms and gives penalty points according to a scoring table. When arriving in a checkpoint, the firearms must be placed in a rifle stack (pyramid) and must be guarded. It is forbidden to aim any firearm at a person. During simulated fire or blank fire, the firearm must be aimed significantly above the target (including vehicles etc).
1. Checkpoints (CP) – Checkpoints are terrain points, designated according to the challenge scenario and schedule, where the teams demonstrate their weapon and military skills.
Names of checkpoints in NATO phonetic alphabet:
CP A – Alfa
CP B – Bravo
CP C – Charlie
Etc.
Conduct of checkpoint inspectors – checkpoint inspectors are specialists in the field of the specific checkpoint challenge. They construct the challenge in the checkpoint (if necessary, on the course), mark the area of the challenge and provide the means to complete the challenge (tents, targets, mines etc.). The instructors man the checkpoint with necessary personnel, ensure the safety of completing the checkpoint challenge and assess the correct completion of the challenge. The checkpoint inspectors can test the readiness of their checkpoint challenge 2 hours before the actual teams arrive, with the help of the 0 team. While the 0 team completes the challenge, the inspectors explain the challenge to the checkpoint referees and make sure all referees understand the challenge clearly. Depending on the results of the test, they may modify the challenge, submit the changes to the course master for approval and notify the referees of the changes.
Conduct of teams in checkpoints – the teams must reach the checkpoints according to the schedule given in the mandate. When a team enters a checkpoint, their arrival time must be registered with the challenge referee (checkpoints with one challenge) or with the checkpoint coordinator (checkpoints with several challenges). Teams must enter the checkpoints at the assigned time +/- 5 minutes. If a team enters the checkpoint from a wrong direction, they must exit the checkpoint area and re-enter the checkpoint from the correct direction, while making sure not to cross hazardous sectors within the checkpoint area (e.g. the firing sector). It is forbidden to observe other teams performing their challenge in the checkpoint. Teams must not be late to their designated checkpoint challenge. If a team is late to the checkpoint challenge starting line, they are not allowed to complete the challenge and are directed to continue on the course or with the next challenge in the same checkpoint. If a team arrives in the checkpoint on time, they will be given 10 minutes to prepare and reach the location of the checkpoint challenge. In the preparation area, the team members prepare themselves according to the instructor's directions and wait for the referee's command to start the challenge. At the scheduled time, the referee gives the command "Start", and the team starts to complete the challenge. They have 10 minutes to complete the challenge (if the instructions for the specific challenge do not state otherwise). If the challenge is not completed within the allotted time, the team's activities are stopped and the team receives the maximum amount of penalty points for that challenge. After completing or aborting the challenge, the team immediately either proceeds to the course in the direction designated by the referee or moves on to the next challenge. Teams may only move along designated paths in the checkpoints. If necessary, the checkpoints will have access to drinking water. The teams may not supplement or exchange their supplies or give any aid (including giving information about a following checkpoint challenge, carrying others' equipment etc.). Major checkpoints will have a support area where the participants may prepare themselves and their equipment for the following course or contact their support crew (in the presence of a referee).