The military skills competition is a core activity of CIOR. This pandemic year is a bit special, in that formally there’s no central contest – but rather local events run in parallell in the various participating nations. Yet, ten of the nations have still chosen to meet in Finland to compete there. In other words, a hybrid solution.
By: Roy Thorvaldsen, Lt. Col (R), Norwegian Army/ CIOR Public Affairs.
– Through national, bilateral, and multinational gatherings, the CIOR Military Competition Committee is demonstrating resilience, fortitude, and the will to prevail over Covid-19, says committee secretary, Grant Staats, Captain (Ret)/USN(SEAL)
All competitors that are gathered in Lahti, Finland, for the 2021 CIOR military skills competition.
While adhering to national, governmental guidelines about the pandemic, MILCOMP participants are conducting advanced military skills training and competitions to raise awareness of Reserve Forces and the CIOR program.
– In this effort we hope to achieve confidence and support from the people and societies we protect, that Reservists can adapt to any threat, in any environment, and actively train and fight to accomplish their missions and tasks, Staats says.
Military competition secretary, Grant Staats CAPT (Ret)/USN(SEAL) Grant Staats in action during an orienteering competition. File photo By D. Keith Johnson, U.S. Navy Reserve/DVIDS.
As a testament to this achievement, MILCOMP has captured recent activities in the form of videos, other imagery, interviews and reports – like the ones we have posted the last couple of days.
– These multimedia products clearly demonstrate that MILCOMP Reservists are the best in the world at rifle and pistol shooting, grenade throwing, and in fitness and agility – on land and water obstacle courses.
– Additionally they acquire great skills in technical problem solving in the disciplines of land navigation, map and compass orienteering and range estimation. Finally they need to prove that they also master combat casualty care [first aid].
– Each of these areas is critical to a soldier’s ability to fight and win against any adversary, in any situation. MILCOMP soldiers constitute a mentally tough and resilient combat-ready force, Grant Staats convincingly explains.
CAPT Grant Staats (Ret)/USN(SEAL) together with chairman of the MILCOMP committee, MAJ (R), Danish Army, Kim Åge Nielsen Birkerød. Photo: Private.