Start of the Blue Cord exercise at the Johannes Post Barracks

This event marked the start of the 44th PAINFBAT introductory week.

December 10, 2024

On arrival, were are greeted at the gate by the BA. (A BA is the officer in charge of security on a military base).
We parked at the cinema.
Some of the preliminary work had already been done, so we were able to easily connect our computer for the documentary.
After a cup of coffee (a collapsible cup with the JWF logo on it), the 90 or so participants gradually entered the room.
Following an introductory speech by Bert, the screening of the documentary "In the Service of Peace" began. The audience was captivated from beginning to end, and even after the screening they were unable to tear themselves away from the images and emotional stories presented.
Bert and Fred then gave an additional fifteen-minute presentation on the current situation in and around Lebanon, with a particular focus on events in Syria and their potential impact on the situation in Lebanon.
After the screening, during the Blue Lanyard exercise, a plethora of further questions were raised. The applause after the screening served as a reliable measure of the impact of the documentary on the soldiers present.

On the morning of Wednesday, 11 December 2024, the groups are formed on the roll call square by BA.

He will follow this procedure.
He will summon the nine commanders, provide them with a list of participants and "ask" them to gather their respective members and direct them to their designated starting positions. These positions first need to be found by the commanders using a system of coordinates.

The night before, the veterans were guests of the battalion at a social gathering. The majority did so with a degree of caution. With a tough walk through moorland planned for the next day, the prospect of a hangover was not considered welcome. The next morning, the participants joined one of the groups taking part in the exercise for breakfast.

 
After an initial briefing at various stations regarding the regiment, its historical timeline, notable figures and casualties, the participants were transported to their final destination by 2 YP 408 armoured personnel carriers, complete with a casualty carrier.
After a briefing by Nico B., the participants experienced a fast journey. Having gained a new perspective on the capabilities of these vehicles, the participants walked to the designated water crossing.
It was noted that no one had gone into the water during the previous exercises, and so it was felt that it would be appropriate to do so at this point. During this exercise three people fell from the rope. After completing this activity, the participants dried off and changed into clean clothes. The group then continued their journey, many of them in the dark. The card reader plays a key role in determining the most efficient route to the destination.

A variety of challenging tasks are on offer, including using a grenade, traversing a tunnel, pushing a tractor tyre up a hill through an obstacle course, and transporting an 'injured' group member at speed. The complexity of these tasks depends, at least in part, on the number of correct answers. The tank track is widely regarded as a particularly challenging element of the course, especially when completed in the dark. The presence of deep ruts, which may contain water, and the lack of prominent landmarks add to the difficulty of the experience. After the final checkpoint, participants must spend the night in the open bivac. It is worth noting that some participants arrived after 1:00 a.m.

After a period of rest, the veterans went to the canteen for breakfast at around 6:00 a.m. They then returned to the bivac to regroup with the other participants at the designated meeting point. The platoon arrives at the designated rally point in a secure formation, accompanied by a YP armoured personnel carrier in front and another YP behind. The veterans then conduct a brief ceremony to hand over the blue 'Lebanon cord'.

After a cup of coffee and a thank you from the BA, the veterans return home.