The international tactical competition “Commando Challenge” was held near Gabrovo
The competition was organized at the initiative of Alpha Metal and former employees of the SOBT and the 68th Brigade – “Special Forces” together with the MCSPOS “Alfa-Metal”.
Deputy Prime Minister for Public Order and Security and Minister of Defense Krassimir Karakachanov opened the international competition “Commando Challenge 2018” near Gabrovo. It was organized at the initiative of former servicemen of the 68th Brigade Special Forces and SOBT together with “Alfa-Metal”. The official opening was also attended by the mayor of Gabrovo Tanya Hristova. In her speech, she expressed her respect for the memory of the Bulgarian servicemen who died in Karbala. According to her, the incorruptible patriotism of the Bulgarian military is still alive and is passed down as a sacred tradition from generation to generation.
This year, Commando Challenge 2018 is dedicated to the memory of the Bulgarian soldiers who died in the attack on the “India” base in Iraq. On December 27, 2003, a truck bomb was used in Karbala, Iraq, to attack the first Bulgarian military base in Iraq, the “India” base.
In 2018, 15 years have passed since the terrorist act, in which the following died:
Captain, posthumously promoted to Major Georgi Hristov Kachorin, company commander
Lieutenant, posthumously promoted to Senior Lieutenant Nikolay Angelov Sariev, platoon commander
Senior Sergeant, posthumously promoted to Officer Candidate Ivan Hristov Indjov, squad commander
Junior Sergeant, posthumously promoted to Officer Candidate Anton Valentinov Petrov, squad commander
Private, posthumously promoted to Officer Candidate Svilen Simeonov Kirov, marksman
I am convinced that the Bulgarian Army will continue to exist because there are such soldiers – people like you, who are ready to fulfill their duty to the nation and the state. This was said by the Minister of Defense Krasimir Karakachanov today, October 19, to the participants in the “Commando Challenge – 2018” competition, which is taking place near Gabrovo. This year, it is dedicated to the five Bulgarian servicemen who died 15 years ago in the attack on the India base in Karbala, Iraq.
Before the start of the contested competition, Minister Krassimir Karakachanov awarded the Special Forces veterans Sergeant Ivan Mihaylov, Senior Sergeant Stefan Draganov and Corporal Todor Stankov with the award “For Valiant Service”. They were honored for their contribution to the country’s defense, worthy performance of tasks during the mission in Iraq and on the occasion of marking the 15th anniversary of the terrorist act against the India base on December 27, 2003.
The competition was held at the tactical range of the MCSPOS “Alfa Metal” in the area of the village of Michkovtsi, Gabrovo. 16 professional and 4 amateur teams competed on the two days of the international competition Commando Challenge 2018, on October 19 and 20, respectively. The professionals competed with active military personnel and security personnel, while the amateur teams were former military personnel.
The teams from the Special Forces, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Security Service overcame several stages of the competition: passing tactical obstacle courses, shooting with an AK-47 assault rifle and an M-4 carbine, providing first aid (placing a tourniquet, bandage) and evacuating a “wounded” person, and carrying a “wounded” person (a mannequin) along a specific route with entry and exit from buildings.
MARS Armor provided equipment for the competitors – plate carriers of the TAURUS and TERVEL models in green, as well as helmets with ballistic protection model ACH High Cut, in green and black.
