August M
When a brutal conflict drags on, military training rules change fast. Instructors who once taught standard survival tactics now face a high-tech reality.
Behind closed doors, an unexpected role reversal is transforming how the world’s most powerful armies prepare for future wars, DR News reports.
Swapping the roles
A secret training ground in eastern England looks like an active combat zone. Smoke fills the air. Soldiers rapidly clear buildings and dodge simulated drone strikes. According to Dr News, this intense mockup serves as the final exam for a five-week leadership course called Operation Interflex.
The program has seen massive numbers pass through its gates. Since June 2022, the British military has trained more than 63,000 Ukrainians alongside partners from Norway, Sweden, and Australia. Recently, though, the dynamic has completely flipped.
Western forces are now learning how to survive a modern drone war from battle-hardened Ukrainians. British Colonel Andy Boardman, the head of the program, praised the results. “Once they have completed it, they are without exception better soldiers and better leaders,” Boardman said.
Lessons in survival
NATO troops are finding that old textbook strategies fail against new technology. A Norwegian instructor named Joakim explained that Ukrainian forces bring unmatched expertise to the table. “The Ukrainians are the ones who undoubtedly have the most experience with how to fight a modern war. Especially drones and how they are implemented,” Joakim said.
This knowledge exchange flows both ways, helping Western armies update their own defense plans. Joakim stated: “Yes. They share a lot of experience with us. It’s learning for us that we can take home to Norway and implement in our own training, so that we can also be better prepared for how modern war is fought,”
The gap in experience became glaringly obvious during a recent mock battle. The AP reported that a Ukrainian drone unit traveled to Gotland and completely wiped out Swedish troops in a simulation. Meanwhile, Western instructors help the visiting forces hone their command skills. Boardman noted: “They have to lead other soldiers and deal with all the complexity that comes with it,”
Sources: Dr News, AP
