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Skiing – it’s not normally a practice associated with the military but in Latvia a group of soldiers have been undertaking target practice while on skis.

Soldiers in Latvia have been practising their shooting skills while on cross-country skis. The training involved Latvia’s Land Forces Mechanised Infantry Brigade soldiers, based with NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup in Latvia. The soldiers were training in temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius, to become more effective and skilful during winter conditions. They were also tested on their shooting skills, without the skis, but under stressful conditions.

The Land Forces Mechanised Infantry Brigade conducted training in line with COVID-19 safety measures set by the Government of Latvia. During training outdoors, masks are in use if it’s not possible to keep the 2-metre distance.

Footage includes shots of soldiers on skis shooting at targets from various standing positions as well as target shooting in forest areas. It also includes soundbites with Platoon Commanders Čodars and Zūbergs.

1. (00:00) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIERS PREPARING FOR AN EXERCISE
2. (00:11) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIER ON SKIS
3. (00:15) VARIOUS SHOTS – INSTRUCTOR GIVING ORDERS TO SOLDIERS
4. (00:22) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIERS SHOOTING TARGETS FROM STANDING POSITION
5. (00:36) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIERS SHOOTING TARGETS FROM KNEE POSITION
6. (00:57) VARIOUS SHOTS - SOLDIERS SHOOTING TARGETS FROM PRONE POSITION
7. (01:23) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIERS SKIING TOWARDS THEIR TARGETS
8. (01:32) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIERS SKIING
9. (01:40) MEDIUM SHOT – SOLDIER WAITING FOR ORDERS
10. (01:43) WIDE SHOT - SOLDIER SCARING BIRDS AWAY FROM THE EXERCISE FIELD
11. (01:48) WIDE SHOT - SOLDIERS SKIING
12. (01:52) MEDIUM SHOT – SOLDIER SIGNING A FORM TO GET NEW MAGAZINES
13. (01:56) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIERS PERFORM SHOOTING IN MOVEMENT
14. (02:33) SOUNDBITE (LATVIAN) – ZŪBERGS, PLATOON COMMANDER OF THE LAND FORCES MECHANISED INFANTRY BRIGADE

“Usually, the soldiers have to perform this exercise in warm or moderate weather, but because this year we have such a cold winter with a thick blanket of snow, the soldiers won’t be able to perform as effective without skis, that’s why they’ll be performing this exercise on skis. The exercise is simple. They move in one direction, the instructor gives them short orders about the target – right, left, front or back – and then they have to shoot at the target, meaning that they have to stop on the skis, turn to the target and shoot it down.”

1. (03:12) SOUNDBITE (LATVIAN) – ZŪBERGS, PLATOON COMMANDER OF THE LAND FORCES MECHANIZED INFANTRY BRIGADE

“For us it is important that our soldiers are able to fight in any weather, in any area, and since winter is a regular season here in Latvia, it’s mandatory that they can perform during winter.”

1. (03:27) SOUNDBITE (LATVIAN) – ČODARS, PLATOON COMMANDER OF THE LAND FORCES MECHANISED INFANTRY BRIGADE

“Right now, the soldiers are on a track together with instructors who are there to make them feel scared and stressed out. Soldiers perform this exercise moving from location to location, changing positions and shooting at targets.”

1. (03:51) WIDE SHOT – SOLDIER TAKING COVER AND SHOOTING AT A TARGET
2. (03:55) WIDE SHOT – SOLDIER TAKING COVER AND CHANGING MAGAZINES
3. (04:00) GOPRO SHOT – SOLDIER RUNNING TOWARDS COVER
4. (04:05) WIDE SHOT – SOLDIER RUNNING TOWARDS NEXT COVER SPOT
5. (04:11) VARIOUS SHOTS -SOLDIER CRAWLING IN SNOW
6. (04:21) WIDE SHOT – SOLDIER CRAWLING THROUGH TRENCHES
7. (04:24) WIDE SHOT – SOLDIER SHOOTING AT A TARGET FROM TRENCHES
8. (04:28) WIDE SHOT – TARGET FALLING DOWN FROM A SHOT
9. (04:31) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIER GETTING A SIMULATED INJURED COLLEAGUE OUT OF THE TRENCHES
10. (04:40) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIER DRAGGING THE SIMULATED INJURED COLLEAGUE AND TAKING COVER
11. (05:02) VARIOUS SHOTS – SOLDIER CARRYING SIMULATED INJURED SOLDIER TO A SAFER LOCATION AND SHOOTING AT A TARGET
12. (05:25) MEDIUM SHOT – INSTRUCTOR CONGRATULATING A SOLDIER FOR FINISHING THE EXERCISE
13. (05:29) MEDIUM SHOT – SOLDIER WALKING AWAY FROM THE EXERCISE AND SHOWING “THUMBS UP”
14. (05:34) WIDE SHOT – INSTRUCTOR TAKING A LOOK AT A DAMAGED WEAPON DURING THE EXERCISE.