Curtains Come Down on Multi-National ‘Exercise Cormorant Strike - VII\' at Arisimalai
The Army-pioneered mock Exercise \'Cormorant Strike VII - 2016’ Tuesday (20) morning saw its successful accomplishment at Arisimalai, Yanoya, Thiriyaya where a simulated multi-pronged attack on enemy hideouts took place, amid thrill and excitement as the final phase of the Exercise.
Together with 2500 infantrymen, inclusive of 638 sailors and 506 airmen participating, the Exercise, made up largely of Army Commandos and Special Forces has attracted a total of 58 foreign service personnel, representing Bangladesh, China, India, Sudan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and the USA, either as participants or observers in the Operation proper.
Today’s formal conclusion of the 7th consecutive Exercise was witnessed by Eng. Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Secretary Defence as the Chief Guest, Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army, Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy, Commander of the Air Force and Rear Admiral S.S Ranasinghe, Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Navy as special invitees.
This year’s Exercise \'Cormorant Strike VII - 2016’ was made more comprehensive for the first time to suit the most modern techniques with the introduction of new features in specific operation segments. Based on a UN scenario, the Exercise incorporated Webgis software for operations, Improvised Digital Bird Tables and Smart Boards, Separate joint Naval operations, Joint night operations, Operations conducted by both Special Forces and Commandos in the same area and the conduct of a parachute jump with full combat gear.
A panel of Exercise Directors with the coordination of the Army Directorate of Training under the supervision of Major General Jagath Alwis, Commander, Army Training Command (ARTRAC) meticulously planned and executed the whole of the Exercise \'Cormorant Strike VII - 2016’.
Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Director \'Exercise - Cormorant Strike’, Major General Mahesh Senanayaka, Colonel of the Regiment, Special Forces, together with Brigadier Ralf Nugera, Brigadier Pradeep Silva and Brigadier Priyantha Perera, Deputy Directors of the Exercise and Colonel Nishantha Herath, Additional Deputy Director of the Exercise, Captain H. R. F. M. Tissera, Joint Force Naval Component Commander - Exercise \'Cormorant Strike’ and Air Commodore P. D. K. T Jayasinghe, Joint Force Air Component Commander - Exercise ‘Cormorant Strike’ and Brigadier H.P. Ranasinghe, Center Commandant, Special Forces Regiment, Brigadier M Wijeratne, (Retd) were also present at the location.
The first phase of the Exercise \'Cormorant Strike VII - 2016’, started off from Kokilai on September 4 after a brief inaugural ceremony at Kokilai. The final display takes place at Arisimalai, Yanoya, based on hypothetical scenario, and the whole objective of the training was focused on Patrolling, Infiltration, / Ex-filtration, Reconnaissance and Surveillance, Combat Tracking, Link-up, Caches, Demolitions, Raids, Ambushes, Cut-off and Blocks, Rescue Missions, Cat Sniping and Urban Fighting.
The Exercise at its final stages joins with Army troops for direct onslaughts against enemy strongholds. This Army-initiated mock Field Training Exercise (FTX), organized and implemented in close cooperation with Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force has been designed for deployment of their troops in a war milieu of Special Operations at any given moment and planned for conduct of joint operations as one team, using manoeuvrist approach, encompassing planning, execution and command which can be made operational at any given situation.
At Thiriyaya, the field training Exercise, launched a simulated enemy camp attack of ferocious magnitude, headed by Commandos and Special Forces, where they were simultaneously joined by MI 24 and MIG fighting jets and Naval fighter craft at sea, fighting against enemy positions.
The near three-week long Exercise, covering South of Kokilai and North of Panama in the East and a minor portion of the Security Force Headquarters - Wanni area consisted of parallel mock seaborne and airborne operations, special combat readiness operations and direct onslaughts against enemy strongholds, conduct of joint operations using manoeuvrist approach, execution and planning of special operations, tactics, techniques and procedures, etc within given time frameworks during the period.
In addition, all those participants in the Exercise gained a wide practical knowledge on simulating rescue operations, operations of joint amphibious task forces, induction and de-induction of the troops, siege of safe houses, under water missions, mock ambushes of unconventional types, planning, preparations, formulations, coordination, commands, control, tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP), operations within given time frames, air and sea rescue operations, attacks on hideouts, intelligence gathering, etc.
Defence Attaches from Bangladesh, China, India, Sudan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and the USA, also attended the closing phase of the Exercise where the combined troops of the Special Forces showed their skills and carried out a ferocious attack on another enemy camp in close proximity. District Secretary, together with the DIG, several Air Force and Navy senior officers were also associated with the formal closing ceremony.
Lieutenant General Chrishanthe De Silva during a brief interaction with the visiting Defence Attaches explained the distinct objective and importance behind such training of Special Forces and Commandos which are a part of any country’s pride and dignity. Witnessing the roles of Army troops and supporting troops closely expressed his happiness over their skills which have been organized in a mock war milieu environment for conduct of such joint and advanced operations.
The meticulously designed Exercise aims to enhance special operation capabilities and maintain combat readiness at all levels, and this has become extremely popular and very well accepted at foreign defence establishments.
As per the scope of the mega Exercise in the Army calendar of assignments, the Special Operation Forces during the Exercise undergo an array of rigorous, strong, and unique training schedules to take up any challenge during battles of hostile missions.
The \'Cormorant Strike\' is the largest field Exercise in the country, which is conducted for specialized operations forces to maintain their highest physical efficiency and specialization in special operational tactics, techniques, procedures, and skills, to be employed for specialized tasks which may come in handy whenever the security of the country is threatened.
A special appraisal conference, held at Minneriya Exercise Headquarters Monday (19) evening discussed the conduct of the Exercise at length. It was attended by Eng. Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Secretary Defence, Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army, Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Director Exercise - \'Cormorant Strike\', Major General K.M.U Wijeratne, Commander, Security Forces - East, Major General Jagath Alwis, Commander, Army Training Command (ARTRAC), Major General Mahesh Senanayaka, Colonel of the Regiment, Special Forces, Brigadier Ralf Nugera, Colonel of the Regiment, Commando Regiment and Deputy Director, Exercise, Brigadier G.V Ravipriya, Director Training, Brigadier H.P Ranasinghe, Centre Commandant, Special Forces Regiment, other Deputy/Additional Directors of the Exercise and all Brigade Commanders participating in the Exercise.
A formal certificate awarding ceremony on Saturday (24) brings the curtains down on this year’s arrangement.
