Military patrol
Encyclopedia
Military patrol is a team winter sport
in which athletes compete in both cross-country skiing
respectively ski mountaineering
, and rifle shooting. It is usually contested between countries or military units. Biathlon
was developed from military patrol.
The military patrol competition encompasses 25 kilometer cross-country skiing (15 km for women) and rifle shooting. The size of the patrol is four members. The total climb must be from 500 to 1200 meters (300 to 700 for women). At present the rules are very similar to modern biathlon. Traditionally the participating patrol had to consist of one officer
, one non-commissioned officer (NCO) and two privates
. The officer carried a pistol
instead of a rifle and did not take part in the shooting. The total weight of the backpacks of the NCO and the privates had to be at least 24 kilograms. Nowadays the competitors do not carry backpacks, and the rifles are small bore rifles, similar to those in biathlon. The patrol leader does not have any kind of weapon.
Military patrol has been part of the International Military Sports Council
(Conseil International du Sport Militaire, or CISM) skiing championships since 1929. It was in the official programme of the Winter Olympic Games
in 1924 Chamonix
, and on three occasions as a demonstration sport
. A further well-known military patrol event is the Patrouille des Glaciers
, today also including competitions and rankings for civilian competitors.
Winter sport
A winter sport is a sport which is played on snow or ice. Most such sports are variations of skiing, ice skating and sledding. Traditionally such sports were only played in cold areas during winter, but artificial snow and ice allow more flexibility...
in which athletes compete in both cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
respectively ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering
Ski mountaineering is form of ski touring that variously combines the sports of Telemark, Alpine, and backcountry skiing with that of mountaineering...
, and rifle shooting. It is usually contested between countries or military units. Biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
was developed from military patrol.
The military patrol competition encompasses 25 kilometer cross-country skiing (15 km for women) and rifle shooting. The size of the patrol is four members. The total climb must be from 500 to 1200 meters (300 to 700 for women). At present the rules are very similar to modern biathlon. Traditionally the participating patrol had to consist of one officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, one non-commissioned officer (NCO) and two privates
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
. The officer carried a pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
instead of a rifle and did not take part in the shooting. The total weight of the backpacks of the NCO and the privates had to be at least 24 kilograms. Nowadays the competitors do not carry backpacks, and the rifles are small bore rifles, similar to those in biathlon. The patrol leader does not have any kind of weapon.
Military patrol has been part of the International Military Sports Council
International Military Sports Council
The International Military Sports Council or Conseil International du Sport Militaire , established 1948, is one of the largest multidisciplinary organisations in the world...
(Conseil International du Sport Militaire, or CISM) skiing championships since 1929. It was in the official programme of the Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
in 1924 Chamonix
1924 Winter Olympics
The 1924 Winter Olympics, officially known as the I Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was held in 1924 in Chamonix, France...
, and on three occasions as a demonstration sport
Demonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
. A further well-known military patrol event is the Patrouille des Glaciers
Patrouille des Glaciers
The Patrouille des Glaciers is a ski mountaineering race organized every two years by the Swiss Army, in which military and civilian teams compete...
, today also including competitions and rankings for civilian competitors.