Located in Southwestern Russia, right next to the Russian town of Kazanskya, and wholly owned by Saeder-Krupp for winter and regular training, Kubyinka is the largest training area within the company. Roughly 50km2, Kubyinka hosts training for all types of services in the SSG and the normal S-K military. Armor, Aircraft, Infantry all play their various wargames. SSG rotations are not really announced, but known among the top of the security chain, and incorporate areas to which they train the recruits. Since the first deployment to Kubyinka for SSG recruits is a standard field exercise, it is stressed that it won't be the first time they come there. For enforcement purposes, the whole area of course is considered extraterritorial, and therefore Saeder-Krupp can enforce it's laws within the area as needed. A standard rotation takes a month for any given unit. The first week is outfitting equipment and preparing for the Playground. The units spend two weeks in the field, and then spend a week after that recovering and turning in the MILES 2060 equipment. The two main areas are discussed here:
Main Area (Admin and other areas)
The main Admin area houses barracks, security, and range control. All barracks are standard dormitory type, with two per room. Kitchens and a bathroom is there, as well as reliable heating, and food is served in the chow halls located on base. Shopping can be done here, as well as recreation. The staff of the area numbers a Battalion, and controls all functions, while civilian S-K employees do all the service (food, clothing, maintenance, etc.) tasks. Security is considered AA, with the normal security, and the normal assortment of troops. Schools are located for each branch as well, and some are considered top rate, and alot of soldiers are taught here on tactics, employment of weaponry, and actual field training. Security for this area is accomplished both by the visiting units and the normal garrison. It should be noted that across the board, the place is heavily secured, and from the lightest weapons to MBTs can be used for base defense. This has kept out the usual number of terrorists, corporate teams, and any other threat that can be brought upon the area. Section FOUR or FIVE handles any heavier threats, always on call for extra security for the base.
Airfield
Most units rotate once a year through the area, and the base features a secure airfield allowing supplies and troops to be ferried in. The airfield itself can handle up to 6 large cargo planes, and regular traffic is noticeable as units come and go.
Assembly Area
This is the main spot where units offload most of their equipment to get ready for training. Units will spend a week outfitting their equipment and checking and maintaining it. Then they head out to the Playground.
Training Area (the "Playground")
The whole training area (known as the "Playground") is fully instrumented for "laser tag" combat (similar to the NTC) and live fire ranges are present. All military personnel are rotated through there, along with elements from the SOX are also brought here as well. Most of the live fire ranges are prearranged and units are routinely scheduled through the days. SSG personnel use the standard facilities, and while on assignment to Kubyinka, wear the uniforms of the units they're "supposed" to be attached to. However, most SSG personnel are in the Playground, practicing manuevers.
Standard tactical training is done, from combat drops (all are qualified here as well), to security operations, as well as use of the Persky Urban Combat Simulator, which has some various buildings in which personnel practice hostage rescue, forced entry, and site security. Air simulations are also fully instrumented, with low level flight, interception, and cargo dropping (UD-4L pilots go through all this, including hot LZ drops). SSG personnel are also trained on securing an LZ, forming one, then moving out. This is somewhat covered inititially, then worked on as the members career expands. There are a few mock towns for urban combat, with the Persky being the main one. The secondary is the Krasnovian Villa, a harker from one commander from his years in the old US Army. Full MOUT, CQB tactics are practiced. From stand up fights, to hostage and CT missions.
The whole range is instrumented, including cameras located around the area for battle replays, and also for battle tracking. The laser recievers on the vehicles and the soldiers immediately send the results to The Lair. The Lair is the large room that handles the area. Everything is tracked, and recorded here. Usually commanders watch as their soldiers fight on the "battlefield". Each is fitted with a GPS system to track the movement of individual soldiers and vehicles and sent up to The Lair.
The terrain is flat and wooded, and has fields as well. Temperature is as in SW Russia. Wintertime is mainly winter training, but that is considered a standard rotation rather than anything special. At least one unit has undergone training during the harsh Russian winters. There are a few dirt landing strips for insertion training, as well as rough ground landing training as well.
Persky Urban Combat Simulator
Located in the south central part of Kubyinka, Persky is one of the most well designed Combat Simulators in the world. The UCS is a small representation of a downtown core, and features a few skyscrapers for anything. Around there is alot of buildings that have lots of rooms. It is fully capable of supporting up to a Company sized element of the training unit. Various scenarios are played out, assasinations, convoy escort, to the bare bones of clearing buildings in a combat zone, or security operations. There are also a few other features, such as bridges, as well as parks, apartment buildings.
Krasnovian Villa
A smaller version of the UCS, this represents a small town. This is located only 10km east of Persky, and is usually one of the hallmarks of training, as usually getting there means the mission is over, or have one.
2nd Mixed Battalion (OPFOR)
There would be no reason for Kubyinka if there wasn't someone to fight it. The 2nd Mixed Battalion is S-K's 11th ACR plain and simple. They are the most well trained unit in the company, with exception to the SSG. Like the old 11th ACR, they usually use equipment that most opponents use. However, they're vast motorpools give them access to any kind of equipment to simulate whatever they need. They imitate nations, corporate militaries, etc. And they rotate on who they emulate, unlike the old 11th ACR, who imitated old Russian tactics. They can be as smart as any opponent S-K is likely to encounter. This is of course limited, as even they have limits. Usually they use general vehicles, with some exceptions, such as vehicles captured in battle, or bought. This allows them to tailor their mission and to fight how they want. They are organizes like a western battalion, with five companies plus support units. At any given time, they are out in the Playground either as soldiers, or COBs (Civilians On the Battlefield). They play real world scenarios to the upmost fullest, with some even taking acting classes and drama classes to enhance the effect. Some also speak foreign languages, to throw off units, and to present the problem of going into a different nation that they don't speak the language.
Another facet of the 2nd is that they also maintain a cadre of it's own OC's (Observer/Controllers) to manage the battle. Like at NTC, and JRTC when used by the US, they simply are umpires in the battle. However, unlike the previous locations, they are not as prevalent as they are here. They pretty much are distributed one per platoon. They tend to ride in light vehicles, using a laptop computer, while someone drives, to adjudicate the battle. They are issued "God Guns", which in all sense, allows them to "kill" whoever they see fit per rules of engagements.
Like any other unit, they still do the same military briefings, de-briefings, planning and counter planning. They are capable of performing all types of missions of course. Counter-recon, recon, movement to contact, obstacle breaching, and Defense (hasty and otherwise).
Other Training
Despite the force-on-force training offered at Kubyinka, there are other things that go on. First is sniper training. This covers sniper training both for the Special Security Group and regular members of the Saeder-Krupp military. This is usually done when units are not rotating through Kubyinka, to keep costs down of operating a facility. Additionally, Saeder-Krupp offers training to foreign units, at a fee, to help defray operating costs of such a facility. Prices can range from the low hundred thousands for small unit training, and a few million for a larger force.
Return to 8th Training Group.
