Interview with a Mountain Hunter
"...to become the best and believe me, here you will be because for the hunters of Galicia it is ¡WIN OR DIE!"
In this blog, we are going to share an interview with a colleague from Mountain Hunters conducted on our Discord channel, we hope you enjoy it.
What is the life of a mountain hunter like?
According to the companies, formation takes place before or after the flag ceremony, which is at 8:00. Next, sports are done (the variety of this will be determined by the command). At 9:00, a break is taken for breakfast, and at 10:00/10:30, activities begin, which will vary according to the season and the needs of the company.
Finally at 15:00 or at 14:30 in summer the workday ends.
What qualities or skills are you looking for in the specialty?
Active personnel, no one who gets comfortable and falls into neglect or laziness, as this unit is demanding and even more so in mountain maneuvers, to the point of risking their life, an attitude of self-improvement, strong people who are into sports to achieve good physical performance and will be up to the standards of the companies.
The most important thing is the mind; it can generate double the strength of your body, and that will help you get through tough times, always moving forward. Therefore, we can say that people with a strong moral compass and an unbreakable attitude are very valid.
Do you usually go out for maneuvers a lot?
Let's say about 5/7 times a year.
Can work be balanced with family life?
Yes, my family is 800km away and I can still enjoy them, although from experience I can say that it depends on the person themselves, and what depends on their family, but come on, there are people here who have their family and can enjoy them.
How did it go for you at the CEFOT?
It wasn't a bad experience, it was one of the covid cycles which was a bit strange, but it was an experience that I am very glad to have lived through.
Do they put any obstacles when you want to buy an apartment or house if you are assigned in Jaca? Is it worth living there?
No impediment, here people are very used to living with military personnel and yes, it is convenient to be here because it takes very little time to go from anywhere in the city to the barracks to work.
What did you study before joining the army, have you studied anything within it?
I have a medium and higher title in mechanics, and I am currently obtaining the B1 in English.
What high school diploma and/or degree is the best for entering mountain hunters?
That doesn't matter at all, to be in the unit there is no preference for the study you have.
Within the unit, does it cost to study for promotions or competitive exams?
I study perfectly and I am not a very gifted person for studies, so my answer is: "if you want, you can perfectly." The unit when you have seniority helps you with these.
What made you choose the unit you are in?
I wanted to join the army to serve Spain and the Spanish people, to prevent atrocities in the world like those in previous conflicts, to be prepared for what might be demanded of me, and to give my maximum performance.
I didn't join for the "handout", I joined to work as a professional soldier, for what I thought was a better destination than one of the oldest regiments in history, the RI Galicia 64 of hunters, an ancient glory of our army and a special high availability force, here each and every one of us is very proud of who we are and what we do.
Hunters are known to be a good unit due to their preparation for most of the qualities required for the special operations course for access to the MOE. Is it true?
If so, many of our commanders and soldiers take the course as soon as they can, since this unit prepares you physically and mentally to face it.
How did you prepare physically and mentally to enter this unit?
Let's say I'm not a physical specimen, I used to work as a mechanic, I had to start exercising six months before applying to CEFOT, but still, they won't kill you here for not being in shape, they push you to improve and reach the required level, but in a progressive manner.
Is any prior knowledge of climbing, mountaineering, or skiing required before entering the unit?
No prior knowledge is required, here you will be taught from scratch by qualified instructors who are certified in mountain skills.
What do you like most about the unit?
What I like the most about this unit is the closeness of the members, it's like a big family, we are all united as one. Additionally, the geographical location of the unit is in a beautiful place, and in a city that adapts very well to the required needs. It is not poorly located and makes it much easier to adapt to it, even if one wanted to come with the family.
What do you like least about the unit?
In my opinion, it is a bit outdated in combat tactics; I even reconsider the possibility that the commanders do not engage in more complex exercises when real ammunition is used due to the danger of someone getting injured.
When on maneuvers, do you conduct joint exercises with other units?
Yes, they are made, even with foreign units, especially of enemies, since we are very effective in open field tactics and we are good at skirmishes, but we are also placed as allies, and the goal is for the units to work together regarding strategies and ways to carry out the different actions as established by the army, for example, correctly relieving an observation point between two units.
Once in the unit, what or who determines your function? For example, who would operate the machine (MG).
Let's say that according to the commander, a committed commander would study his squad and see who to assign the tools to. A commander who cares less would assign them by seniority or to mess with someone, since the only nice thing about the MGs is shooting them because then loading and cleaning them is a bit of a chore.
How is the issue of cold addressed?
Well, here we have several factors, the first being the economic factor, here you have to come with the awareness that you are going to spend a lot on winter material, thermal clothing, jetboil, etc. It is a demanding environment and you need material that meets the standards, do not be scared by the economic expense, as everyone spends according to their tastes and economic conditions.
Secondly, there is the moral factor, never fall into apathy, do not let yourselves go, you must always keep your spirits high, change your socks, a t-shirt and feel glorious. Examine the views and be amazed by them, evade your mind and prevent it from falling.
We also have the physical factor: moving, even while standing still, constantly bending the knees, moving the arms, the wrists, not letting the heat drop, dressing warmly or lightly respecting each person's qualities. Acclimatize when you are in the barracks or in the city, do not dress warmly up to your ears, dress lightly so that your body can acclimate properly and then you won't have problems.
Last but not least, the maintenance factor, this is where we need to take care, when we stop to warm up, when we are on the move to wear the necessary clothing to avoid sweating and then having the sweat freeze, making broths or infusions, carrying them in a thermos to sip on and keep the heat up, etc.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
Well, let's say you have to come and make them aware of "what you're coming for", this is not a job like any other, here you come to be a SOLDIER and to be the ELITE, you have to come aware that there are colleagues who are here because they love their job and those who only come for economic interest are not looked upon favorably here and they see through you quickly, keep that clear, we are few and we know each other well.
My biggest advice? Be alert, approach things with energy and joy, wake up in the mornings ready to give your all, have courage and bravery. It is also very important to have respect for your superiors and elders, they have been around longer, observe them, see what they do and how they do it, be clever and always be prepared, don't let them catch you off guard, it is better for them to tell you to undo something than to tell you to do it.
In sports, don't give up, maintain good physical shape constantly, and take care of yourself, or else you will struggle to keep up with the pace later.
Another tip, boots for going out, for being at home, in short for almost everything, put them on, so your feet get used to them. Come on, no jokes, I've been wearing boots practically since I was born and I can't say I've ever gotten a single blister, but you need to know how you walk and where you might get chafing to be able to prevent it.
Here you will find people who have to walk sideways because of the number of medals they wear on their chest, all of them filled with value, experience, courage, and HONESTY. That’s why you have to earn all those pieces of advice, anecdotes that each of them can share, to become the best, and believe me, here you will be because for the hunters of Galicia it is ¡WIN OR DIE!
If you want to enter the Military Academies for Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers (both in the Direct Access mode and in Access by Promotion), consult at sermilitar.com the material available to prepare access or visit the online store compra.sermilitar.com
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