Interview with a sapper

In this post, we bring you an interview conducted on our Discord channel with a sapper from the Army, we hope you enjoy it.

Remember that you can join our Discord channel to participate in this type of interviews.

1.- Do the sapper units have SERECO or do they act as SERECO themselves?

Yes, in fact in all the units where there are sapper teams there is a reconnaissance section. In my unit, for example, in a Company there is that section, which for logistical reasons is somewhat merged with the explosive ordnance disposal section.

2.- What vehicles do they work with?

The vehicle theme, in my unit, of sappers, the most characteristic ones are the Husky and the RG-31, the famous and hated TOAS, the VAMTAC, the Dornier and Bailey bridges, the Alacran M60, and other construction and work machines, such as a backhoe, that is, the typical machines used in construction, to give you an idea.

3.- When you go out for maneuvers, what do you do?

Depending on what type of maneuvers we are going to do, if they are Alfa maneuvers that are carried out at the Battalion level, and other types of support maneuvers for larger units, for example, a Cavalry Battalion requests support from a section of Sappers, then we are attached to them and to whatever they send us, and the things we do are generic sapper tasks, minefields, fortifications, route reconnaissance, checkpoints, breach openings with pole throwing, assaulting a height, etc.

4.- How often do you usually do drills?

From what I have experienced to date, in the Pre-COVID time, it depended, between 4 and 6 maneuvers a year, some lasting 1 week, others 2, depending.
Afterwards, in Post-COVID, the issue of maneuvers was significantly reduced, until they have started to become somewhat more normal again.

5.- Do you think there is enough free time to be able to study?

It depends on the time you want to take out, how organized you are, and then what you want to do in that free time. Think that normally, without maneuvers or continuous work, etc., by 15:00 at the latest you are free, and from there until 07:45 the next day when you return to your routine, you have hours. Subtract about 6 – 7 hours of sleep minimum, which is obvious. So you have the whole afternoon and some of the night to manage, if you want to go to the gym, do your shopping, and start studying for an exam, or even go to class in the afternoon at a school if you consider it, so you can find time if you want to. So everyone will know how to manage it and in what way.

That does depend on each unit as you may end up more tired from the activities you do or not, and you may want to take a nap or even do nothing because you want to relax, that depends on the units, some are more peaceful and some are less peaceful, like in everything.

6.- What is the routine of the sapper?

The routine of the sapper unit is probably like in any other unit. I will talk about a day in my unit, around 07:45 we form up in the parade ground, where updates are given to the Usía, so if you have to form up at that time, you can calculate what time you need to get up if you live on the Base or at home, depending on how far you are from the Base.

Then we are doing sports from 08:00 when the flag sounds, until around 09:00, then you go to shower, clean up, change, and have lunch, around 10:00. Activities start again, each Company will have a theme or activity to do, depending on what is scheduled for that day, that week, or that month. For example, if that day involves minefields or opening a gap, then that’s what we do until around 14:15 when we start to gather everything in warehouses, furry or armories, and then the time until we break ranks at 14:45 is for resting, or “making the homeland,” as we call it here hehe, which is talking between commanders and subordinates a bit about everything, our concerns, tasks, goals, objectives, plans, a brotherhood of everyone, etc.

Fridays have the same start time, except that in the instruction part, or topics, it usually involves vehicle maintenance and base cleanup, and the departure is moved up by approximately 1 hour. This schedule previously was the normal schedule, the low activity schedule, as you enter the same way, but you leave about 1 hour earlier every day.

7.- What made you choose the unit you are in?

Well, when I filled out the application for the 15 destinations to choose from, I listed them all from the closest to my home to the farthest from my home, creating a radius of those destinations from my city until the 15 slots were filled. Also, since I had a relative who was in Engineering, I already knew what this specialty was about; it was the one I was basically familiar with, the rest I listed were from all the specialties according to proximity.

8.- What do you like most about the unit?

Well, I like the good atmosphere that there is in general, they are also gradually improving in various aspects, but time will tell. The truth is that I mainly stay for the people.

9.- What do you like least about the unit?

Well, the eternal cold that is always there, haha, you have to get used to it, but you survive well. And that it is a unit that they could call more for missions, but unfortunately it goes out very little or almost not at all.

10.- Is there anything you would improve?

Yes, some things, like the fact of trying to ensure that unit personnel have the opportunity to go on missions, improve some infrastructures of the Base, provide facilities for the staff. I suppose this is very similar to other units, it is basically something "general"...

11.- Any tips for wearing wellies?

Surely the instruction of sappers is tougher than that of Signals or Artillery, for example, that there is more demand for sports training to be able to carry out better combat training. With a good training plan, for endurance and strength, you will manage these two previous points well.

12.- What is the level of physical demand?

If you're asking because you want to apply to be a soldier and become a sapper, or you're currently in Cefot 2 doing the training, then a normal level of physical demand will work well for you. Good strength and endurance training in running will help you a lot, both in sports with running and in terms of training, with a loaded backpack and the weaponry, it's manageable.

13.- From your point of view, what is the main function of the sappers?

Well, what I am going to comment on is what the instructor commanders taught me at Cefot 2, what they told me is the same as what I think, because it is the reality, in war, to facilitate the movement of allied troops and hinder that of the enemy.

They favor the mobility of armies, by advancing ahead of the rest of the forces, securing roads and structures such as bridges for the passage of troops.

14.- Can any type of accessory be carried in the vest? (Extra pockets, first aid kit…)

This is a particular matter I believe for each unit, since some time ago in my unit you could carry any type of accessory, even a first aid kit on the side of the backpack, but now everything has to be standard army equipment, the other things you carry should be inside the backpack, nothing on the outside, just like in the anti-fragmentation vest or the peco.

15.- What is your goal within the sapper corps, to access the moe, non-commissioned officers, cnp…?

My goal in 2022 is to access non-commissioned officers, I have already applied to 1 call and I have not been able to enter. If this option does not come up, I have the second option of going for reserved positions in the Civil Guard. But well, it is always good to have other options if the first one fails. There are hundreds of other competitive exams that are quite interesting when it comes to professional improvement.

16.- What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

Well, let's see, if you are young and want to apply when you have finished your compulsory studies, then go ahead if you have a strong vocation. I recommend starting from the Troop, as a soldier, to see in the first commitment if you like military life, and if you do, then you can promote internally to Officers or Non-Commissioned Officers. Because maybe if you go through direct access, for example to Non-Commissioned Officers, you pass and then maybe after the academy, once you are in a unit, you don't like that life or the day-to-day at all and you regret it, and then many leave, as I have seen cases, examples that military life is not suitable for everyone, each person is a world and has their particularities, tastes, and limits in their life. And another important thing, if you really want to join the army, don't wait until almost the age limit, because then you might regret it, or if you enter late, it can limit you later as a soldier when it comes to promoting or improving with courses or other matters. It is also supposed that an 18-year-old is physically better in theory than a 29-year-old (which I believe is the age limit now), although in many cases, from what I have seen, it is quite the opposite, really.

I also recommend getting a medium-level qualification before entering, and if possible, a higher-level vocational training, even better, as this can help you later when contributing those skills in the army, they will see that. The training at Cefot 2 is manageable, it's easy from my point of view; those who don't pass it are not cut out for this life and want to live in comfort, under the protection of mom and dad, so this is not for those people. Those who pass the training at Cefot 2, like at Cefot 1, it doesn't matter to me, as each unit will have its specific instructions; in the case of sappers, it is the IBZ (Basic Instruction of the Sapper), which lasts between 1 and 3 months approximately depending on the unit. There they will push you a bit more, and the instructor commands will be stricter, but it's "At your command" for everything and forward; you will go through tough moments when your body tells you I can't, but thanks to your mind, you can achieve it because it tells you I can. In those moments, when your mind tells you I can, think of the best moments of your life, whether with family, friends, partner, etc., and thanks to that, you will be able to overcome everything that lies ahead and much more.

I hope it helps and gives advice to everyone. A hug

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