Military patrol

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.

External links

• CISM: Official rules of military patrol