BILLED [MM] Exercise Khoot-Daung

[Moira]

EXERCISE KHOOT-DAUNG MYANMAR TATMADAW KYEE​

OPERATIONAL BACKGROUND

The daung, or green peafowl, is one of Myanmar's oldest and most recognizable national symbols. Since the days of the monarchy, through the Second World War, and today the daung has been featured prominently in the national mythos of Myanmar. Today, the peacock is featured on the flag of the ruling National League for Democracy as the khoot-daung, fighting peacock, to represent the struggle of the masses in their pursuit of true democracy. Exercise Khoot-Daung is the blanket term used by the Tatmadaw to cover all of its training efforts.

DEPLOYED FORCES

All 20 standing units of Myanmar's Army, totaling 15,000 personnel, would be deployed for training. Northern Command 1st Kachin Rifles 2nd Kachin Rifles 3rd Kachin Rifles 4th Kachin Rifles Eastern Command 1st Kayah Rifles 2nd Shan Rifles Southeastern Command 1st Mon Rifles 1st Kayin Rifles Southern Command 9th Infantry Battalion 18th Infantry Battalion Southwestern Command 27th Infantry Battalion Western Command 1st Arakan Rifles 1st Chin Rifles Northwestern Command 36th Infantry Battalion Yangon Command 45th Infantry Battalion Coastal Region Command 54th Infantry Battalion 63rd Infantry Battalion Triangle Region Command 3rd Shan Rifles Central Command 72nd Infantry Battalion 81st Infantry Battalion

LOGISTICS

Each Battalion will train near its headquarters' location. All units will learn Conventional Warfare I, the use of traditional infantry tactics, as well as acclimation to their district's geography: Northern Command, Eastern Command, Northwestern, and Triangle Region Commands will learn Mountain Warfare I, learning to fight effectively in the temperate hills of Myanmar. Coastal Region, Southeastern, Southwestern, and Western Commands will learn Jungle Warfare I, acclimation and fighting tactics suited to Myanmar's low-lying tropical rainforests. Southern and Central commands will learn Tropical Warfare I, acclimation to the hot and muggy lowlands of Myanmar. Yangon Command will learn Urban Warfare I, practicing fighting in the close quarters of the country's largest and capital city. Training funds: $12,000 per soldier, $180,000,000 in total

 

[Moira]

All six of Myanmar's Lieutenant Generals would receive the following orders via courier in sealed envelopes marked "Eyes Only."

"We are entering into a new world, fraught with challenges. Our homeland deserves a modern military, with modern tactics, built upon the socialist ideals of brotherhood and camaraderie. For this reason, ALL members of the Tatmadaw Kyee - officers, NCOs, and enlisted alike - shall undergo retraining according to the new basic training doctrine set forward by the Ministry of Defense. The Tatmadaw must stand strong against all threats to defend our young republic with dignity and honor. The Tatmadaw will be an army of the people, a spirit of humility and camaraderie must be instilled in every soldier and they must be ready to stand strong against reactionary elements that would seek to oppose the democracy that the people have built in Myanmar.

Signed,
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing"

The early days of training would be carried out at each unit's garrison. Physical conditioning, drills, weapon and equipment use and maintenance, as the 15,000 Burmese soldiers underwent the new basic training regimen. Enlisted and non-commissioned officers, regardless of rank, trained together in small-unit tactics. Soldiers shared their experience between fresh faces and veterans and a spirit of camaraderie was instilled from their commanding officers. Working together to a common goal, the units made great strides toward learning the newest and most effective formations, weapons handling techniques, close-quarters combat, among other necessary skills for a modern conventional infantry. In addition to physical retraining, newly raised officers, brought in to fill gaps left from General Min Aung Hlaing's purge, studied under seasoned officers in matters of stratagem, war theory, and leadership skills to make them effective leaders for Myanmar's armed forces.

 

[Moira]

Battalion-wide wargames play out over the next few days of training as soldiers engage in friendly competition to prove that they've got what it takes to be the best. On the first day, Companies square off in simulated-fire exercises to exercise their cohesion in the middle of battle. To warm-up, each company runs through a live-fire combat simulation, working in squads to clear a house with dummy targets and innocents - testing their instincts, reflexes, and accuracy under pressure. Once everybody has had a taste of adrenaline, the simulated-fire portion begins. Each company swaps their live ammunition for blanks and face each other in a simulated combat encounter to test their skills against real, human opponents.

 

[Moira]

The focus for the next phase of the course is drilling. To instill a spirit discipline, the troops are retrained on marching rank-and-file, obeying march orders, and the proper care of dress uniform. After the drilling portion is a refresher on weapon maintenance, the use of bayonet, and time at the range practicing the use of designated marksmen rifles, anti-materiel rifles, crew machine guns, and live grenades. At the end of the day, some battalions have reshuffled their ranks - assigning those with skill to appropriate roles within the companies.