BREAK THROUGH ICE – BASIC DRILL

This document describes COE-CWO recommended way to go through the habituation exercise “break
through the ice”

Purpose:
 The purpose with this exercise to make soldiers capable to save them self, together with the
buddy out of a situation where one had gone through the ice.

Aims:
 The soldier going to experience how the body react on cold water.
 The soldier will implement correct procedure to get to the safe side.
 The soldier will know the importance with support from the buddy in the period after hitting
the cold water.
 The soldier will change clothes rapidly and effective – off with the wet, on with the dry.
 The soldier will know how the weather affects this activity.
 The soldier will know what measures we implement to avoid unwanted accidents.
 The soldier will understand how the body get the basal heat production going and regain
normal body temperature.
 The soldiers will execute the exercise on their own.

To do before the exercise:

 Reconnaissance and prepare ahead of the activity.
 Presentation and explanation of the organization, demands and experiences at the exercise
area.
 Demonstration of the exercise “break Through Ice”.
 Short summary at the spot.

Examples on material needed for the exercise:

1 complete team tent with stove (Option 1)
1 BV 206 (Medical vehicle under the exercise - Option 2)
1 SAN bag (can be handled with a medic)
2 woollen blanket
1 Heart starter
2 pair skies with floating elements and Para cord for anchorage
3 pair ski poles with floating element
1 rucksack with water can (at least 10 litre)
1 roll mine tape
4 24 hours red light stick
2 safety rope
4 screw carbines
2 pair neoprene gloves (used under preps ahead of the exercise)
1 rolls garbage bags
1 ice drill
2 sets of ice picks
2 boat hook
1 chainsaw with long blade (protection gear, fuel and oil)
1 Ice saw
Introduction:

Exercise leader need to assess the weather (temperature, wind, humidity and rainfall) impact on the
“break through the ice drill” and on activities that is done before and after the exercise. Exercise leader
should make sure that the personnel is not cold before they start and that the activity after is giving
good heat production.

Following points in the Norwegian Armed Forces Safety Rules and Regulation for Land based
military activities UD 2-1E must be reviewed prior to the exercise:
 Reconnaissance, assessment and measure the ice 7.2.9.3.
 Habituation exercise «break through the ice» 7.2.13.
Person with a minimum of medic level 3 should be supervising the exercise; this person should be
located in the changing area. Main task is to follow and control/inspect the changing session, and
making sure the personnel is activated after the changing (running, burpees ++).
Heat tents or warmed up vehicles with a stretcher, blanket and medical kit/bag should be available.
It`s NOT allowed to use weapon or combat west on the drill.
Inform the soldiers prior they go in the water: try not to get the head under water.
When they change, make sure the soldiers is standing on an insulating layer, like an isomat. The
dressing can be done outside, with a fireplace or inside a warm tent. This has to be adapted based on
the training level, ambition and the weather conditions.

The break through the ice drill:

1. Exercise leader explains how the exercise is organized, both with the ice hole and around.
2. Exercise leader assess the clothing according to the training level and ambition. Field uniform,
backpack and skies vs fatigue with marching boots.
3. The exercise starts with a demonstration where the focus is to show the whole drill with one
who «physically goes down in the cold water”. This person will use the same clothing and
equipment as the soldiers. The focus is the drill, try avoid get the head under the cold water,
control the breathing and start the preparations to get the body up on the same side as you
came from.
4. Specify what gear the soldier should use to get the body and critical equipment on safe
ground. After that the focus is on effective and quick get off wet clothes with the help from
the buddy, when all the wet equipment is off – the soldier will activate himself, to slowly
regain own body temperature.
5. The soldier should as a minimum use boots, thin gloves, headgear and fishnet (over and
under) under the exercise. This reduce the risk for frost injuries and cuts on hands and fingers
when the soldiers work their way up on the safe side of the ice.
6. The exercise can be done with backpack and skies on, and the hands attached inside the straps
on the ski poles. This is the exercise leader`s assessment when it comes to the soldiers training
standard on the unit.
7. Safety on land: One person secure the rope to the soldier that goes in the water. The skies can
be attached to the boots with para cord and carbine hooks on each leg. When it comes to the
use of safety rope, attach one round around the waist. Then insert the rope in a carbine hook,
and then put the rope around one of the shoulders and reattach it to the carbine hook – and
tighten it up.
8. Advanced training that involves training, as “walk yourself dry” and break through the ice on
river should be done with units with higher ambitions.
9. Control of the soldiers will be executed before the exercise ends. The focus is on dry
equipment, cold weather injuries and that the soldiers has regained the body heat. Execute a
SIBIRA check as soon as possible.
10. When the exercise is done, mark the ice hole with sticks, mine tape and light sticks. If the
exercise are is in a military area – the shooting range admin should be notified.