The second year Bachelor students of weapons and ammunition field of study at the University of Defence Faculty of Military Technology experienced the day long training in Brezina training area planned in the early January 2010. Field exercise purpose was to get the students acquainted with the operation and practical usage of pyrotechnics for training purposes used by the Czech forces in troops training while their main purpose is tactical marking of terrain, signals, simulation of various weapons and ammunition effect, etc.). Lead by MAJ Ing. Ludek Jedlicka, Ph.D. and supervised by other Weapons and Ammunition Department teachers, the students practiced adjustments of each of imitation equipment types, such as smoke bombs, light tools or detonators, with both friction and electric primers as well as firing circuit set up, control and discharge with exploder. Some effects could compete with the New Years Eve fireworks. A simple booby trap sample was shown too. At the end of training each student shot the flare pistol.

During the entire training, stress was placed on sticking to safety precautions. All the trainees were aware of working with ammunition of wounding or even deathly potential. Despite the challenging winter conditions the training met its goals. All students were leaving the area richer with pyrotechnics experience and a feeling of well "blasted" job. Today, on one would give a negative answer to the question asked in the title.

Text and photo: doc. Ing. Jan Komenda, CSc., K201 dpt.