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First Russian female crew to take part in Tank Biathlon competition this year

The crew will consist of three women who will take up the organic positions of the commander, the gunner and the driver of the T-72B3 tank

MOSCOW, January 11. /TASS/. The first female crew will be formed in the tank regiment of the Western Military District’s all-arms army in the Belgorod Region to take part in the Tank Biathlon competition at the International Army Games this year, the District’s press office told TASS on Friday.

"Female service members will undergo training to take part in the qualification rounds of the Tank Biathlon competition at the International Army Games this year. The first female tank crew will be formed on the basis of the tank regiment of the Western Military District’s all-arms army. It will consist of three women who will take up the organic positions of the commander, the gunner and the driver of the T-72B3 tank," the press office said, noting that 10 females serving in the Visla motor rifle division of the Western Military District were currently taking part in the selection procedure.

The crew will be sent to the Western Military District’s training center in the Vladimir Region in central Russia for training and for improving their skills.

The female crew will undergo additional training during three months to sharpen their skills of driving a combat vehicle, firing a 125mm gun and a large-caliber tank machine-gun and directing fire. Following the training course, the female crew will pass the tests of live-firing, checking a vehicle’s technical condition within a specified time limit, loading munitions and driving.

The International Army Games-2019 will be held on August 3-17 at 24 ranges of 10 countries. For the first time, the Games will be held on the territory of India, Mongolia and Uzbekistan.

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