1. INTRODUCTION
These rules are exact extract from General Instructions issued by ERNA Society.
All umpires are to monitor these rules all the time. Any incident even remotely related to these listed issues must be reported !
2. FIRING RANGE PRACTICES
1. Live combat ammunition may only be unpacked on the firing range. On-route live ammunition for assault rifles must be carried in an enclosed box in your rucksack (with the exception that pistols, or revolvers are carried loaded at all times, with no round in the barrel and safety on).
2. Loading of live ammunition into magazines will only take place at designated areas on umpire’s order and only immediately before commencement of a firing practice.
3. Firing may only be commenced after having received a command from the umpire of this area.
4. At the conclusion of the firing practice, competitors must unload their weapons and have them safety checked by the umpire.
5. On-route assault rifles must be empty!
3. MOVING ON TRAIL
The movement on trail is done on foot (if not stated differently in a specific task) and with no outside help. It means that contact with other teams (radio communication included) and counteraction (except for being caught by them) is prohibited. Adding or removing equipment on trail is also prohibited.
The movement must be done in disguise using the terrain features. All roads are prohibited (except for crossing roads or in case it is stated differently in the annex for the specific competition). Paths, firebreaks and power line areas are allowed to be used for moving (i.e. the paths and routes marked with dotted lines on the competition maps).
While moving, the weapons must be ready but not have live ammunition loaded. Carrying weapons in backpacks or harness’ to make it easier to move is not allowed.
The weapons must be kept clean.
Support persons move on trail with the vehicle registered in mandate. Presence of support persons on trail in the vicinity of checkpoints and mailboxes within 1 km is prohibited (2 km for the OPORD territory). Entering and departing the trail, if necessary, is done only along the routes marked on map by the organizers.
4. RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
A team or its member is captured if:
1. the distance between the competitors and counter action is less than 25 m and the team can not retreat hidden from the counter action (this can also be hindered by a single ambush or a “booby trap”)
2. counter action has managed to enter the team’s camp or the team has accidentally entered a counter action unit
3. the team has tried to hide in order to avoid encounter with counter action, but has remained uncovered too long i.e. around 5 seconds in time or 25 meters without cover. On an open area the distance between the team and counter action has to be at least 100 m to exclude any encounter. In case of restricted visibility it depends on the terrain.
A team is not captured if :
1. After the unexpected contact between the team and counteraction, the team has succeeded in breaking contact and leave immediately.
2. The team has ambushed the counteraction unit and „taken it down“ and not been found within 10 minutes (in this situation, the eliminated counteraction patrol is not allowed to call for assistance since they are considered „dead“)
3. The contact has taken place outside the counteraction operational area (unless the counteraction is on deployment or relocation).
A common sentry is not an ambush.
If there is an umpire near, he/she will decide based on the developed situation, who actually won the encounter.
Each captured competitor is obliged to give away one slip at each capture.
5. CP RULES
Teams are not allowed to wait for their scheduled time in the neutral zone of the checkpoint (1km area around the CP), they can wait outside the neutral zone. If they are caught, the checkpoint instructors and umpires have the right to collect one capture slip for each time they are caught and per each competitor.
If a support person is in the CP’s neutral zone prior to his team’s arrival, it will be registered and this brings additional penalty points to the team.
Observing other teams’ performance in checkpoints is prohibited.
There might be unexpected safety and cleanliness inspections for the weapons in the checkpoints with no prior warning. Upon arrival to a checkpoint the weapons must be arranged in a pyramid (not leave lying on the ground) and the team must guard them. Aiming a weapon towards other people is strictly prohibited.
The teams have to arrive to the checkpoints according to the timetables issued to them in mandate.After entering the checkpoint, the team arrival time is registered at the task umpire (CPs with single task) or at the coordinator of the CP (CPs with multiple tasks).
The time deviation on entering the CP can be +/- 5 minutes. If the team arrives to the CP from a not allowed direction, they have to leave the checkpoint area and re-enter from the designated place, making sure their route is not passing the danger areas of the checkpoint (e.g. shooting area).
Being late for the task is not allowed. If a team is late for the task, they will not be allowed to perform the task but dispatched off to the trail or to the next task of the checkpoint.
Moving in the checkpoint is done only on the marked routes.
Resupplying own equipment as well as any kind of outside help (including information about the task to be preformed, carrying equipment etc) is prohibited. In bigger checkpoints, there is a specified area for the teams for tidy-up, where the competitors can adjust their appearance and equipment and if necessary contact their support person (in the presence of an umpire).
NB! Arriving to checkpoints is mandatory even if late! Not showing up brings the team additional penalty points.
Team support persons are allowed to be in the task area only at their team’s task time. This means that if there is another team coming from the same unit or country the support person is not allowed to stay and watch this team’s performance as well.
The duty of a support person in a checkpoint is to monitor the team and if necessary contact the team in the designated area in the presence of an umpire (e.g. issuing protests or any other problems).
According to the nature of the task (if stated so in the competition description), assist the team to prepare for the task (e.g. preparation of the boat). Contacting the team is only allowed in the tidy-up area, which usually is located at the end of the checkpoint in a separately marked area.
6. TEAM REGULATIONS
1. When imitating shooting (or shooting with blank ammo), the weapon must be aimed visibly above the target (including vehicles and alike).
2. Competitors, who have given away their all 10 slips i.e. being captured 10 times, will be considered dead and they have to retire from the competition.
3. Passing the mailboxes is compulsory for all the team members.
4. Unexpected equipment checks can be executed in checkpoints with no prior warning.
1. Use cell phones and pagers on trail.
2. Pass the trail on transportation not allowed in the competition instructions.
3. Accept or use any form of outside assistance on the trail or at the checkpoints, (i.e. receive additional equipment, exchange defective items, obtain extra rations or other forms of replenishment, receive unauthorized information regarding the trail, checkpoints, mailboxes etc).
4. Use any form of narcotics or strength enhancing drugs. (In case of suspicion, a doping test is required).
5. Join forces with another team to facilitate their movement on the trail.
6. Use their radio to contact another team on the route (this is only permitted in the case of a real emergency).
7. Destroy the contents of common mailboxes and take along material of competing teams.
8. Change and destroy visible common signs of mailboxes.
9. Use civilian footwear on trail or at checkpoints (spares must also be of military pattern boots or rubber boots).
10. Purchase food and refreshments from stores and restaurants en-route.
11. Disobey any orders from umpires or instructors.
12. Remove official competitor identification
13. Replace / exchange a team member during competition
1. Moving along roads marked with two black lines on 1:50 000 scale maps. Penalty points will be awarded in accordance with the number of team members caught on the road.
2. Have live ammunition loaded in an assault rifle outside a rifle range area. In case of violation, only the team member owing the weapon will be disqualified.
3. Assault rifle in backpack.
4. Intentional destruction of equipment.
7. TEAM SUPPORT REGULATIONS
It is strictly prohibited for teams’ support persons to be present on the territory of the operational order or its immediate vicinity (up to 2 km). If this command is ignored the team will receive penalty which can include disqualification.
Each team has to have their own support persons.
Support persons, media reporters and public spectators are prohibited to / from:
1. Render any assistance to the teams on the trail except for necessary first aid. In the case of first aid competition headquarters / umpires must be informed without delay.
2. Move along the competition route in their own private transport to assist their teams. All transport in the competition area is controlled and co-ordinated by Erna HQ.
3. Disturb teams on the trail, or while engaged in competition tasks.
4. Disturb, or hamper the work of Erna headquarters and umpires. (There are designated contact persons who can be applied to and solve any arisen problems).
5. Use photo flashlights during activities conducted at night.
6. Remove, or hide their identification (support persons), except when it is changed for umpire identification.
8. ORGANISING COMMITTEE REGULATIONS
Members of the organizing committee are prohibited to / from:
1. Use, or to be under the influence of alcohol, while on duty.
2. Provide, or arrange any assistance to competing teams, which may change their standings.
3. Show preference for one team over another when assessing their competition performance, or when resolving a protest.
4. Disclose confidential competition information.
5. Not forwarding necessary information to the headquarters.
6. Communicate with teams, within their area of responsibility, in any language other than the official competition languages.
7. Accept presents immediately before the competition and during the competition.