ATTENTION, stood still! The judo faction in the Austrian Armed Forces continues to grow: A total of 15 judokas are active as full-time sports soldiers in a total of six different departments (Dornbirn, Innsbruck, Linz, Salzburg, Seebenstein, Südstadt) and can therefore – financially and socially secure – focus on their careers focus as competitive athletes. Every year in the summer, the army receives young judo soldiers. Same this year.
Since July 4th, six new judo soldiers (1 woman, 5 men) have been completing their basic training as part of their basic military service in the Gratkorn barracks: Elena Dengg (ESV Sanjindo Bischofshofen/S), Philipp Aust (JC Klosterneuburg/Lower Austria), Firas Ben Saad (LZ Multikraft Wels/OÖ), Thomas Ecker (LZ Multikraft Wels/OÖ), David Peritsch (Volksbank Galaxy Judo Tigers/W) and Sebastian Seiz (Volksbank Galaxy Judo Tigers/W).
After the end of the basic training, the sextet moves to the federal base in Linz for another six months. For young judoers, this is their first step into competitive professional sport. After six months of basic military service, there are two options: stay with the national team and at the federal base in Linz, or switch to regional bases.
