With exercise, deterring real threat

Photo By Ardian Nrecaj | U.S. Army soldiers with the explosive ordnance disposal team respond to a call of a suspicious package during an antiterrorism force protection exercise at Camp Bondsteel. (Photo by Public Affairs Specialist Ardian Nrecaj, Multinational Battle Group-East Public Affairs Office)  

KOSOVO

02.04.2014

Story by Ardian Nrecaj 

KFOR Regional Command East

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo –Multinational Battle Group-East put their antiterrorism force protection plan to the test during a camp-wide training exercise on Camp Bondsteel in late January.

“An antiterrorism force protection plan is important because protects our most valuable asset which is personnel as well as the infrastructure that allows us to do operations,” said U.S.Army Capt. Martin A. Johnson, antiterrorism officer for MNBG-East, native of Hope Mills, N.C.

Almost all the units and organizations on Camp Bondsteel responded to the exercise which involved a suspicious package being found inside the base and hostile crowds gathering at the main gate.

U.S. Army Major Stephen K. Jarvis Provost Marshal for Multinational Battle Group East, native of La Verkin, Utah, explained that 11 organizations were involved. “Everyone that was on Camp Bondsteel was affected; everyone had to be accounted for.”

The U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team responded to the site where a suspicious package was found and the quick reaction force reacted to the disturbance that was staged at the main gate.

Johnson explained the fact that Area Support Team Balkans, aviation, DynCorp force protection, firefighters, task force medical, military police as well as the battle group involved in this exercise shows that MNBG-E are able to execute an operation in response to an incident or event on Camp Bondsteel and ensure that we are able to protect our most value assets.

Johnson added that this was a training event and it was not a response to an actual incident, but it was something to where all the enablers understood what their roles were and they executed them flawlessly.

“It went very well and I think it went better than expected considering that this was the first time we conducted an event like that, a rehearsal in fact that all the enablers in the camp were involved,” said Johnson. “This will better prepare us to respond to an event if there was in fact a real incident to take place.”

Jarvis added that we live in a world of uncertainty and there are those that actively are seeking to cause dissention and destruction for various reasons.

“Regardless of these reasons, it still requires all of us to be vigilant if we are to maintain our safety and security. These exercises are a unified effort for all organizations to encourage safety, provide deterrence to unlawful and destructive activities,” said Jarvis.

• Date Taken: 02.04.2014
• Date Posted: 02.04.2014 06:05
• Story ID: 120057
• Location: ZZ
• Hometown: HOPE MILLS, NC, US
• Hometown: LAVERKIN, UT, US