Slovenians conduct CRC training on Novo Selo

Photo By Sgt. Cody Barber | Slovenian soldiers respond to a civil disturbance using UH-60 Black Hawks during a training event on Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo, March 26.  

CAMP BONDSTEEL, KOSOVO

03.31.2014

Story by Sgt. Cody Barber 

KFOR Regional Command East

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - Upon landing, Slovenian soldiers dismounted from UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and formed up in formation; ready to face the crowd of angry rioters. Luckily for the rioters, this was only a training exercise.

Slovenian troops conducted aerial quick reaction force crowd riot control operations training on Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo, March 26.

The purpose of the training was to test commanders and soldiers on their ability to react fast and make the right calls in the event of a civil disturbance.

“Every training is good because you have to be ready for a mission if this would happen,” said Slovenian Army Capt. Jurij Raduha, Coy commander. “When you do training more and more, you will establish better tactical procedures, techniques and this will help you.”

Within minutes of receiving the call, Slovenian soldiers geared up from Camp Nothing Hill, loaded on helicopters and headed to where the protest was occurring.

When they dismounted, a mob of approximately 30 U.S. Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 38th Cavalry Regiment, 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, greeted them with yelling, chanting and overall chaos.

During the training, Raduha said his troops faced multiple situations they could encounter when dealing with civil disturbances, which they handled very well and was a benefit for the Slovenian soldiers.

“I think that today both of the platoons accomplished the movement and preparations smoothly but there is always room to improve and I’m sure next time it will be better,” said Raduha.

Slovenian army Lance Cpl. Gregor Hazdovac, added that using air assets was also something different and beneficial for him

“This exercise was something new that challenged me,” said Hazdovac. “There is always something new and different to learn in every exercise and with every exercise you improve a little. This time we arrived in helicopters when we usually come in ground vehicles.”

Although the training was primarily for the Slovenians, U.S. Army Capt. William Fuller, an operations officer with 2-38 Cav., and a native of Decatur, Ga., said that he benefited from the training as well.

“It was valuable training for Raduha’s [company] as well as the staff at the Forward Command Post,” said Fuller. “We learned some things that we could do better in terms of training and readiness.”

Fuller added that working hand-in-hand with multinational counterparts is essential to mission success.

“It’s always good to have different multinational elements work together during training because that’s how we are going to do it if things actually happen,” said Fuller.

• Date Taken: 03.31.2014
• Date Posted: 04.02.2014 11:31
• Story ID: 123727
• Location: CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ