Texas and Rhode Island National Guardsmen Conduct Joint Crowd Riot Control Exercise

Photo By Sgt. Gauret Stearns | Texas and Rhode Island National Guard Soldiers from the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat team, train alongside partner nations during a crowd riot control training exercise, Operation Bronze Shield, at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, June 14, 2023. The crowd riot control exercise was one of many training exercises conducted by the joint team. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Gauret Stearns)  

GERMANY

06.15.2023

Story by Sgt. Gauret Stearns 

110th Public Affairs Detachment

HOHENFELS, Germany - National Guard Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team joined service members from three partnered nations for a crowd riot control training exercise titled Operation Bronze Shield at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, June 14, 2023.

The crowd riot control exercise was one of many training exercises conducted by the brigade ahead of their upcoming deployment.

For the exercise, the quick reaction force responded to a protest that set up barricades and turned violent.

“I think my unit did well during this exercise,” said Staff Sgt. Kyle Andrade, infantry squad leader. “We linked up with our multinational partners, combined forces and were able to deescalate the situation.”

The unit has been training consistently for this type of event for the past few months preparing for their deployment.

“Since it is new to us, we have been focusing on crowd riot control,” said Spc. Cameron Tunnel, infantry squad member. “This isn’t typical training we receive but since we are a National Guard unit, a lot of us have had experience with domestic response missions.”

Part of the unit was activated for a domestic response mission in 2021 in Washington D.C., in support of the presidential inauguration, as well as, in support of civil disturbance response operations in Texas, summer 2020.

“We have been taught by subject matter experts on everything crowd riot control,” Tunnel said. “Military police from all over Europe have taught us a variety of techniques to use.”

The Soldiers also received training on verbal deescalation and freedom of movement.

The brigade is part of a rotational force, scheduled to assume command and control of Regional Command-East in support of the Kosovo Force, summer 2023.

The NATO-led Kosovo Force is made up of service members from 27 nations. They conduct operations in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, to ensure a safe and secure environment for all people in Kosovo and freedom of movement.

“We are excited to get to Kosovo,” Andrade said. “We have received a lot of good training and are prepared to use it if the situation arises.”

• Date Taken: 06.15.2023
• Date Posted: 06.15.2023 15:08
• Story ID: 447223
• Location: DE