BEMOWO PISKIE, Poland — U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, trained alongside Romanian, British, and Polish soldiers during company situational training exercise lanes March 2-3, 2026, at Bemowo Piskie Training Area.
“Company STX is where we put the squad through a full problem, not just one drill,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryen O'Donnell, a squad leader with 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. “We had to move as a team, stay organized, and execute the task the right way.”
The lanes included mounted and dismounted movement and tasks in an urban training area.
“We conducted Battle Drill 6 which involved entering and clearing a room very well.” O’Donnell said. “The standard is simple. Control your movement, communicate, and clear methodically.”
U.S. Army Spc. Steven Kiritajima, a squad automatic weapon gunner with 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, said his role required constant scanning and quick engagement decisions during movement.
“As the SAW gunner, I’m responsible for security and I’m watching above us, too,” Kiritajima said. “If a drone shows up, I need to identify it fast and engage if required.”
Kiritajima said the lane required teams to manage more actions at the same time than earlier iterations.
“This one had more moving pieces,” he said. “You’re tracking what’s happening in front of you, on your flanks, and overhead.”
Kiritajima said the presence of unmanned aircraft changed how he thinks about security in built-up terrain.
“With drones, the fight isn’t just left and right anymore,” Kiritajima said. “It’s three-dimensional.”
The scenario also incorporated casualty care during tactical movement. O’Donnell said Combat Lifesaver-trained soldiers provided treatment during the lane as part of the training. O’Donnell emphasised the lanes brought multiple nations into the same training problem to learn under shared task standards.
“Training with Romanian, British and Polish soldiers put everyone on the same page,” O’Donnell said. “We had to communicate clearly and execute the fundamentals the same way.”