Tennessee Army National Guard cross train with Bulgarian Military Police at RC16

By Spc. Staci EvbuomwanJune 23, 2016

Bulgarian Military Police Cross-Train with the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Resolute Castle 16
1 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Timothy Butler, Company Commander, 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, explains the importance of communication to the soldiers present at a military police cross-training class at Novo Selo Tra... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulgarian Military Police Cross-Train with the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Resolute Castle 16
2 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, participate in a hands-on cross-training class with the Bulgarian Military Police, May 29, 2016. This class was an opportunity for each army's sol... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulgarian Military Police Cross-Train with the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Resolute Castle 16
3 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulgarian Military Police Cross-Train with the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Resolute Castle 16
4 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Charity Lewis (front), specialist with the 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, gives command in a Military Police training class at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, June 6, 2016. Soldiers with ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulgarian Military Police Cross-Train with the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Resolute Castle 16
5 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee National Guard, participate in a cross-training class with the Bulgarian Military Police at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, May 29, 2016. The cross-training classes... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulgarian Military Police Cross-Train with the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Resolute Castle 16
6 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, participate in cross-training classes with the Bulgarian Military Police at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, May 29-June 6, 2016. Soldiers from both armies we... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulgarian Military Police Cross-Train with the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Resolute Castle 16
7 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Timothy Butler (right), Company Commander of the 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard and Sgt. Maj. Angelov (left) with the Bulgarian Military Police, participated in a military police cross-train... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulgarian Military Police Cross-Train with the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Resolute Castle 16
8 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Jason Martin (left), State Partnership Training Coordinator with the 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, shows a non-lethal weapon to Sgt. Maj. Angelov (middle) with the Bulgarian Military ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulgarian Military Police Cross-Train with the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Resolute Castle 16
9 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Military Police soldiers with the 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, and the Bulgarian Military Police participate in a non- lethal weapons cross-training class at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulgarian Military Police Cross-Train with the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Resolute Castle 16
10 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Stefan Dimitrov, police officer with the Bulgarian Military Police, fires a non-lethal weapon at a military police cross-training class at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, June 6, 2016. Soldiers with the 269th Military Police Company, 194th En... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bulgarian Military Police Cross-Train with the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Resolute Castle 16
11 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. William Broersma (right), sergeant with the 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, presents Sgt. Maj. Angelov with the Bulgarian Military Police with a Tennessee Army National Guard coin at No... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NOVO SELO, Bulgaria- The 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade Tennessee Army National Guard, is at Novo Selo Training Area (NSTA) providing force protection assistance during Operation Resolute Castle 16 (RC16). RC16 is a multi-national, United States Army Europe- led, training operation spanning from infrastructure improvements to military police cross-training exercises.

The 194th Engineer Brigade Tennessee Army National Guard is currently conducting mission command for RC16, overseeing operations in Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, and Hungary. These training operations are giving U.S. soldiers the opportunity to work alongside and cross-train with NATO allies and partners. The training being conducted throughout RC 16 enhances the interoperability and relationships between coalition forces.

The 269th Military Police Company's role in RC 16 was force protection assistance. Part of the force protection provided included gate guard and roving patrol. They also had the opportunity to have some hands on cross-training classes with the Bulgarian Military Police.

"It was an incredible experience to be able to work with the Bulgarian Military Police and see how different yet similar some of our methods are. Training together enabled us to learn from one another," says Sgt. David Caldwell.

Sgt. Caldwell is a sergeant with the 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, from Nashville, Tennessee. He participated in multiple cross-training classes with the Bulgarian Military Police.

"Being able to work with different people will go a long way in my civilian career as well as my military career. Learning to overcome the communications difference can go really far in the civilian and military worlds alike," says Sgt. Caldwell

Training together allowed the soldiers from different countries to learn to effectively communicate and operate as a unit. Cross-training provided the opportunity to see the communication and tactical methods the other uses and learn from their experiences and strengths. This will make it possible to critique and combine the methods in such a way to make them more effective and proficient.

"Some very successful training happened with my soldiers and the Bulgarian Military Police," says Staff Sgt. Jason Martin, State Partnership Training Coordinator with the 269th Military Police Company. Staff Sgt. Martin is the 269th operation sergeant and is responsible for 200 soldiers and over $20 million of military equipment, as well as a non-lethal weapons trainer.

"The 269th Military Police Company and coalition partners provided the resources for the non-lethal weapons training, but the soldiers with the 269th and the Bulgarian Military Police trained together towards one common goal, to train on one of the non-lethal weapons accessible," says Staff Sgt. Martin. The object of this training was to provide everyone taking the class with knowledge on the X26 taser.

"You can always measure your success in the proficiency of the men and women you train, and it showed during this class. Use-of-force training should also emphasize de-escalation and flexible tactics in a way that minimizes the need to rely on force, particularly lethal force. Officers must also be trained to think beyond the gun-belt. The pepper spray, baton, taser, and pistol that are so easily accessible to officers are meant to be tools of last resort, to be used when non-violent tactics fail or aren't an option. By changing this mentality, military and civilian law enforcement officers could start to shift the culture of policing away from the frontal assault mindset and toward an approach that emphasizes preserving the lives that officers are charged with protecting. By having experience with this weapon system and other less-lethal options points to the fact that these weapons are not only appropriate for use, they could be the most effective strategy and save thousands of lives," says Staff Sgt. Martin.

Staff Sgt. Martin is a 1996 graduate of Smyrna High School in Smyrna, Tennessee, and obtained his associates degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix, AXIA College in 2006. He has over 18 years of honorable service as a soldier and Non-Commissioned Officer with the United States Army and over 10 years combined law enforcement experience and education. Some of his training has included advanced level classes in criminal justice, criminology, law enforcement, counter-terrorism, special response tactics, natural disaster emergency response, force protection, risk management, and weapons tactics.

Directly following high school graduation, Staff Sgt. Martin enlisted in the United States Army as a 31B or military police officer. He went to Fort McClellan, Alabama for Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Military Police school. In November 1996 Staff Sgt. Martin earned the title of Military Police. Since graduation, he has deployed for a total of 30 months in support of Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His continued commitment and dedication to the Army, his work ethic, and his commitment to his soldiers and upholding the Army values, has resulted in him receiving numerous honors and awards.

Staff Sgt. Martin has been working as a Metropolitan Nashville Court Officer/Bailiff since 2004. He has competed over 400 hours of online structured self-development courses and online correspondence course, and plans to enroll at Motlow State Community College in Smyrna, Tennessee to finish his degree.

"It was an incredible experience to have the opportunity to work with and learn from the Bulgarian Forces. It strengthened the relationship between the United States and Bulgarian allies. Being able to share our capabilities with vehicles, equipment, and weapon systems increased our knowledge and capabilities to effectively function together as a joint force," says Staff Sgt. Martin.

Sgt. Richard Gilbert, sergeant with the 269th Military Police Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, was the assistant instructor to Staff Sgt. Martin for the non-nethal weapons cross-training classes. Sgt. Gilbert is a police officer in the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department in Nashville, Tennessee.

"Having the opportunity to train alongside the Bulgarian Military Police stationed at NSTA was an incredible and educational experience for all the soldiers involved. Each soldier trained and gained an understanding and respect, not only of the weapon and its abilities, but also a significant level of trust and respect of each other," says Sgt. Gilbert.

RC16 has provided the soldiers from both the United States and Bulgarian Forces with the opportunity to improve how they operate individually and as a combined force. Having the ability to train with and see one another's capabilities and share experiences on tactics and methods enhanced the ability of both forces. Training and working together build trust, understanding, and a strong relationship between NATO allies and partners.

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