CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - First responders from the Kosovo Police and local emergency services rushed into a chaotic morning in Ferizaj, as what started with a traffic accident quickly escalated into a morning of civil unrest violent demonstrations.
All of this was part of Operation Stonewall, a combined training scenario held by the Kosovo Police and multinational forces from NATO's Kosovo Force, held Oct. 16 outside Ferizaj's Bill Clinton Sports Center.
The exercise incorporated more than 350 personnel from across several agencies-including U.S. and Turkish soldiers from KFOR's Multinational Battle Group-East-as a way to practice their ability to ensure a safe and secure environment through combined planning and response to a complex event.
The scenario began with a hectic scene, calling for first responders to secure the scene of a bus accident and provide emergency care to three critically wounded citizens. After simulating an air medevac-incorporating MNBG-E aviation assets-emergency responders moved out of the way to allow Kosovo Police crowd riot control personnel to address a frenzied gathering of rioters, played by German soldiers also with KFOR.
As the violent confrontation continued, Kosovo Police leaders placed a request for KFOR support to the nearby MNBG-E headquarters at Camp Bondsteel, outside Ferizaj. Turkish soldiers were immediately dispatched out the Camp Bondsteel gate, and arrived at the scene to join the line of Kosovo Police forces. With shields and batons, the combined team of Kosovar and Turkish professionals controlled the situation and pulled role-players aside one by one until the violent situation had dissolved.
As the training operation took place, Kosovo Police and MNBG-E leaders looked on from the sidelines, coordinating between one another to support the combined response, another while also observing their forces' tactics and techniques.
As part of NATO's KFOR peace support mission, MNBG-E acts as a response force in support of the Kosovo Police when required to ensure a safe and secure environment, and freedom of movement, in the region. KFOR acts in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 to provide a safe and secure environment for all people in Kosovo, regardless of ethnic and religious differences. To this aim, KFOR cooperates positively and closely with the Kosovo Police and other local institutions.
"This was a great opportunity to work with the Kosovo Police and assist them in maintaining peace and stability during this exercise," said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andy Shetland, a Connecticut National Guard officer who served during the exercise as a link supporting Kosovo Police officials on behalf of MNBG-E's Southern Command Post.
"In this operation, I acted as a liaison officer between the Kosovo Police and the Battle Group's on-site tactical command center, giving me the chance to work directly with an interpreter and Kosovo Police leadership," he said.
One of Operation Stonewall's key learning points was to help MNBG-E leaders and soldiers understand the Kosovo Police's lead role in handling civil unrest, and give them an opportunity to run through the logistics of responding to a request for emergency support from KFOR troops.
"The intent for conducting these drills is so that all operating forces can gain some experience and understanding of the procedures and roles involved during escalated incidents of civil disturbances when assisting the Kosovo Police," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey LaPierre, who commands MNBG-E's Southern Command Post, which includes aviation units as well as teams of Turkish and Armenian response units.
In a situation like this, the Kosovo Police are the incident commanders and key players because of their familiarity of the environment, and because they are capable of performing these duties, LaPierre said.
Conducting these exercises gives the KP and KFOR a chance to test each other's capabilities, but also provides a chance to exchange tactics on getting the job done, said the Ferizaj regional director of the Kosovo Police, Lt. Col. Gazmend Hoxha.
"What's more important about this is that we can see how we respond to the situation and how all the operating forces work together," Hoxha said.
Prior to conducting the full scenario on Oct. 16, Kosovo Police and MNBG-E forces spent two days briefing and rehearsing their maneuvers, in order to get the most value out of the once-a-year exercise.
"I think the rehearsals went well," said Capt. Demetrius Treadway, MNBG-E's liaison officer in charge for the Armenian and Turkish forces in MNBG-E.
Treadway emphasized that the most important element of the rehearsals was ensuring that all the MNBG-E forces knew how to effectively work together with the KP.
In the weeks and months leading up to Operation Stonewall, Kosovo Police and MNBG-E leaders and planners engaged on a regular basis in order to develop a scenario that met each organization's training objectives. The scenario-which included response to a mass-casualty emergency, downed helicopter procedures, and combined crowd riot control techniques-was designed to address general training goals, and does not indicate a specific prediction of future or likely events.
"The major training objective that happened for this exercise was two-fold," said U.S. Army Col. Vernon Simpson, the commander of MNBG-E and the North Carolina National Guard's 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team. "We wanted to conduct what is referred to as mission command, which is the ability to command and control forces during a major crowd and riot control conflict."
Operation Stonewall also gave Kosovo Police forces the opportunity to run through a scenario that escalated to the point that would lead them to request KFOR support, Simpson said. This exercise was also unique in that the scenario focused on domestic support type issues, such as mass casualties and air medevac, which allowed MNBG-E to highlight the experience of its Army National Guard citizen soldiers who support domestic support to civil authorities in their home states.
At the conclusion of the operation, Kosovo Police and KFOR forces stood side by side as Hoxha and Simpson congratulated them on the hard work and effort. While already a capable team ready to respond to threats to safety and security Kosovo, the day's participants are now armed with further training and confidence for the future.
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