U.S. Soldiers assigned to 588th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and Polish soldiers with the 10th Armored Calvary Brigade, participated in a simulated Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear reconnaissance exercise Mar. 7, 2017 at Swietoszow Training Area in Swietozow, Poland to improve Allied capabilities and leverage the power of the Army's "Total Force".
The Bi-lateral training event, part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, integrated assets from U.S. and Polish CBRN platoons allowing each platoon to evaluate and assess each other's standard operation procedures.
We're having a bi-lateral simulated CBRN training exercise, said Polish Army 2nd Lt. Wiola Wojciak, CBRN platoon leader for 10th ACB. First, our platoon will respond to two simulated CBRN scenarios while the U.S. CBRN Soldiers evaluate our techniques. Afterward, the U.S. Soldiers will conduct the same exercises, as we assess their reactions to the scenarios. Training together provides us the opportunity to improve our techniques and operation procedures.
The day's training was broken down into two parts, route and area reconnaissance, where each platoon was evaluated on their ability to assess and react to a CBRN attack.
"Today we're conducting route reconnaissance and area reconnaissance training with our Polish counterparts," said Staff Sgt. Jacob Mcintyre, CBRN platoon sergeant, 588th BEB, 3rd ABCT, 4th ID. "This allows us to test interoperability using Polish operating procedures and U.S. CBRN procedures as well."
Mcintyre also discussed some of the capability gaps that they encountered during the training exercise.
"One issue we ran into is communication," Mcintyre said. "But that was just testing it and seeing how it would work, where it is compatible because we don't have the same frequencies. However, we were able to find a system that works."
Training provides the unique opportunity to evaluate and assess each platoons strengths and weaknesses. Training alongside NATO Allies delivers interoperability, increases readiness and improves capabilities.
"In this specific instance, not a lot of brigades have CBRN assets at their disposal," said Sgt. Jack Johnson, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment (Black Jack), 3rd ABCT, 4th ID. "So now we understand that our Polish counterparts have a real high-level capability for CBRN reconnaissance and decontamination."
"If friendly forces should ever encounter those threats, we know someone we can call to help take care of our people."
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