CAMP NOVO SELO, Kosovo — August 22, 2025 — Soldiers from Task Force Bandit conducted a multinational Crowd and Riot Control (CRC) training event designed to prepare the Polish Army Forces for an upcoming certification exercise.
Capt. Levi Schutz, operations officer for Task Force Bandit, said the event was designed to provide realistic, company-sized training under challenging and unfamiliar conditions.
“This training is part of our company-level CRC validation prep,” Schutz explained. “It’s the first opportunity we’ve had to bring the Polish Forces into a full-scale exercise since they rotated into the country.”
The event tested multiple mission objectives, including breaching obstacles, operating a battalion casualty collection point, and integrating explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) assets to detect and neutralize improvised explosive devices.
To increase complexity, the Polish Forces maneuvered through three lanes during the day and one at night, allowing commanders to sharpen their tactics, techniques, and procedures in dynamic scenarios.
According to Schutz, the structure of the exercise forces commanders to think critically rather than rely on rehearsed solutions.
“Whenever a company commander plans their own training, they usually know the answers going in,” he said. “Here, they’re challenged with scenarios they didn’t design. It gives them the mental reps and the chance to refine their training objectives on the spot.”
The exercise also highlighted NATO’s multinational cooperation. Finnish and U.S. EOD teams provided critical support, while Latvian forces acted as the opposing force, creating realistic battlefield conditions. In total, five nations contributed to the event.
“It’s not only a training opportunity for the Polish Forces, but for our task force as well,” said Schutz. “Working together allows us to better understand our partners’ capabilities and refine our own standard operating procedures. I continue to be impressed by the professionalism and motivation of our international allies.”
The Polish Forces performed strongly in the exercise, demonstrating adaptability and teamwork under pressure. Latvian forces are scheduled to rotate into the training lanes next, continuing the multinational effort to build readiness and interoperability across the task force.