KFOR-8 – Silver Saber
Szöveg: Maj. Ildikó Szmolenszki | 2013. március 28. 9:01Exercise Silver Saber is held twice every year to practice and demonstrate the crowd riot control (CRC) techniques of KFOR units. Every troop contributing nation of KFOR participates in the exercise.
of the HDF 5th ‘Bocskai István’ Infantry Brigade, demonstrated its readiness in Camp Vrelo
between March 11 and 13. Capt. Péter Gulyás, the deputy operations chief of the KFOR
Tactical Reserve Maneuver Battalion (KTM) told us that commanders were familiarized with
theoretical aspects on the first day, all participating personnel received practical training in
CRC techniques and procedures on the second day, while they conducted the exercise as part
of a demonstration on the third day.
According to a fictitious scenario, some local residents held up a convoy heading for a border
crossing point. First the local police forces were called out to handle the situation, and in the
meantime the civilians built a small barricade. As the crowd was growing in number, a Quick
Reaction Force platoon deployed to the scene by helicopter.
The Hungarian infantry company was deployed in the third phase – their task was to pass
through the barricade and to push back the crowd, which started throwing Molotov cocktails.
Finally the KFOR troops removed the barricade and pushed back the rioters, Capt. Péter
Csönge, the commander of the infantry company told us.
Giving an assessment, Brig.-Gen. Bojan Pograjc, the deputy commander of KFOR said that
the commander’s expectations had been met, the actions of the command group and the
executing personnel were synchronized successfully, and the participating nations carried out
the task with proper effectiveness.
The next exercise Silver Saber will be held for the newcomers in April, during which the
Hungarian company will provide both trainers and role-players.
Photos by the author
