SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina -- The Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina worked in conjunction with Marines from the Black Sea Rotational Force at a non-lethal systems familiarization exercise in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina to support future overseas peacekeeping events, July 22.
The exercise consisted of baton and riot control techniques, live fire of less-lethal crowd control rounds with the Mossberg 500 shotgun and M32 grenade launcher. Volunteers were also able to be certified after being tased and OC sprayed.
Abdulah Huseinefendic, sergeant first class with the military police platoon for Armed Forces of BIH, said it is always an honor to do mil-to-mil work with United States military especially the Marines.
“This is my second time working with the Marines and I’m always learning something new,” said Huseinefendic. “It’s a pleasure to practice with all of these weapons and techniques and of course the X26 Taser.
“It’s always a new and great experience for us, it’s an opportunity to take up new arms that we have never used before like the Mossberg 500 shotgun and fire the less lethal ammunition,” added Huseinefendic. “When we receive this familiarization it helps us all in theatre because when a situation occurs we all know what to do.”
“A type of brotherhood is formed and long lasting relationships are created when you spend a week with an ally nation,” said 1st Lt. John Trodden, Non-Lethal systems instructor with Black Sea Rotational Force.
“The week we spend together is great for both nations,” said Trodden. “We spend eight hours a day sweating next to one another and learning new techniques neither of us knew before.”
“This is the ninth engagement with non-lethal systems that we have conducted during our rotation and I hope we can continue it because the professional and personal relationships we have developed will never go away,” said Trodden.
Whether it’s moving as an enclosed formation with riot shields or supporting a fellow service member while they are tased, the non-lethal systems training in continuing to enhance international partnerships and interoperability no matter where it takes place.