Hostage Rescue Joint Exercise Boosts Interoperability

Military Police (MP) officers from Bulgaria and the United States have teamed up to hone their hostage rescue skills.

MP personnel from both forces took part in a simulated scenario executed by a ten-man Bulgarian MP unit at the country’s Novo Selo Training Area about 170 miles east of Sofia.

The exercise at the facility’s Red Tower Range on Thursday saw the team taking part tasked with a mission to clear a building occupied by armed individuals and successfully rescue hostages.

As per a U.S. Army press release, the demo provided a chance for the American officers to learn about Bulgarian techniques, and procedures, and compare them with their own tactics.

Garrison commander Lt. Col. Christopher Kuszniaj commented: “It was a privilege to witness the impressive demonstration of capabilities by our host nation Bulgarian military police.

“Collaborating with our Bulgarian partners not only strengthens our bonds but also enhances our overall readiness. By training side by side, we continuously look for ways to improve our protection measures, ensuring we are always prepared to respond effectively."

Colonel Mitko Mitev, Bulgarian MP commander, added: “Identifying these differences improves our ability to work together on incidents of this nature and increases overall levels of cooperation." 

• You can read more details about the exercise on the U.S. Army website