An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Sept. 10, 2019

Maryland Guard, Bosnia-Herzegovina police trade techniques

By Sarah M. McClanahan and Pfc. Armin Hadzic Maryland National Guard

SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA - The Maryland Army National Guard’s 115th Military Police Battalion’s course on criminal investigation procedures for the Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina morphed into an exercise in sharing best practices.

The intent of the training at Rajlovac Barracks Sept. 2-6 was to teach the AFBiH military police basic military police investigation procedures. But most of the participants already had investigation operations experience, so attendees ended up sharing their experiences rather than building a foundation of knowledge.

“It was our understanding when we came over that we would be teaching military police investigations to military police officers,” said Sgt. Maj. Richard Magnum, command sergeant major of the 115th Military Police Battalion, Maryland Army National Guard. “What we found out when we got here was most of the class had already been working as military police investigators. Instead of being an introductory class, we adapted the class to make it more of an exchange of information, tactics, techniques and procedures.”

Magnum said they did not come to BiH to make their military police exactly like those in the United States. Instead, they wanted to share experiences and improve the existing AFBiH military police training.

While both the MDNG and AFBiH had extensive experience as military police, many of the members also had worked for years as civilian police and detectives. Each member of the class shared information and tips about their area of expertise, including interviews, interrogation and crash reconstruction.

Service members were challenged to use existing or new tools to explain and implement the pieces of a crime investigation kit, identify the entry point of a bullet through glass and solve the hypothetical theft of their highly valued coffee machine.

“Brotherhood creates a solid foundation to combat or fight crimes that are occurring worldwide, such as human trafficking or drug trafficking issues like terrorism,” said Spc. Alfonso Matos, a course instructor assigned to the 200th Military Police Company. “When you combine forces, the end result is always success.”

 

 

Related Articles
Spc. Brianna Coombs, 237th Military Police Company, New Hampshire Army National Guard, stands in formation during a departure ceremony held Oct. 3, 2022, at the Edward Cross Training Complex in Pembroke, New Hampshire. About 170 Soldiers are mobilizing for a year to the U.S.-Mexico border to assist Customs and Border Protection in surveilling and detecting illegal immigrant crossings.
Army Updates Standards for Appearance, Grooming, Uniform Wear in New Directive
By U.S. Army Public Affairs | Sept. 15, 2025
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army announced an update to its appearance, grooming, and uniform wear standards policy in a new directive resulting from a force-wide review of military standards. The updated policy clarifies existing...

Kansas Army National Guard Soldiers conduct medical training with Soldiers from the Republic of Armenia during Exercise Eagle Partner 2025 in August. Eagle Partner 2025, which aims to enhance interoperability for international peacekeeping missions, exchange best practices in control and communication, and improve the readiness of the Armenian Armed Forces' peacekeeping unit, is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa training event involving Soldiers from USAREUR-AF, the Kansas National Guard, and the Ministry of Defense for the Republic of Armenia.
Kansas Guard Joins Armenian Partners for Eagle Partner 2025
By Jane Welch, | Sept. 15, 2025
YEREVAN, ARMENIA — Building on more than 20 years of cooperation through the Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, Soldiers and Airmen of the Kansas National Guard joined U.S. Army Europe and...

The Pennsylvania Army National Guard provides a unique training experience for more than 120 firefighters and rescue personnel from several fire companies in the communities surrounding Fort Indiantown Gap and its most common helicopter flight routes during a helicopter orientation training event for emergency responders conducted at the Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 and Muir Army Heliport Sept. 11.
Pennsylvania Guard Hosts Helicopter Orientation for Emergency Responders
By Wayne Hall, | Sept. 15, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Army National Guard conducted a helicopter orientation training event for emergency responders Sept. 11 at the Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 and Muir Army Heliport.More than...