Around 230 soldiers from the Homeland Security Regiment 2 (HSchRgt 2) of the German Armed Forces took part in the “National Guardian 2024” exercise in the Wahner Heide south of Cologne in the last week of April. In Troisdorf Altenrath, they practiced protecting vital defence infrastructure.
The fictitious scenario: The Territorial Command of the German Armed Forces raised the threat level to “Charlie”. There have already been attacks and further attacks are to be expected. Due to an authorized demonstration on the road to a property, vehicles had to take a different route and were checked by soldiers of the HSchRgt at a checkpoint. The soldiers checked both civilian and military vehicles at the checkpoint.
Other homeland security forces were on the move as reconnaissance units and patrols in the surrounding area to secure the area. Supporting a convoy was also practiced, with soldiers accompanying vehicles transporting fuel or weapons, for example. The exercise focused on securing and monitoring objects and areas – outside the barracks fence.
This was a first for the soldiers of Homeland Security Regiment 2, as exercises had previously always taken place on a training ground. Colonel Jens Teichmann, commander of Homeland Security Regiment 2, said: “This public visibility was one of the goals.” In addition to the core mission of the homeland security forces – the protection of defense-critical infrastructure – the exercise also focused on cooperation with the civilian authorities.
An exercise example of civil-military cooperation: weapons were discovered during a vehicle check. After checking the vehicle occupants, they were arrested and handed over to the police when they arrived. Further measures are then the responsibility of the police.
The “National Guardian 2024” exercise, in which over 1,400 soldiers are training for their core homeland security mission, is running throughout Germany until the beginning of May. The exercise is part of the German “Quadriga 2024” exercise series. For the homeland security forces in North Rhine-Westphalia, the exercise began with training in Münster. Homeland Security Regiment 2 is stationed here.
On May 2, the majority of the homeland security forces returned to their military home in Münster after completing the exercise. Homeland Security Regiment 2 is under the command of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Command. It currently consists of the staff and six companies. Around 350 soldiers have already been deployed. In addition, there are 50 active soldiers.
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