Army and Police Special Force trained against each other

      During the last fortnight of summer (from 14. 08. 2022 to 31. 08. 2022), international excercise COMBINED EFFORT 2022 (COEF 22) took place in the east of Slovakia. The exercise was attended by Slovak and Polish Special Operations Forces (SOF) represented by 5th Special Operations Regiment (5. pšu) and Jednostka Wojskowa Komandósow (JWK) accompanied by the members of the special Emergency Police Unit (PPÚ KE) based in Košice.

     The main goal of the exercise was to plan and conduct special operations with an emphasis on special reconnaissance and direct action in civilian and urban environment under real conditions and the command of the 5. pšu. The secondary objectives included exercise and demonstration of the SOF Detachments capabilities, deepening the cooperation with partner SOF elements, checking the readiness of SOF elements and practising the response of the national security forces to an emerged threat.

     The exercise was divided into two phases. The first phase was aimed at identification and confirmation of the High Value Target (HVT) by the 5. pšu members. The second phase consisted of covert infiltration of the JWK members into the Area of Operation (AOO) Košice followed by elimination of the HVT and safe exfiltration of both elements from the AOO.

     The task of the PPÚ KE was to ensure HVT protection in real environment. By gradually increasing the protective measures, they made it difficult for the 5. pšu and JWK members to operate in the AOO.

     COEF 22 was the first exercise in Slovakia characterised as international and where both SOF and Police units took part. The exercise emphasised the importance of cooperation and coordination of all elements during in operation in the AOO. On the other hand, the PPÚ KE members had the opportunity to practice the HVT protection procedures and process of identification and elimination of hostile groups in the AOO.

     The Director of the Police Regional Directorate of the Košice came to salute the members of the exercise at the end of the COEF 22.