Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Participates in Norwegian Troop Exchange Training

February 22, 2007

During its 34th annual Troop Reciprocal Exchange with the Norwegian Home Guard this week, the Minnesota National Guard invited Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Tactical Training Systems to participate in the training effort conducted at Camp Ripley, Minnesota. On Monday, February 19, Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Directors and International Instructors Tony Grano and Don Roberts, along with Controlled F.O.R.C.E. National Instructor Pat Erickson, spent five hours teaching Mechanical Advantage Subject Control techniques to 18 Norwegian Home Guard Army soldiers and 2 Norwegian Home Guard Navy soldiers. One soldier from Sweden and one from Denmark also attended the training.

Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Instructors Tony Grano, Pat Erickson, and Don Roberts (black shirts from left to right)
with Norwegian Home Guard group and their Minnesota National Guard hosts.

The Minnesota National Guard, on behalf of the Norwegian Home Guard, invited Controlled F.O.R.C.E. to provide AT/FP close quarters tactical training to sharpen the military readiness of our allied counterparts. The Norwegian Home Guard, as well as the corresponding Swedish and Danish services, is looking to incorporate the training standards established by the Interservice Nonlethal Individual Weapons Instructor Course (INIWIC) operated by the United States Marine Corps detachment at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

INIWIC represents the DoD minimum training standards to be included in developing NLW and tactics instructors. The Norwegian Home Guard has recognized the need for establishing training standards for the development of instructors to ensure a system of measurable pre-deployment preparation. Controlled F.O.R.C.E., as the basis of the Close Range Subject Control Techniques core curriculum category of INIWIC, was brought in to Camp Ripley to help the Norwegian Home Guard achieve its goals of establishing a standardized non-lethal program.

Throughout the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. training, the Norwegian soldiers gained a greater understanding of body movement and positioning in the context of handling one or more non-compliant subjects. At the end of the allotted five hour training period, these soldiers were eager to continue training in the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. system. However, since the Norwegians’ time was limited and instructors Grano and Roberts regardless had to depart for Lackland AFB, Texas, the training concluded as scheduled. As Instructor Roberts stated, though, “Controlled F.O.R.C.E. is committed to providing instruction support to our Nation’s armed services, as well as our allies aiding us in the Global War on Terrorism, and we look forward to the privilege of once again working with our Norwegian friends.”

The Norwegian Home Guard is equivalent to the U.S. National Guard. The exchange program enables 100 Norwegian Home Guard soldiers to train at Camp Ripley while 100 Minnesota National Guard soldiers conduct winter training operations at Vaernes Training Facility in Norway.

Left to Right: Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Instructor Pat Erickson, SGM Cole (MN NG),
Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Instructor Don Roberts, SSG Nelson (MN NG),
Controlled F.O.R.C.E. Instructor Tony Grano, 1LT Dick (MN NG), SSG Zepeta (MN NG)

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