2-37 Armored Regiment, Charlie Company tests rapid-response readiness during an alert exercise in Poland
BEMOWO PISKIE, Poland – At Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, Soldiers assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment (2-37 AR), NATO Forward Land Forces (FLF) Battle Group-Poland, conducted an alert exercise Sept. 30, 2026, to measure how quickly Soldiers and vehicles could respond to a potential crisis.
According to 2nd Lt. Brandon Spence, platoon leader, Charlie Company, 2-37 AR, NATO FLF Battle Group-Poland, the exercise focused on determining how long it would take platoons to wake up, prepare their equipment, mount their Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and accommodate dismounted troops. The goal was to ensure the company could meet the battalion’s required movement timelines.
Before the sun was up, Soldiers were woken by their leadership; unbeknownst to them, they had to conduct an alert exercise.
“Alert exercises are meant to gauge the readiness of the battalion and its companies,” Spence explained.
The surprise element was especially realistic because threats can emerge without warning. An alert exercise reflects that uncertainty by allowing company leadership to assess how prepared their Soldiers are to respond quickly and effectively.
As a forward NATO force in northeastern Poland, the battalion has been training to respond rapidly to any advisories that may try to move into the area.
Charlie Company is an infantry company of 2-37 AR that operates Bradley Fighting Vehicles, which allow dismounted infantry passengers, unlike the rest of the battalion, which mostly operates with M1 Abrams tanks.
Therefore, early in the morning, the Bradley crew members were “making sure their PMCS (Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services) and radio checks were conducted,” said Spence.
Besides installing radio antennas and transceivers, Soldiers also had to move equipment, their rucksacks and prepare the vehicles for departure.
Alert exercises like these help commanders identify areas for improvement and stay ready for any situation.
The Bradleys’ communications and observation systems were also part of the preparation. For example, Bradleys have a commander’s independent viewer, or CIV, which enables the vehicle commander to scan for additional threats while the gunner engages other targets. This allows the crew to identify, prioritize, and engage multiple threats more efficiently.
Spence said the exercise demonstrated Charlie Company’s ability to mobilize as the armored battalion's infantry mission entity quickly.
Through continuous training, equipment checks and multinational cooperation, the NATO FLF Battle Group-Poland continues to build readiness, lethality and interoperability along the eastern flank.
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