It seemed that everywhere I went in the Army, we always did riot control training. Often, I was the only Soldier that had ever done it before. Personally, I've undergone the training at least six times, which is unheard of in training that lasted between 4 hours and 4 days each time.
Most Soldiers do not train for riot control. There are a couple reasons for this. First, it is not a "Mission Essential Task" tied to the core purpose of the unit's mission. Second, there are very limited circumstances where military can perform law enforcement under the Posse Comitatus Act. There are three main exceptions:
1. National Guard Soldiers in their own state, under the command of their own governor (so, Texas National Guard can't do law enforcement in California for example. Also, California National Guard can't do law enforcement in California if "federalized" by the president. Active duty Soldiers can almost never do riot control in the United States)
2. After a formal declaration of "martial law" by the president.
3. When in defense of federal facilities or personnel. This is the exception being used now by the president, and it is, at best, a grey area of the law.
So, the training occurs irregularly, usually in preparation for a major event like the Olympics, after widespread protests, or certain deployments overseas when riots are likely (like during Iraq's elections).
Usually, there is one set of riot gear available, in theory enough for one infantry company (~140 Soldiers), but it's usually in a poor state of repair, with perhaps only 100 sets actually functional. The equipment set consists of riot shields, a face masks that attach to helmets, and riot batons. Soldiers are supposed to wear helmets, body armor, and gloves, carry their promasks, sling rifles, and usually have one magazine in a pocket that is NOT loaded in their rifle.
Loaded magazines are usually put in a specific pocket and are only inserted into rifles in extreme circumstances.
When we asked why there is only one company-sized set of riot gear available, the answer was always "that's all we have in the Brigade/Division/Installation, but if we need it, there are lot more in storage that can be sent.
Training on riot control is always paired with training on DSCA (Defense Support of Civil Authorities), which is training on what is legal or illegal. Soldiers, particularly leaders, typically already have some familiarity with this, but the lawyers usually teach classes to improve knowledge an upcoming mission.
Military policemen usually run the riot control training, but their expertise varies significantly and is sometimes poor. Training consists of interlocking shields to form a shield wall, and then moving forward and back as a group. This is done by stomping and often shouting or banging batons in conjunction during movement to be intimidating. Sometimes, this is a single line of Soldiers. Other times, we might practice two lines of Soldiers with the rear rank holding onto the kit of the front rank. However, even 100 Soldiers in a line with interlocking shields doesn't cover much frontage and cutting that in half with two ranks seems rather ridiculous.
We also practice hitting with the batons, but it's a lousy weapon that doesn't seem like it would even hurt that much if used properly. Riot batons are not supposed to be used on joints or the head - instead only hitting the meaty parts of arms or legs. Hitting those areas would take a lot of force to even bruise and don't seem likely to stop an attack. If there is significant fighting, expect Soldiers to quickly transition to using batons for prohibited strikes or use rifles to buttstroke people.
Usually, the training stops there. Sometimes, though, we continue. Some units will have teams of four of their strongest Soldiers behind the line. If someone attempts to grab a Soldier's shield or rifle, the idea is that the offender is grabbed and pulled through the line where the response team quickly zipties them and places them under guard. Also, if a riot's leaders get within about 15 feet of the shield wall, the response team can go through the shield wall, grab them, and drag them back for an arrest.
Riot control training also focuses on preventing Soldiers from being captured. Hold onto your buddy, don't let him be dragged away, and work together to go after him as a unit if needed to rescue him.
When we do practical exercises, the leader first tries to negotiate. When that fails (as it always does during training), the protestors start chanting, and then one of two things happens. Either a bad actor sneaks behind the protestors for an attack (molotov, knife, etc.), or the whole crowd attacks and tries to drag Soldiers or their gear away and it turns into a brawl. So, anybody who has done riot control training is primed to handle one of those two unlikely scenarios.
We rarely train on less lethal equipment, such as bean bag rounds for shotguns or tear gas cannisters, but Soldiers are all trained in how to use promasks.
But, I'd like to point out, again, that most Soldiers have never received this kind of training. In a typical infantry battalion (~800 Soldiers), probably less than 10 have ever received even rudimentary riot training, often with each learning different techniques and commands. Perhaps units will start this training, particularly if they have advanced notice that it is about to happen, but I would not be suprised if most Soldiers sent into riot control are unprepared, at least in the initial responses.
