KFOR Chronicle: Health & Fitness Get in Shape with Major Laguna
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[Commentary] New in the KFOR Chronicle: Health & Fitness Get in Shape with Major Laguna I have always been very fond of sports. Horse riding, basketball, swimming, skiing, roller skate hockey are some of those I have prac- ticed and competed. My favorite hobbies are travel, reading, and cooking. Although I work in Madrid I have a flat in Alicante where I spend my holidays under our beloved Spanish sun. My interest in fitness & well-being was born a long time ago. As a young captain, I had to take care of troops physical condition as a part of their training. During this appointment I developed an interest in Anatomy, Physiology and Physical well being and training methods. I then attended a Physiotherapist one-year-course. These studies facil- itated the transformation of my hobby to a new profession. It was then a natural progression to continue my studies in Osteopathy at Madrid University. I should also say that most of my family members as well as of my best friends are doctors so they have been a great help for me. My post in KFOR is JIOC (Joint Intelligence Operational Center). JIOC mission is to fuse all-source intel- ligence to develop intelligence-driven multi-agency operations against High Value Targets (HVT's). My international background started in 1996 as a member of the OSCE in Chechnya where I stayed for 6 months in some sort of a Peace Keeping Operation. I was then assigned to the Spanish Verification Unit where I had the opportunity to work in many different environments and to get to know other approaches for 4 years. In Spain, my current assignment is the War School Language Department in Madrid under the Army Doctrine and Training Directorate. I am in charge of English Language Programs in the Army. Maj Javier Laguna ES Army KFOR CHRONICLE Commander KFOR: Nations within KFOR: LTG Giuseppe Valotto, IT Army The KFOR Chronicle is HQ KFOR MNB (E) produced and fully funded by Canada United States of Chief Public Information: Chief Public Information: HQ KFOR. It is published for Estonia America Col Pio Sabetta, IT Army KFOR forces in the area of Hungary Armenia Netherlands Greece responsibility. Chief Internal Information Norway Lithuania & Editor in Chief: The contents are not necessarily Portugal Poland Maj Heimo Gruber, AUT the official views of, or endorsed United Kingdom Ukraine Army by, the coalition governments’ [email protected] defence departments. MNTF (C) MNB (SW) Czech Republic Italy Finland Argentina Journalist Editorial content is edited, st Ireland Austria 1 Lt Maksym Nedria, UKR prepared and provided by the Army Latvia Azerbaijan Cover photo by Internal Information Section of Slovakia Bulgaria Mr. Armend Aqifi Photographer HQ KFOR’s Public Information Sweden Georgia Mr. Armend Aqifi Office (PIO), Pristina, Kosovo. Germany Contact KFOR Chronicle: MNTF (N) Hungary Phone: Int: +389 268 2897 France Romania Kos.:(038) 503 603 2897 The KFOR Chronicle is PIO HQ KFOR reserves the right Belgium Slovenia KPN: 2897, 2402 printed by KOSOVA SOT to edit content to conform to Denmark Spain FAX: 2373 Tel: 038 548 402 style and space requirements. Greece Switzerland Latvia Turkey E-mail: Special thanks to Articles run on a space-available Luxembourg [email protected] Ssgt. Kurt Arkenberg, basis. Mongolia Internet: www.nato.int/kfor US AF, for his invaluable support Morocco 2 KFOR Chronicle, March 31, 2006 [This Month’s Features] Operation Sudden Cut .................... page 4,5 Operation Primrose ............................................. page 10,11 DCOMKFOR visits the TRADOC KPC’s Training and Doctrine Command ........... page 14,15 Bird Flu: A threat for KFOR? ............................. page 20,21 New in the KFOR Chronicle: Health & Fitness Get in Shape with Major Laguna .................... page 22-25 KFOR Chronicle, March 31, 2006 3 [Inside KFOR] Properties with Designated Status (PrDSS) are areas or institutions under special KFOR protection. Confronted with a training scenario Multinational Brigade Southwest units demonstrated their emergency response capabilities. Text and photos by Cpt Michael Schulze, GER Army Prizren - Many did not believe their realized there was nothing left to eyes, when a seemingly non-ending win. The demonstration dispersed convoy of military vehicles passed and the Task Force Commander through southwest Kosovo. Their reported the end of the training destination was a village not far event. All participants had proven from Prizren. their ability to quickly and Inside the village there was a effectivly realize emergency plans. building with special protection status, permanently guarded by soldiers. Everything seemed quiet, when demonstrators cries and screams of aggression suddenly broke the silence. Though no one was visible, the voices came closer. Soon the picture became clear - a large, and apparently violence-prone, crowd demonstrated against the soldiers guarding the building. Shortly after the alerted reinforcements arrived, the situation seemed under control. Minutes later, tensions escalated rapidly. More demonstrators east and west of the village were reported, demanding further action. With response time being crucial, action was taken to prevent a unification of “We are from the government and we are here to help..." the demonstrators in the village. Further reinforcements were flown in, soldiers in CRC gear jumped out of the helicopters and secured the area. Supported by armoured vehicles, they established road blocks. Violence at the check points escalated as rioters threw stones at the s oldiers and during the following confrontation there were injuries sustained by both sides. MP officers picked out ringleaders and detained them. Units of the Quick Reaction Force provided additional support, but the demonstrators remained strong- headed. Finally, with the arrival of a Task Force Prizren company, the mob Rubber bullet vs full metal jacket: soldiers only use the minimum force necessary to solve a problem 4 KFOR Chronicle, March 31, 2006 [Inside KFOR] “Bring ’em on!” German MP chiropractors treat a violent troublemaker Roadblocks are built up to stop the progress of rioters KFOR Chronicle, March 31, 2006 5 [Inside KFOR] Soldiers of the 3rd Paratrooper Battalion and the 1st Mech Battalion lined up for the TOA in front of numerous guests and COMKFOR LtGen Giuseppe Valotto Text by 1st LT Maksym Nedria, and outgoing KTM Battalion soldiers of the First Mechanized Ukrainian Army Commander LtCol Carlos Sobreira Infantry Battalion, a moment of great photos by Armend Aqifi thanked the soldiers of the 3rd importance because it means the con- Paratrooper Battalion for their self- tinuity of the Portuguese effort to The Transfer of Authority of the less service during their six-month contribute to a safe and secure envi- KFOR Tactical Maneuver Battalion deployment in Kosovo. ronment in Kosovo. Our Battalion is (KTM) took place at Pristina Military LtGen Valotto presented LtCol part of the Mechanized Brigade of Airport on March 14. The 1st Mech Sobreira with the NATO Non- the Portuguese Army. It was created Battalion replaced the 3rd Article-5 Medal. 27 years ago to achieve the Paratrooper Battalion. After that, the new KTM Portuguese compromises with In front of the troops, numerous Commander LtCol Eduardo Mendes NATO. guests and COMKFOR, LtGen Ferrão gave a speech. In it, he said, "The history of our Battalion, which Giuseppe Valotto, "This ceremony, that we are taking makes us very proud, gives us the part in, is for us, the Portuguese responsibility of honoring it during our new mission in 6 KFOR Chronicle, March 31, 2006 [Inside KFOR] Kosovo. That goal can only be achieved by responsible, extremely correct and exemplary conduct that will guide us during the next six months. We will strictly respect the Rules of Engagement regarding the safety and security of the people of Kosovo. "With this objective in our minds, we will do our best to build and maintain a good relationship with civilian, mil- itary and police authorities in Kosovo. "The prestige of KFOR and of the Portuguese units who took part in this NATO mission before us, especially the 3rd Paratrooper Infantry Battalion, makes our responsibility even greater. Although it is difficult, COMKFOR LtGen Valotto hands over the flag to the new KTM we can assure you that we will do Commander LtCol Eduardo Mendes Ferrão as a symbolic act for the everything to leave things better than transfer of authority they were. "We assure our Commander, Lieutenant General Giuseppe Valotto, to give our fullest dedication and effort to perform the different tasks and duties according to our motto ‘The future will demonstrate how well we have performed’.” A Portuguese motorized patrol makes its Female KTM soldier shares her food with local children way through difficult terrain "Home, sweet home. Here we come!" Soldiers of the 3rd Paratrooper Battalion are ready to fly home KFOR Chronicle, March 31, 2006 7 [Inside KFOR] JuraJura SpiritSpirit CPCP 33 OperationOperation Text by MAJ Thomazo, French and checkpoints. Force to validate the relevance of Army After four hours of operating in the transporting the mobile TOC by heli- Photos by IT CCT zone, the TOC was aborted and the copter and to check out the radio three helicopters left Lezak. communication within the AOR. Jura Spirit CP 3 operation was held in This kind of mission enables the Task MNTF N AOR March 3. Previously, Jura Sprit CP 2 operation was carried out in order to install a tactical operation center on the ground near the village of Novo Selo. During phase 3 of the operation, the tactical operation center of the MNTF N was transported by helicop- ter and installed near the village of Lezak, North Kosovo. First, a French Gazelle helicopter did an aerial reconnaissance of the area. Five minutes later, the first Puma hel- icopter took off with a protection squad. While the Puma was landing, the squad secured the area.