KFORThe KFOR Magazine for KFOR CHRONICLE Soldiers August 2016
KFOR ASSISTANCE TO SKOPJE AUTHORITIES FOLLOWING TORRENTIAL RAINS
RWDOB SWISS COMPOUND INAUGURATION www.nato.int/kfor CONTENT
Peje/Pec-08th July 2016. Key Elements O cers who have been designated as Sta and Flag members of KFOR visited Camp “Villaggio Italia” within the “Key Leader Training” (KLT) course.
COM KFOR COM KFOR Farewell Address RWDOB Swiss Compound 03 Inauguration KFOR 04 Helps in Repairing the Consequences of flooding in MNBG-E 06 FYROM Celebration of 4th July in CMLT MILITARY POLICE 08 Marksmanship Exercise CARITAS UMBRIA 09 “Raduloc” Foster Home KFOR HQ A Visual Overview 10 CSI KOSOVO 12 Forensic Evidence Collection PILGRIMAGE 14 Pilgrimage to Letnicë/Letnica 16 CULTURAL CORNER The Ottoman Bridges of PICTURES OF THE Kosovo MONTH 18 Your Chance to be a Part of 20 It! PROFILES Bojan Bosnić MEDICAL ADVICE Ray Duke Effect of Smoking on the 21 Body 22 MP MESSAGE & RADIO K4 23 90.2 FM and 96.6 FM
2 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 COM KFOR COM KFOR FAREWELL ADDRESS PICTURE: Hajrullahu Afrim
On 7 August 2015, I was greatly undoubtedly commitment to “winds of change” blowing across honoured to become the the KFOR mission, ensuring the region; what was thought Commander of Kosovo Force. I the safety, security and freedom impossible in the past is now not did not take this duty lightly; I of movement for the people of only achievable but tangible. You rolled up my sleeves and expected Kosovo. took over the responsibility to all of you to do the same. irteen Always remember: our actions “Shape the Change” by turning months has own by and I have have meaning and KFOR is “challenges” into “opportunities”. hugely enjoyed the opportunity still very much needed as a You performed exceptionally well of working with all of you, the key enabler to achieve a stable doing your daily job, maximizing always deeply committed and environment both now and into contributions and contributing professional dedicated soldiers the future. to consolidate the peace and and civilian workers from the KFOR’s motto of “Shaping the stability within Kosovo. thirty-one nations that constitute Change” is a testament to the I thank you all, once again, rst of the KFOR family. transparent merging of NATO all for the e orts you have done, KFOR has unquestionably and KFOR capabilities with the silently, diligently and without been a Force for good in the people of Kosovo, yet it re ects complaining. I wish you all a safe region since 1999. We stabilized the close and quasi-symbiotic and secure future as you return Kosovo in turbulent times, and relationship achieved thus far. to your Nations and families and continue to assist the Institutions KFOR enables and advances this express my gratitude for your in Kosovo while they develop process through its organized comradeship and loyalty to me and grow to serve the Kosovo network of international as your Commander, and the people. In KFOR, we have stakeholders, that today stand integrity and honesty that was continued working this past as one with a uni ed vision and always the true compass of your year to consolidate progress cooperative e ort, supporting the actions. and to keep the momentum future of Kosovo and eventually Remember that the people of towards full stabilization of the normalization of the entire Kosovo also thank you. the region. All of you proved Balkan region. We clearly see the “Shaping the Change!”
KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 3 RWDOB RWDOB, SWISS COMPOUND INAUGURATION On 1st August, Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, KFOR Commander, with Major General Philippe Rebord, Commander of Swiss Armed Forces College, Chief of Staff Operational Training and Deputy Chief of the Swiss Armed Forces officiated at the opening of the Swiss Compound that is a key part of the Rotary Wing Deployed Operational Base (RWDOB) at the Slatina Military APOD. This important benchmark heralds the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the RWDOB. It is currently expected that Full Operational Capability (FOC) RWDOB will be the provision APOD remains separated from will be reached in the fourth of a strategically important the civilian terminal due to both quarter of 2016. facility which will allow a safe the volume and type of traffic The RWDOB, when fully and efficient APOD, for Troop that it processes. The APOD has operational, will become an Contributing Nations (TCNs), its own separate parking apron essential element in providing the whereby they can conduct their and passenger terminal. This mission essential airlift capability dedicated air transport and in turn allows KFOR to operate to KFOR units and the Tactical medical evacuation operations in independently of civil air traffic, Reserve. The primary role of the support of KFOR’s mission. The thus reducing our impact on the
4 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 RWDOB ever growing civilian side, which in 2015 alone processed over 1.5 million passengers. Major General Miglietta in his speech, highlighted the importance of this vital KFOR asset, remarked that “RWDOB will be a key enabler for NATO and KFOR to be able to cope with any evolving scenario in Kosovo through the provision of a lean, efficient and cost-effective force”. The Aviation Detachment remains a key KFOR operational asset that will be enhanced by the operational activation of the RWDOB that is now an integral part of the APOD. The Aviation Detachment is comprised of helicopters from Croatia, Slovenia, Switzerland along with US helicopters belonging to the MNBG-E, which for KFOR comprises the ‘‘third dimension’’ capable of conducting multi-role missions and key tasks. KFOR HQ, on a daily basis, may task these assets for a multitude of diverse tasks from reconnaissance missions, medical evacuations (MEDEVAC) and assisting local authorities in, for example, the provision of air assets in quenching forest fires. General Miglietta concluded his address thanking the Swiss contingent for the extremely important contribution that allowed the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of the RWDOB to be achieved in a seamless and timely manner.
Maj. Rory Finegan OF-3 IRL-A
KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 5 KFOR KFOR HELPS IN REPAIRING THE CONSEQUENCES OF FLOODING IN FYROM*
A er the catastrophic oods that hit villages near Skopje in FYROM on the 6th of August, those who were among the rst responders to aid the local population and begin the operation of eliminating the consequences of the oods were members of the Swiss and Austrian KFOR contingent.
A total of 18 staff members and 13 Republic of Macedonia who are to the soldiers of KFOR for being vehicles of NATO KFOR mission, most vulnerable and who are in tireless; they are working for with heavy machinery, loaders, a very bad situation. “I am also twelve or thirteen hours to help excavators and tipper trucks were happy that our soldiers are highly us. We admire them for their deployed from Kosovo to the motivated, they see and feel the dedication and for what they area that has been affected by the gratefulness of the residents of have shown on the field, and floods, in the village of Stajkovci, these villages for being able to help the engineering unit of KFOR near Skopje. them, and this is most important”, is unmatched and at a very high Colonel Arnold Staudacher, said Colonel Arnold Staudacher. level”, said Zoran Stefanovski, a commander JLSG was pleased Villagers of Stajkovce are villager of Stajkovce. with the swift action that KFOR immensely grateful for the help Captain Stefan Weber, the conducted in order to help the that came from KFOR. commander officer of the most vulnerable residents of “The situation in the village is International Transport Coy has the village. “The operation of now much better. We are grateful been on the ground for days, eliminating the consequences of floods in FYROM is very unique, for me personally also, because the engineers from here were immediately engaged. Everything went very well, and, as a commander, I am very happy that the decision-making process moved quickly, so we could immediately react and provide assistance to the local population”, said Staudacher. He added that it is very important that KFOR is able to help the citizens of the Former Yugoslav *Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia“ (FYROM). Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.
6 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 KFOR directly involved in helping the villagers of Stajkovci. He says that the situation in the village after the floods was very difficult because the mud clogged all roads and houses, and it was impossible to move around the village. “We are constantly working to clean the streets and houses, and if we haven’t been doing it everything would be buried, we are first aid for people who are trying to restart a normal life. Most of them are very poor, they have to remove the things from their homes, and we are here to help them and sympathize with them”, said Captain Weber. Severe storm that befell the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has caused significant material damage, particularly in the villages Stajkovci and Cento, Sindjelic, Aracinovo and Smiljkovci, near Skopje. At least 22 people were killed, dozens were injured and more than 1,000 have been evacuated due to the floods that hit the villages near Skopje on August 6. The youngest victim of a big storm that was found was two years old, and the oldest was an 83-year-old woman. While this natural disaster brings tragedy, it nonetheless reinforces the need for KFOR troops to be constantly trained for such emergency situations, whereby if called they can respond not only quickly but professionally. Such assistance, to civil authorities in a natural disaster scenario, is fully compliant and complimentary with KFOR stated mission to enhance peace, stability and security within the Balkan region.
Maj. Rory Finegan OF-3 IRL-A
KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 7 MNBG-E
CELEBRATION OF 4TH JULY IN CMLT On July 4, the Forward Command Post (FCP) of Multi National Battle Group - East (MNBG-E) hosted a 4th of July Independence Day Celebration at Camp Marechal de Lattre De Tassigny (CMLT). The celebration consisted of a vehicle static display, sports competitions and traditional American food.
The US, German, Polish and Hungarian Companies set up a static display which demonstrated their vehicles and weapons that they currently have here in Kosovo. For the sporting competition, several nations helped celebrate and participated in the games. The Countries that participated include Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Ukraine. The friendly competition allowed for all participating nations to compete for the best Duval(4) Thomas Sgt. PICTURE: Sta team in each event, with a trophy for the country that did the best overall. The US took first place in basketball, the Polish took first place in tug-o-war and soccer, the Ukrainians took first place in volley ball, and the Danish took first place in horseshoes and corn hole. Once it was dark, the event concluded with an extravagant display of fireworks.
Sta Sgt. omas Duval OR-5 USA-A
8 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 MILITARY POLICE
MILITARY POLICE BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS DURING MARKSMANSHIP EXERCISE „ Camp “Bondsteel , Kosovo — Since its inception in 1999, NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission has prided itself on helping ‘Shaping the Change’ in Kosovo.
While the phrase can be easily typed and recited by many, what it takes for the soldiers of KFOR „ to “Shaping the Change is not as easy. More than 31 Troop Contributing Nations (TCNs) to the peace support mission, making communication, synchronization and familiarization vital to the mission’s success.
Although difficult, the Duval(2) Thomas Sgt. PICTURE: Sta Multinational Battle Group - East (MNBG-E) Military Police Aside from tactics and weapons the actual familiarization of made it look easy during a joint familiarization, US Army Sgt. weapons. multinational marksmanship 1st Class, James Stelly, platoon “It’s great working with the other exercise with the Austrian and sergeant of the MNBG-E Provost nations,” said Arquint. “We are all Swiss International Military Police Marshal’s office, said the training here for the same mission, so this (IMP), held in Camp Bondsteel, provided a unique opportunity for type of collaboration is necessary.” Kosovo, on July 26, 2016. his soldiers to build proficiency in Stelly said he looks to During the training, the US and a different area. continue collaboration with his multinational law enforcement “We rely on the IMP’s quite a bit, multinational counterparts and officers took turns firing various so building comraderie and these plans to build these and new lethal and non-lethal weapon kind of bonds is important for my relationships, over the next few systems carried daily by the IMP. soldiers,” said Stelly. months as his unit continues to “I think it is important when In Kosovo, where the primary help,‘‘Shaping the Change’’. you have a mission in Kosovo- mission is to help maintain a Safe where you have a lot of different and Secure Environment (SASE), Sta Sgt. omas Duval nations working together- to give this collaboration and comraderie OR-5 USA-A the other nations the opportunity is, perhaps, more important than to use the different pieces of equipment and get familiar with one another,” said Capt. Xavier Arquint, Deputy Provost Marshal for KFOR. “We try to get as much information as possible from how they shoot to what’s their tactics so we can learn from them and see if maybe something they are doing will work for us. We also share with them our techniques, not to teach them how to shoot, but so we can exchange information on what works.”
KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 9 „ “RADULOC FOSTER HOME DONATION FUN RUN FOR THE “RADULOC„ FOSTER HOME OF CARITAS UMBRIA
The “Raduloc” foster home is a facility that is home to around 30 orphaned children in foster care, and takes care of over 100 poor families. It is located in the village of Zllakuçane in the municipality of Klina. The ongoing charitable work of this institution couldn’t continue without the willing help of young dynamic volunteers from all over Italy. The house, built after the terrible war of 1999, along with other facilities are run by Caritas Umbria, and since that time has been the metaphorical ‘‘port in a storm’’ that has actively helped and assisted numerous families and their children.
It is a tradition of everyday life in Kosovo, to leave a door open and to listen for the footstep of the always welcome stranger. The presence of Caritas Umbria wants to reflect this tangible philosophy and be a concrete sign of peace, that comes from dialogue and from the acceptance of everyone, whatever their ethnicity or irrespective of their religion. To assist this excellent initiative that has done so much good work in working with local families over the years, since it was established in Kosovo following the traumatic events of the 1999 conflict, a number of the current KFOR personnel were determined to assist, as best they can, with this excellent project through the organisation of a fund raising event. KFOR Command Sergeant Major (CSM), Amedeo Russo, organised a fun charity run at Camp “Film City” on 7th August 2016, with the entry fees being ‘‘ring-fenced’’ for Caritas Umbria. Little did the willing and
10 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 RADULOC FOSTER HOME eager participants realise that this was indeed to be the proverbial fun run, with regular ambushes taking place throughout the race, whereby water balloons were cascaded onto the participants, which was actually welcome with the searing Kosovo summer heat.
A very respectable sum of €3000 was raised and following this on the 10th August a representative group from KFOR went to “Raduloc” home where Colonel Marco Cenni, Italian SNR, Colonel Paolo Coletta, MSU Commander, and CSM Russo presented the cheque to Mr. Massimo Mazzali, who is the main coordinator at the centre. These money have been used to provide an agricultural hay baler for the community who are completely self-sufficient in producing their own foods, including the milling and baking of their own bread.
Maj. Rory Finegan OF-3 IRL-A
KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 11 A VISUAL OVERVIEW
03 AUG 2016 PRISTINA, Kosovo. KFOR Commander, Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, received the EUFOR Commander, Major General Friedrich Schrötter, at Camp “Film City”, NATO KFOR HQ.
04 AUG 2016 PRISTINA, Kosovo. KFOR Commander, Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta met the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Moldova, Mr. Anatolie Salaru, at Camp “Film City” NATO KFOR Headquarters. PICTURE: Perna
11 AUG 2016 PRISTINA, Kosovo. KFOR Commander, Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, met the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, H.E. Greg Delawie, at KFOR Headquarters. PICTURE: (3) Perna
12 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 A VISUAL OVERVIEW
16 AUG 2016 PRISTINA, Kosovo. KFOR Commander, Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta had a farewell meeting with the Deputy Minister of Kosovo Security Force, Mr. Fadil Haxhi Gashi, and the Kosovo Security Force Commander, Lieutenant General Rrahman Rama.
16 AUG 2016 PRISTINA, Kosovo. KFOR Commander, Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, paid a farewell visit to the Ministry of Interior A airs where he met Mr. Skender Hyseni, Minister of Interior A airs.
16 AUG 2016 PRISTINA, Kosovo. KFOR Commander, Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, met Major General Jorma Heikki Tapio Ala-Sankila, Chief of Sta of the Finnish Army Command, at KFOR Headquarters.
17 AUG 2016 PRISTINA, Kosovo. KFOR, Major General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, met the United States Vice President, Joe Biden, at Camp “Bondsteel”. PICTURE: (2) Perna
KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 13 CSI KOSOVO
SOLDIERS LEARN FORENSIC EVIDENCE COLLECTION „ Camp “Bondsteel , Kosovo. When international military police arrive on a crime scene in Kosovo, every miniscule detail could potentially make or break their case.
Preserving the crime scene and collecting the forensic evidence, whether it’s a fingerprint or a shoe impression, could be the difference in whether a criminal walks free or faces trial for their crime. Regardless of how big or small the evidence is military policemen working with NATO’s Kosovo Force must know and understand how to properly collect, document, store and ship each piece, for later use. Thanks to the help of a criminal investigation team, from US Army Europe, service members deployed to Kosovo have a better understanding of how to accomplish this daunting
mission. Duval(4) Thomas Sgt. PICTURE: Sta Military policemen from Christopher Officer, a criminal build a relationship between us Austria, Slovenia, Germany, Italy, investigations special agent and foreign nations also allows and the US came together on with the Criminal Investigation us to get a different view of what Camp Bondsteel for an advanced Division (CID). “Being able to training they received; so if we Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) course July, 12-13. The training focused on investigative techniques used to process and collect evidence ranging from small trace evidence, which includes DNA, fibers and hair, to larger evidence like fingerprints and electronic hard drives. “The training is important because if there is a major crime the MPs must have an understanding of what we need, so that we can come in and help with the investigation,” said Staff Sgt.
14 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 CSI KOSOVO
ever have to meet at a crime scene, on the battle field, we all kind of know where each one of us is coming from.” For US military police, the class offered a unique opportunity to train on techniques often overlooked during their normal day-to-day operations. “This class focused on the police side of our job, not so much the Army side,” said Sgt. Charles McElrath, a military policeman assigned to Multinational Battle Group-East (MNBG-E). “Being an MP, it can be tough to get real hands- on training that is beneficial to police work because we work so many different jobs. This higher level of training, which was provided here, I can take with me and help teach other MPs from foreign militaries better investigation skills.” Thanks to the two-day course, McElrath said he and his multinational counterparts are better equipped for meeting the demands of the Kosovo Force and are prepared to answer the call if it should arise.
Sta Sgt. omas Duval OR-5 USA-A
KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 15 PILGRIMAGE PILGRIMAGE TO LETNICË/LETNICA KFOR soldiers participate in the Pilgrimage to the Black Madonna of Letnicë/Letnica
On the 15th of August KFOR soldiers went on a pilgrimage to the Letnica Sanctuary in the south east of Kosovo. Various camouflage uniforms and flags, of KFOR contributing Nations, waved along the way to the Letnica Sanctuary. Many people, from a wide spectrum of religious backgrounds, participated in the ceremony. Letnica is deeply connected to one of the world’s most admired figures, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxiu). She said at the beginning of her vocation was the Madonna of Letnice who interceded for me and helped me to discover my vocation. Despite being raised in Skopje, Mother Teresa was deeply linked to Kosovo, not only for the sanctuary of Letnica, where she returned five more times before she died, but because her parents were natives of Kosovo: her father from Prizren and her mother
from Novo Selo, near Gjakovë/ PICTURE: (3) Scholzen Florian
16 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 PILGRIMAGE
Ðakovica. Central to all mainstream religious communities are spiritual education guides that teach people to live in peace and respect differences. KFOR continues to encourage dialogue between all religious representatives, in Kosovo, to support peace, cooperation and progress for all the people of the region. After a brief address in several languages, the soldiers organized themselves into groups, by nation, and the pilgrimage began. The soldiers passed through a dale along a brook and, finally, over a hill before arriving in Letnicë/ Letnica. The pilgrims stopped twice along the way and the chaplains, of the various nations, held devotions in six different languages, giving the KFOR soldiers the opportunity to sing and pray together.
Up on the hill before Letnicë/ Letnica, the pilgrims took a group photo with their national flags before heading on down the dusty road into town to hear the Mass.
Maj. Rory Finegan OF-3 IRL-A PICTURE: (3) Scholzen Florian
KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 17 CULTURAL CORNER THE OTTOMAN BRIDGES OF KOSOVO “Bridges are metaphors for everything in life, … e bridge is not just about getting back and forth between north and south. e bridge is about connecting our communities.”-Jim West roughout Kosovo, a wonderful legacy remains of beautifully constructed Ottoman Bridges from the late Middle Ages which were built throughout Kosovo. Much like the Romans, the Ottoman Empire was noted for their outstanding engineering skills. is is demonstrated in a number of these beautiful and sublime structures that can still be seen to this day in Kosovo. e bridges were designed and intended, speci cally, for the rapid deployment of not only trade but also troops, throughout the then Ottoman empire; but they were not strictly utilitarian in construction, in fact their that links the banks of the White Fshajt Bridge, becomes a popular architects o en had an eye for Drin River, represents a key point destination with many families the sublime. is month, the for the transport in the road that camping alongside the stretch of KFOR Chronicle Team took links the city of Gjakova and water. Close to the bridge there the opportunity to visit some Prizren. are two rocks known as “Eagle of these bridges that can still be Located at the mouth of the Rock” (Shkëmbi i Shqiponjës) seen throughout Kosovo. White Drin Canyon, the bridge and “Skanderbeg Rock” Fshajt Bridge or Saint Brid is an has become a popular attraction (Shkëmbi i Skenderbeut), which 18th-century stone bridge with for the locals and foreign visitors. features an engraving of 15th- one arch over the White Drin During the summer months the century Albanian nobleman Canyon, in western Kosovo. It is banks of the White Drin river at George Kastrioti Skanderbeg. located in the village of Dol, 19 km away from city of Gjakova, on the way to Prizren. Along with the White Drin Canyon, Fshajt’s Bridge is legally protected since 1986. e Fshajt’s Bridge built on the White Drin River, dates back to the 18th century. During the First World War it was destroyed completely, but in 1942 it was rebuilt again. During the con ict, in 1999, it was damaged, but it was restored by Italian troops
of KFOR. Nowadays, the bridge PICTURE: Hajrullahu Afrim
18 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 CULTURAL CORNER PICTURE: Hajrullahu Afrim e portrait of Skanderbeg was painted in the rock, in 1968, by Mexhid Yvejsi on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of his death. A traditional high-diving competition, dating back to 1954, resumed in 2014 for the rst time since the con ict of 1999. e annual competition 15th century. at opinion is trimmed stones, in dark gray and is attended by many local and based on the fact that the bridge an ocher shade. Its length exceeds regional competitors who show was erected on a medieval route, 190 meters, the width of the their skills in traditional jumping which connected Gjakova with original pavement was over 3.5 into river from the bridge. Prizren, and the fact that the meters and the bridge consists of bridge was later expanded, due 11 rounded arches, among which Terzijski Bridge, sometimes to changes of ow in the River are embedded niches. called Tailors’ Bridge, is located Erenik. In the 18th century, e KFOR Chronicle Team near the village of Bishtrazhin/ the bridge experienced major recommend a visit to, at least Bistražin, near Gjakova, in modi cations, which gave it its one, if not all of these bridges Kosovo. It is a very important current look. ese works were to appreciate this historical and example of Ottoman bridge nanced by the Terzija guild from wonderful architectural legacy. building, in Kosovo. It was built Gjakova, which is con rmed by over the River Erenik, probably at an inscription carved in Turkish Maj. Rory Finegan the end of the 15th century, and on the bridge. OF-3 IRL-A was altered in the 18th century. e bridge was built with It is a signi cant example of the terzijskog guild from Gjakova, from which it received its name. Major reconstruction and restoration to its original appearance were held from 1982 to 1984. It is not known when exactly the bridge was built, but it is thought to have been at the end of the
KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 19 PICTURE OF THE MONTH
Commander KFOR XX Major General PICTURE OF THE MONTH Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, Italian Army August 2016 Chief Public Affairs Office & COMKFOR Spokesman Col. Francesco Patalano, Italian Army Chief Internal Information & Editor KFOR Chronicle Maj. Rory Finegan, Irish Defence Forces [email protected] Design & Photographer: Mr. Afrim Hajrullahu
E-mail and Web [email protected] www.nato.int/kfor Printed by BLENDI Tel.: 044 149 115 NATO Nations within KFOR Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, United Kingdom, the United States. Non-NATO Nations within KFOR Armenia, Austria, Finland, Ireland, Moldova, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine. “ Mitrovica ”
Equipment Used: The KFOR Chronicle is produced Contribute to the CANON SX 710 HS and fully funded by HQ KFOR. It is published for KFOR soldiers in the KFORChronicle! OR-5, FERRIS, AUT A area of responsibility. The contents Just send your photos to: are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the coalition [email protected] by the 25th governments’ defence departments. of the month explaining where you took Editorial content is edited, prepared the photo and what equipment you used. and provided by the Internal Infor- We will then select one of the submitted mation Section of HQ KFOR’s Pub- images and publish it in the next edition of lic Affairs Office (PAO) in Pristina, the Chronicle. Kosovo. PAO HQ KFOR reserves the right to edit content to conform to style and space requirements. You will be immortalised in the KFOR Articles are run on a space-availa- Chronicle! ble basis. Is that not something to be proud of? Sincerely The Chronicle Team
20 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 PROFILES
Military Education:. I joined the Croatian Air Force in 2001, when I was 19 years old as a cadet pilot. I graduated from Faculty of Air Traffic Engineering as an aeronautical engineer and a helicopter pilot in June 2006, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. After my graduation I was chosen to fly Mi-8s and after the training on Mi-8T and Mi- 8MTV1 achieved co-pilot status in March 2007. In December 2008, I started training on Mi-171Sh and, in August 2009, I was promoted to 1st Lt. I subsequently completed Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training for military pilots. In 2015, I graduated from Squadron Officer School.
About the Mission: HRVCON mission in Kosovo is based on 2 Mi- 171Sh helicopters and their versatile roles which are ideal for troop and VIP transport, reconnaissance, lift and sling load missions in supporting KFOR, in its mission. Name: Bojan Bosnić Family Reaction: I am married with a beautiful baby daughter; it’s Rank: OF-1 hard to be apart from them. My wife and my whole family supports me in every way and I get to speak to them over the internet, on a daily Nationality: CRO basis. Unit: Multirole Squadron Hobbies: My hobbies are computer games and sports, pretty much (EVH), 21. HRVCON everything that includes any form of physical activity and I play basketball, at amateur level.
Military Education:. I enlisted into the Defence Forces of Ireland in 1975 and was posted to the Signal Corps. I qualified as a Wireless Operator and later as a Telecommunications Technician. I have served in a variety of roles and units in Ireland. I am currently serving in the branch with responsibility for fixed wing aircraft of the Irish Air Corps and will retire in 2018 after 43 years in uniform. I have served 9 years in various missions overseas including Lebanon, Bosnia and this is my 3rd tour in Kosovo. I also served in the European Union Military Staff HQ in Brussels from 2001-2005.
About the Mission: Headquarter Support Group is the unit responsible for the day to day security and logistical support of KFOR HQ and associated sites. The HSG provides a unique mixture of both Military and Civilian support to HQ KFOR and the troops that call Film City Name: Ray Duke their home. The Defence Forces of Ireland have had troops deployed Rank: OR-9 with KFOR since 1999. Nationality: IRL Family Reaction: I am married to Ann and have three grown children, a son and two daughters and keep in contact with them via Unit: Headquarters the internet. My Granddaughter Ella tells everyone I am in the iPad while I am away. Support Group Hobbies: My main interest is in computers and in military history research.
KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 21 MEDICAL ADVICE EFFECT OF SMOKING ON THE BODY Tobacco smoke is enormously harmful to health and there’s no safe way to smoke. Smoking can be considered one of the leading causes of preventable death. e mortality rate for smokers is three times that of people who never smoked.
Over time, your lungs lose their ability to lter harmful chemicals. Coughing can’t clear out the toxins su ciently, so these toxins get trapped in the lungs. Smoking damages your entire cardiovascular system, making blood vessel tighten and restricting peripheral blood ow in arteries. It also raises the risk of forming blood clots and then stroke. ere’s a risk to nonsmokers, too: exposure to secondhand smoke increases your risk of stroke, e most famous of the heart attack, and coronary heart ingredients in tobacco is nicotine, debris. ere is no nicotine in the disease. a mood-altering drug which body. Ability to taste and smell is Smoking also increases risk of reaches brain in mere seconds. improved. all kind of cancer, especially for It’s a central nervous system • Aft er 72 hours: lung, mouth, throat, larynx and stimulant, so it makes you feel Breathing becomes easier. esophagus. Even cigar smokers, more energized for a little while. Bronchial tubes begin to relax who don’t inhale, are at increased As that e ect subsides, you feel and energy increase. risk of mouth cancer. tired and crave more beacuse • Aft er 2-12 weeks: Some of the more obvious and nicotine is habit forming. Your circulation improves. noticeable signs of smoking When you inhale smoke, you’re • Aft er 3-9 months: involve the skin, changing taking in substances that can Coughs, wheezing and breathing its structure and causing damage your lungs. improve as lung function discoloration, wrinkles, Cigarettes contain about 600 increases by up to 10%. premature aging and ngernail ingredients and when they • Aft er 1 year: yellowing and teeth browning. burn, they generate more than Risk of heart disease is about Smoking can also weaken your 7,000 chemicals. Many of those half compared with a person sense of taste and sense of smell. chemicals are poisonous and who is still smoking. Why should you quit smoking? at least 69 of them can cause • Aft er 10 years: e bene ts of quitting smoking cancer. Replacing your cigarette Risk of lung cancer falls to half increase with time… with a cigar, pipe, or hookah that of a smoker. • Aft er 20 minutes: won’t help you avoid the health • Aft er 15 years: Pulse rate returns to normal. risks associated with tobacco Risk of heart attack falls to the • Aft er 8 hours: products. same as someone who has never Nicotine and Carbon Monoxide smoked. (CO) levels in blood reduce No matter how you smoke it, by more than half and oxygen tobacco is dangerous to your Cpt. Francesco Tarricone levels return to normal. health and a ects your entire OF-2 ITA-A • Aft er 48 hours: body. & CO will be eliminated from Lt.Veronica Palombi the body. Lungs start to clear OF-1 ITA-A out mucus and other smoking
22 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 MP MESSAGE & RADIO K4
KEEP CALM - AND WATCH THE TRAFFIC SIGNS! KFOR STAY SAFE AND… “DON’T DRIVE THE MP CRAZY” MOP DRIVING IS ONE OF THE DIFFERENT MILITARY ACTIVITIES FOR KFOR MEMBERS.
For Safety reason and before you start your engine think about some basics: • IS MY CAR READY FOR THE TRIP LIGHTS, TIRES,.. ? • PUT LIGHTS ON • WEAR YOUR SECURITY BELT • DRIVE WITHOUT TIME PRESSURE
During driving: -Watch the tra c signs also in KFOR camps (STOP IS STOP) -Consider your trip as a risk (even that you are able to manage it easily), short kilometers trips are probably the most dangerous in relation with the ability to keep attention -Consider especially the di culties and the risks of accidents in the round abouts…
KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016 23 www.nato.int/kfor
24 KFOR CHRONICLE 08/2016