Golan Journal 112, July
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Dear Reader ! First of all, let me INDCON, (see pages welcome our newly 14, 15), Change of Com- arrived Press Offi- mand and Medal Parade cers: Maj Sid- in POLBATT (see pages dartha Rathore 20, 21), SLOVCONS Editorial (DFPM), Capt Sylwester Wlaszczyk Tennis Trophy at Camp (PB), Capt V Kranthi Kumar (LB), Faouar (see pages 16, 17), Lt 1 Takahiro Shibukawa (J-CON) change of Command at and Capt Gregor Zeleznik (OGG). As the J-CON (page 18), a This Edition’s Editorial Team always, a big round of applause for all very interesting article about the Map- Hermann, Arnold, Stefan, Ichiro Press Officers and your great articles. ping section of UNDOF (see pages Unfortunately, when so many new 22 and 23), and last, but definitely not our 2nd Golan Journal together and I people arrive, also some others go back least, we have the personal messages know already now, that I am going home and in this case we have to say of UNDOF 1, the Force Commander to miss Arny with his good sense of Good-Bye to all of the leaving Press MGen Wolfgang Jilke, of UNDOF 2, humor and positive thinking. Thanks Officers. Thanks a million for all your the COS Col Andrzej Ostrovski and to everyone for all your support to us hard work and support. UNDOF 3, some words about integra- and the Golan Journal! Apart from that there has been also tion by CAO, Mr. Patrik J. Devaney. a lot of action, like the Charity Activi- For ‘Arny’ it is time to say Good-Bye ties (see pages 12, 13), lots of ‘New Peo- to our readers, since Arnold Felfer will Yours sincerely, ple to UNDOF’ (see pages 6, 7), Medal most likely get a new job in December Capt Hermann Altmanninger, SOPR parade and 60th Independence Day in after a ½ -year tour of duty. This is now SOPR Editorial ................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Editorial Staff: Unit Press Officers: FC UNDOF Force Commander’s Message ................................................................................. 3 Senior Editor & SSOM/PR & Welfare AUSBATT - Capt Uwe Sandrieser COS UNDOF COS Words ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 SLOVCON - Lt Marek Uchal CAO UNDOF Integration-Words by CAO ............................................................................................. 5 Maj Stefan Eder INDCON - Capt V Kranthi Kumar New People New People in UNDOF ....................................................................................................... 6 Editor, Proofreader, Interpreter & SOPR J-CON - Lt Takahiro Shibukawa New People New People in UNDOF .......................................................................................................... 7 Capt Hermann Capt Sylvester Wlaszczyk OGG News from OGG .................................................................................................................................... 8 POLBATT - Altmanninger Visitors Visitors to UNDOF .......................................................................................................................... 9 OGG - Capt Gregor Zeleznik Editor & DMPIO ..... MP - Maj Siddartha Rathore AUSBATT The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EOD) 10 Capt Eiichiro Shinoda AUSBATT The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EOD) ........ 11 Senior Proofreader & Charity Not only the Sun smiles ....................................................................................................... 12 SO/Training Charity Medical Camp (White Saturday) .................................................................. 13 Capt Stefan Zaiser th INDCON Medal Parade and 60 Independence Day ................................ 14 Editor, Layout Designer & Force th INDCON Medal Parade and 60 Independence Day ................................ 15 Photographer SLOVCON Tennis Trophy in Camp Faouar .......................................................................... 16 WO II Arnold Felfer SLOVCON Tennis Trophy in Camp Faouar .............................................................................17 Editorial Office: J-CON Change of Command ............................................................................................................. 18 UNDOF HQ MP-Platoon News from Military Police Platoon UNDOF ................... 19 Camp FAOUAR E-Mail: [email protected] POLBATT Change of Command in POLBATT .................................................. 20 POLBATT Medal Parade in POLBATT .................................................................................... 21 The Golan Journal is the magazine of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force and it is intended to provide information about the Force and GIS Mapping in UNDOF ............................................................................................................. 22 events within it which are of interest to its members. The UNDOF Media, ............................................................................................................... GIS Mapping in UNDOF 23 Public Relations & Welfare Office publishes the Golan Journal quarterly. While st articles and photographs are welcomed from all members of the Force, the view Front (Page 1): Mine blasting at 1 Coy AUSBATT “Felsenkopf ” and opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily Photo by Sgt Thomas Hatzl, AB-Photographer coincide with those of the United Nations or the Force Commander. The copyright of all material in this journal is vested in United Nations Back (Page 24): ‘‘Children’s Dream” Steam Train Ride to Bosra Publications except where an acknowledgment is made to another holder. Photo by WO II Armin Hermann No articles or illustrations may be reproduced without the permission of the editorial staff. 2 - the UNDOF Journal Force Commander’s Message FC UNDOF Dear Fellow Peacekeepers, clearly marked the Area of Sep- to begin, I wish to welcome all aration, and with few roads, it those who have recently arrived was relatively simple to moni- in the Golan Heights! tor what was going on. Not so Being a multinational force, today! While the massive influx it is critical that you get to know of population and infrastruc- not only the personnel within ture development in the Areas your national contingent, but of Separation and Limitation also your fellow peacekeepers represent an optimistic vote of from other nations. I encourage confidence in continued peace you to find solutions to over- by both sides, it has made the come our linguistic and some- task of enforcing our Mandate times cultural differences. Not much more difficult. While we only do our operations encom- are forced to use old-fashioned pass different national contin- patrolling to maintain our sur- operational capabilities, we gents, but they also include per- veillance, the militaries on both are pursuing the acquisition of sonnel from other UN missions, sides have pursued technologi- advanced night vision equip- specifically United Nations cal advancements in mobility, ment and more armoured patrol Truce Supervision Organiza- communications and weaponry vehicles. And to ensure our tion (UNTSO). In the coming that have made our task not operational effectiveness and months, it is the intention of only more difficult, but more continued relevancy, UNDOF both COS UNTSO and me to dangerous as well. Events in is mounting more patrols, espe- better integrate the personnel the past year have heightened cially at night, to safeguard and activities of Operational tensions to remarkable levels, that neither side is tempted to Group Golan (OGG) into our with serious moves by both sides exploit what has been a weak- operations. The creation and to improve and enhance their ness in our operations. development of a Joint Opera- military installations and posi- To those who are home- tions Centre will go a long way tions. Events may soon reach a ward-bound, having completed to improving our communica- climax, possibly negative. their rotation, I express my sin- tions and operational efficiency, To meet these challenges, cere appreciation for their hard in order to meet the challenges UNDOF must change and work and efforts made towards of our changing environment. adapt as well. Despite over 30 our common goals. To those of And yes, things are chang- years of success, to ignore these us who remain, we can only ing. When I consider what it signals and simply accept our succeed as a team! Keep up the was like when I first arrived comfortable status quo would good work! here in 1974, I am astonished. foolishly risk not only the valid- Back then, the only things ity of our mission, but the very Thank you, Ďiakujem, that obstructed our view over lives of our personnel as well. Danke, Merci, Dziękuję, the plains and foothills were For this reason, UNDOF is Arigato, Dhanyavad, Shukran, Doda! patches of trees, piles of vol- making changes. To better canic rock, a few brave farm- ensure the safety and security ers and shepherds with their of our personnel, we are making flocks, and our lonely UN posi- force protection improvements tions and observation points. to our Camps and Positions, In such wide-open terrain, our and are acquiring armoured Major General Wolfgang JILKE lines of red and white barrels ambulances. To improve our Force Commander UNDOF - the UNDOF Journal 3 Chief of Staff Words and mitigate possi- the Area of Operation (AOO). As ble threat by incor- a direct result, our