KFORThe KFOR Magazine for KFOR CHRONICLE Soldiers February 2018 MAINTAINING BRIDGES FOR A BETTER WORLD http://jfcnaples.nato.int/kfor http://www.facebook.com/NATOKFOR/ https://fl ic.kr/ps/39kEDh twitter.com/NATO_KFOR The KFOR Magazine for KFOR Soldiers February 2018 PICTURE: Hjarullahu Afrim 20th February 2018 - Greek Guard Company Change of Command Ceremony. COM KFOR awarding certi cates and coins. COM JFC Naples Visit KFOR Maintaining Bridges for a Better World KTR BN page: 3, 4, 5 Exercise Dragon Fire page: 6, 7 MNBG W “High altitude Patrols” page: 8, 9 KFOR - KSF Mabey bridge in Mitrovica page: 10, 11 A VISUAL OVERVIEW page: 12, 13 German KFOR Contingent Change of Command page: 14, 15 MNBG E Operation Bowie Strike page: 16,17 KFOR HQ Blood Donation in Camp Film City Camp CMLT page: 18, 19 Medical Evacuation page: 20 Soldier of the Month Vlasios Ntokoros page: 21 Pictures of the Month Be part of it! PROFILES page: 22 McCourt David Vellozzi Salvatore page: 23 2 KFOR CHRONICLE 02/2018 The KFOR Magazine for KFOR Soldiers February 2018 MAINTAINING BRIDGES FOR A BETTER WORLD On ursday February 1st Admiral Foggo III, Kosovo have been fortunate to bene t from a clear Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples, line of communication through the Pristina- Belgrade German KFOR Contingent and Major General Cuoci, Commander of KFOR, went Dialogue, and despite the setback of the tragic murder Change of Command to Mitrovica and met with both Mayors, Mr. Agim of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic on January page: 14, 15 Bahtiri and Mr. Goran Rakic. 16th, we will continue forward with constructive communication’. On the previous day Admiral Foggo had met with Serbian Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin, Chief Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples, of Defence Ljubisa Dikovic and Assistant Minister a er crossing the main bridge together with General of Foreign A airs Branimir Filipovic in Belgrade. Cuoci and the Mayor of Mitrovica South, Mr. Agim Admiral Foggo le that meeting “with a sense that Bahtiri, met the northern Mayor, Mr. Goran Rakic. while their history of disagreement with neighbours ey expressed their condolences to him on the recent in the region remains, they are moving forward with loss of his father. a keen eye for the future to include membership in the EU and continuing partnership with NATO”. e presence of both Mayors of Mitrovica was very important because good relations are vital for Admiral Foggo stated that he had always intended to cooperation and stability. is is particularly important visit Mitrovica but the recent murder of Oliver Ivanovic in light of recent incidents, which has caused the people of had accelerated the timing of his arrival. ‘Serbia and Kosovo to be concerned about potential tensions. KFOR KFOR CHRONICLE 02/2018 3 The KFOR Magazine for KFOR Soldiers February 2018 is always committed to preserve a Commitment” every day. and stability of Kosovo, and that safe and secure environment and bridges do not divide but unite. guarantee freedom of movement e main bridge in Mitrovica “ ey require cooperation to build for all citizens in Kosovo and it is has represented the symbol of a and maintain and are important performing its mission to ensure a divided city but the visit of Admiral symbols, connecting people, better future, with special regards to Foggo III has shown that NATO enabling trade and facilitating the youth. e Commander of JFC remains committed to the security prosperity. e Austerlitz bridge Naples noted that both “the mayors of North and South Mitrovica Goran Rakic and Agim Bahtiri, are committed to moving past this incident in a calm and constructive manner”. Admiral Foggo III expressed his deep appreciation to both mayors for their presence and ensured NATO support through KFOR in improving the relationship between North and South Mitrovica. He also thanked General Cuoci for what he is doing for the people of Kosovo and the future of the region, by KFOR showing an “Enduring 4 KFOR CHRONICLE 02/2018 The KFOR Magazine for KFOR Soldiers February 2018 connects the ethnically Serb and bridges are actually among A er his two day visit to the region Albanian populations, and the two the most powerful symbols of Admiral Foggo III re ected that mayors are challenged to unite communication, cooperation and ‘I’ve been privileged to engage key their constituents in the wake of harmony. ey connect people, leaders in the Western Balkans Ivanovic’s deplorable murder”. they open trading routes and they whom I’m convinced will partner bring prosperity and tolerance. in - and contribute to - our e orts e time of con ict is over and to further secure and stabilise the region. e Western Balkans are important to NATO and they are important to me. We will continue to connect, communicate and collaborate to ensure we provide security and stability for a stronger region, a more united Europe and a free and prosperous world’. Comdt. Michael Cullen OF-3 IRL ARMY KFOR CHRONICLE 02/2018 5 The KFOR Magazine for KFOR Soldiers February 2018 EXERCISE DRAGON FIRE „ The current KTR Bn is mainly composed of personnel from the Hungarian Defence Forces 5th Bocskai István“ Infantry Brigade which has deployed troops abroad since 1999. In Hungary this unit is garrisoned in three locations: Debrecen, Hódmezővásárhely and Hajdúhadház The primary role for the KTR Bn is to engage as the Tactical Reserve of COM KFOR by conducting all infantry speci c tasks including Crowd And Riot Control (CRC) all over Kosovo in order to deter and/or counter any threat against Safe And Secure Environment (SASE) and Freedom Of Movement (FOM). PICTURE: Hajrullahu(2) Afrim Zegovac/Zhegoc was the location soldiers in very muddy conditions. e exercise commenced with for Exercise Dragon Fire 2018- Prior to the main events four the establishment of an outer and 1 where two companies of the days of training took place in inner box employing checkpoints Hungarian Kosovo Tactical Reserve order to permit the sub-units to which was followed swi ly by the Battalion (KTR Bn) conducted practice the manoeuvre, plan the air insertion of the assault elements. Area Cordon – Search and Surge movements and conduct cordon e teams were carried by two operations on the 26th of January & search operations. Additionally Croatian Mil Mi-8 helicopters to and the 2nd of February. enough time had been provided to the operational area where a er a e two Hungarian KTR Bn develop interoperability between rapid disembarkation the troops companies played the alternate the multinational partners. began to move stealthily towards roles of Opposition Forces and Furthermore, beyond the tactical the objectives. In the meantime the Friendly Forces on the separate operations KTRBN was also able recces were monitoring the target dates of the exercise that gave a to utilise its air mobility through area with a barely audible UAV and good opportunity to the unit to the aviation detachments and the continually passing information to give an account of their military medical capabilities including the operations centre. capabilities and skills also allowing MEDEVAC that had been drilled While the units were making them to assess their interoperability since the beginning of their their way in the direction of the with troops from other nations. e deployment. targets a quick set of orders were manoeuvre required liaison with e nal phase of the planning delivered. During the approach to the KFOR Intelligence Surveillance work and logistical preparations the buildings the unit split into two and Reconnaissance Battalion (ISR was displayed on the 26th of January teams. One of them turned to the Bn), MNBG-E Aviation Task Force and the 2nd of February which were higher hills to get across and end up and other aviation elements. attended by D COM KFOR and by the rear of the southern building e weather conditions varied COM KFOR respectively. for the purpose of out anking the considerably on each date of the A few days earlier a Recce Platoon opposition. e other team aimed exercise. e operational area of the ISR Bn was deployed to the for the second but closer building was covered with snow on the rst objective area to conduct target on the North-West where they occasion although a week later it surveillance and update the KTR could establish a foothold in order became much milder that le the Bn TOC on the details. to enter one of the houses. 6 KFOR CHRONICLE 02/2018 The KFOR Magazine for KFOR Soldiers February 2018 PICTURE: Hajrullahu (4) Afrim e opposition forces were located in a small built up area within two houses that were enclosed by a 2-metre high brick wall and some smaller outhouses. e enemy cell was reported to consist of ten heavily armed suspects that were located inside the two buildings. Once the opposition force realised that the KTR Bn had discovered their location, they immediately opened re. e assault force instantly responded with suppressive re. Once the enemy gun re began to wane, the KTR Bn troops swi ly mounted a ladder against the ground oor window ledge and breached the building in a coordinated and disciplined manner. Room by room they moved through each building leaving white tags in the searched quarters. Good levels transported to the ROLE-1 Modular capabilities. of communication and e ective tent installed at CMLT. During the Last but not least, the essence of the cooperation were displayed during second exercise, the weather made exercise is that, beyond CRC tasks the assault. As it happens in real it possible for the ambulance to the KFOR third responder battalion life the assault resulted in minor take the casualties close to the heli is capable of conducting tactical and critically injured casualties landing zone where Air Medevac manoeuvres either in support of from both sides who were treated and Casevac were able to take o other forces or independently in the and handed to medics immediately, with the soldiers.