Kosovo, lost in the shuffle

Photo By Spc. Tara Moseman | Staff Sgt. Michael Laduke speaks with a local elderly Serbian woman at her home.  

03.04.2008

Story by Spc. Tara Moseman 

111th Public Affairs Detachment

By Spc. Tara Moseman
111th Army Public Affairs Detachment

KOSOVO – In the news, everywhere one looks, there are headlines of, "Kosovo declares Independence!" which are usually closely followed by, "Serbian protests in Belgrade!" While these are actual events, the main subject, KOSOVO, gets lost in the shuffle.

That brings us to the big question. What IS happening in Kosovo? What about the multi-national NATO troops stationed there as part of Kosovo Forces 9? What are they doing?

For members of KFOR's Task Force Bayonet, comprised of Minnesota National Guard Infantry Soldiers, the current events and happenings in Kosovo are part of their daily life. Since October of 2007, TF Bayonet has had forces stationed in Kosovo in support of the KFOR mission. KFOR's main goal is to provide a safe and secure environment for all citizens of Kosovo, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

TF Bayonet conducts routine patrols throughout their area of operations, which includes towns and villages with both Albanian and Serbian residents, as well as several villages which are exclusively Serbian. They speak with the locals, build a rapport with the locals within their respective patrol area, making sure that nothing in the area seems out of place, conduct vehicle checkpoints to search for contraband, everything they do is geared towards making sure that the citizens of Kosovo can go about their day-to-day business without any concerns about safety.

TF Bayonet's Delta Company, 1st Platoon, 1st Squad, is responsible for patrolling an area known as the "Iron Triangle." The Iron Triangle is named for the three towns it encompasses, when viewed from above, the three towns create a triangle of sorts.

Staff Sgt. Michael Laduke, the squad leader for Delta Company's 1st Platoon, 1st Squad, and his squad are responsible for the security of the three towns located within the Iron Triangle, the towns of Mogila, Vrbovac, and Grenchare. "When they (villagers) want to talk, they come right up to us," said Laduke. "We are a presence for them to come to, it comforts them to know we are in the area, keeping an eye on things."

A typical day for Staff Sgt. Laduke and his squad starts with positioning themselves at a lookout point that overlooks the entire sector. The squad often works on improving their Soldier skills while on duty. "We try to give the younger Soldiers a chance to learn out in the real world, getting hands-on training is the best way for them to learn," said Laduke.

The remainder of their shift is spent doing both vehicle and foot patrols. During foot patrols, the squad walks around the town, making sure that everything is in its place, often stopping to talk with the locals, and always trailed by the children of the village. Spc. William Roemhild, a squad member, said, "People knowing we're here does a lot for morale, they feel that as long as we are around, they're safe."

The squad occasionally also sets up vehicle checkpoints, also known as VCP's. "We search for any contraband, anything that seems out of the ordinary," said Laduke. He went on to say that while they check the license of the driver, they are not police, their main focus is smuggled goods or weapons.

Kosovo's recent Declaration of Independence has sparked much controversy, especially within the Serbian communities, leading to protests and some tension between Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo Serbians. When asked about the climate within the Iron Triangle, Spc. Roemhild stated, "We were prepared for the worst, there were a few protests, but they were peaceful, it could have been much worse, it was nothing compared to what could have happened."

Laduke agreed that the overall situation was peaceful in the Iron Triangle. "The people here are mainly concerned for the future, they just want to know what is going to happen to them."

• Date Taken: 03.04.2008
• Date Posted: 03.04.2008 11:39
• Story ID: 16987