Photo By Staff Sgt. Erick Yates | Hungarian soldiers from the 5th Bocskai Istvan, serving with NATO’s peace support...... read more read more
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CAMP BONDSTEEL, KOSOVO – Hungarian soldiers from the 5th Bocskai Istvan, serving as members of the Multinational Battle Group-East Forward Command Post, loaded and unloaded a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in full riot protective gear while learning aerial medical evacuation procedures, Aug. 11 at Camp Marechal de Lattre de Tassigny, Kosovo.
The Hungarian unit, which recently rotated into Kosovo, conducted the training to ensure that its members were familiar with the procedures and equipment used by multinational forces in Kosovo. These forces support NATO’s peace support mission in the region, known as Kosovo Force, or KFOR.
U.S. Army Soldiers from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, out of Los Alamitos, California, and F Company, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, out of Clearwater, Florida, conducted the training for the troops assigned to MNBG-E, in order to provide medevac familiarization to the soldiers.
The 2-238th Aviation Regiment Soldiers support medevac requirements for personnel assigned to KFOR, and is also available to provide medevac support to civilians in Kosovo under special circumstances, in coordination with Kosovo’s emergency services.
“Today we are working with the Hungarians to get them familiar with loading up in a Black Hawk with full riot gear,” said Spc. David Alvarez, a flight crew chief from the 2-238th. “Since this Hungarian unit is new to the rotation here in Kosovo, they have to receive the initial training.”
Incoming KFOR units receive several days of hands-on training alongside their multinational partners, which also includes freedom-of-movement response and fire phobia training.
“Our job is to train multinational troops as well as U.S Soldiers,” he said. “This allows us to teach them in case there is a medevac request and we need to give air support.”
In the event of an injury or emergency, the ability to quickly move patients to a medical facility may be the difference between life and death. Aerial medevac crews save precious time by moving quickly and treating patients en route.
When possible, these crews benefit when patients understand their procedures and equipment. Advance training on hoist operations and loading methods are extremely valuable, Alvarez said.
“This is our first time meeting with U.S. Soldiers for this type of training,” said Hungarian 2nd. Lt. Tibor Kalockai, a platoon leader for the 5th B.I. assigned to MNBG-E for this rotation. “This is a real good exercise for our soldiers.”
“Looking around, you can see that everyone we have here is happy to be participating in this training,” he said. “We hope we never need it, but it is important to be prepared.”
MNBG-E’s mission is to support a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement in Kosovo. The Battle Group is comprised of soldiers from several nations, each of which brings unique skills and experience to the peacekeeping mission. Training and operations in Kosovo provide these multinational forces opportunities to build partnership and interoperability between one another.
Within the KFOR umbrella, each nation has a common goal to work toward continued stability in Kosovo.
“The leadership and training provided by the other national forces allows the junior officers in the Hungarian forces to learn more of the details about the peacekeeping mission here,” said Capt. Zsolt Bolla, the new Hungarian Armed forces commander for this rotation. “Having this opportunity to work, train and learn in this environment, with the different tactical and medevac procedures, is a good opportunity for us.”
“I look forward for the chance to take this experience back to Hungary,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 08.11.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2015 06:22 |
| Story ID: | 173844 |
| Location: | CAMP MARECHAL DE LATTRE DE TASSIGNY, ZZ |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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