Photo By 1st Lt. Kareem Abiose | Bravo Troop 1st Sgt. Anthony Bordano from the 3-61 CAV observes the Administrative...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP NOVO SELO, Kosovo – Bravo Troop, from the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, facilitated security to ensure freedom of movement in Kosovo during Serbian Pres. Aleksandar Vucic's visit Sept. 8 and 9.
The 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, from Fort Carson, Colorado, is Kosovo Force (KFOR) Multi-National Battle Group – East’s primary maneuver element. During Pres. Vucic’s visit to Kosovo, the Squadron partnered with the Kosovo Border Police and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) to ensure the environment remained calm and stable.
Soldiers from Bravo Troop’s 2nd Platoon staged at DOG31, an authorized crossing point on the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) between Serbia and Kosovo, while Soldiers from 3rd Platoon were located at the EULEX compound in the Northern Kosovo city of Mitrovica.
Bravo Troop Commander Capt. Paul Patino conducted battlefield circulation to confirm that the placement of units provided Soldiers the best opportunity to accomplish their mission while staged for the president’s visit.
“We are out here to show that Kosovo Force actively partners with Kosovo Law Enforcement to ensure the environment of Kosovo remains safe and secure,” Patino said.
His first stop was DOG31 where Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Severson, 2nd Platoon Sergeant, and his Soldiers established an observation post. “My mission is to identify and report the crossing of Pres. Vucic into Kosovo and provide rapid and accurate reporting to the Forward Command Post,” Severson said.
Pfc. Heriberto Rodriguez, a team dismount in the platoon, was at the observation post. This was his first time manning an observation post for a presidential visit, although he had manned 14 since arriving in Kosovo in March. “I like this mission because it involves a high official and my job involves observing and reporting,” Rodriguez said. He also stated that he felt like he was doing something that a Soldier wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to do.
Once Pres. Vucic entered Kosovo, Capt. Patino moved to the EULEX base, joining his third platoon as they prepared to execute their reconnaissance mission. Third Platoon was forward staged at the EULEX compound to provide reconnaissance and security on transportation routes in the area to maintain freedom of movement for the Kosovo people.
At Camp Novo Selo farther south, Soldiers from Detachment 2, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, Virginia Army National Guard, were forward deployed from Camp Bondsteel to provide medical-evacuation (MEDEVAC) support if needed. First Lt. Cameron Shaffer, a pilot for the MEDEVAC aircraft, said, “This mission provided the opportunity to operate independently as a forward-deployed MEDEVAC aircrew, demonstrating our Soldiers’ ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic environment.”
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Matt Lam, the pilot-in-command, said, “I enjoy real-world missions such as these. They allow the aircrew and support personnel to demonstrate the hard work, training, and dedication that it takes to provide MEDEVAC mission support.”
Pres. Vucic and his security detail entered Kosovo through DOG31 around 2:30 p.m. The reason for Vucic’s visit was to talk to Kosovar-Serbs and visit key locations. On Sept. 8, he visited the Gazivoda Dam, the town of Lesak, the Lesal Agricultural School, Leposavic Sports Hall and the town of Zvecan. On Sept. 9, he visited the Sunny Valley development and Mitrovica before returning to Serbia that afternoon.
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2018 09:51 |
| Story ID: | 292581 |
| Location: | CAMP NOVO SELO, ZZ |
| Web Views: | 557 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, KFOR Soldiers provide support during Serbian President’s visit to Kosovo, by 1st Lt. Kareem Abiose, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
