TF 1- 144th takes over force protection at Kosovo camps

Photo By Staff Sgt. Mike Hagburg | Capt. Raymond F. Allard, Cypress, Calif., commander of Alpha Company, 1-144th Maneuver Task Force, and 1st Sgt. Steven W. Overton, Northridge, Calif., stand at the position of attention with the Soldiers under their command recently at a ceremony in Pristina, Kosovo.  

PRISTINA, SRBIJA, SERBIA

12.11.2009

Courtesy Story

116th Public Affairs Detachment

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Soldiers of Alpha Company, 1-144th Maneuver Task Force, recently took over force protection duties, such as guarding gates, from another group of NATO peacekeeping troops at two Kosovo Forces camps here.

1-144th MTF, made up members of the California National Guard's 1-144th Field Artillery Battalion, Los Angeles area, will be in charge of maintaining security in areas in and around ―Film City, KFOR's headquarters, and nearby Camp Vrelo for the safety and security of KFOR personnel and visitors.

The 1-144th Soldiers will stand guard at the posts until they are relieved by forces from Multi-National Task Force-West. Soldiers from the Multi-National Task Force-South had been providing force protection at both locations.

The 1-44th MTF, along with the other U.S. Soldiers that make up KFOR 12 in Multi-National Task Force-East, arrived in Kosovo in late October. They took over responsibility of
MNTF-E from the 40th Infantry Division (Forward), Los Alamitos, Calif., at a Transfer-of- Authority ceremony held, Nov. 14.

NATO peacekeeping forces in Kosovo are there to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for the people and institutions in Kosovo. The area is divided into five zones, where NATO forces are located: Multi-National Task Force-East, West, North, South and Center.

• Date Taken: 12.11.2009
• Date Posted: 12.11.2009 12:41
• Story ID: 42623
• Location: PRISTINA, SRBIJA, RS