Photo By Sgt. 1st Class David Dodds | U.S. Soldiers of the 1-144th Maneuver Task Force, Multi-National Battle Group-East,...... read more read more
By Spc. Drew Balstad
LEPOSAVIC, Kosovo - U.S. Soldiers in Multi-National Battle Group-East's 1-144th Maneuver Task Force recently turned over security responsibilities in this area, including Camp Nothing Hill near the Administrative Boundary Line with Serbia, to forces of the Italian army.
Bravo Company plus a platoon from Charlie Company and the tactical command center of the 1-144th had been at Camp Nothing Hill since Jan. 4, when they took over for a contingent of Turkish soldiers. They served in the Area of Operations conducting framework patrols as well as a Quick Reaction Force, trained to respond to Gate 1within 30 minutes as well as situations anywhere else in the sector in less than 60 minutes.
"Our Soldiers' performance at Camp Nothing Hill was outstanding," said Maj. David J. Craig, Lake Forest, Calif., 1-144th Battalion Operations Officer, assigned as the commanding officer of the U.S. Contingent at Camp Nothing Hill. "In the short time we had the mission up there we quickly adapted and became familiar with the area of operation."
Camp Nothing Hill is only a few miles from the ABL between Kosovo and Serbia and 70 miles from Camp Bondsteel, MNBG-E's main headquarters. This made Camp Nothing Hill the most distant outpost for U.S. Soldiers in Kosovo at the time the 1-144th was stationed there.
Craig said the 1-144th Soldiers executed quick-reaction and medevac exercises, including a joint operation with French forces in which two Soldiers were involved in a simulated vehicle rollover and had to be taken by air for medical treatment in a French Puma helicopter.
The 1-144th also worked with other multi-national forces during their mission at Camp Nothing Hill.
"The Belgian LMTs (Liaison and Monitoring Team) played a vital role in familiarizing our Soldiers to the Leposavic municipality and the entire Camp Nothing Hill area of operation," Craig said.
One of the more unique missions that took place at Camp Nothing Hill, according to Craig, was when MNBG-E Task Force Med commander, Col. Edwin Moore, Beverly Hills, Fla., and Maj. Lauren Simpson took part in patrols with 1-144th Soldiers.
"They learned about our mounted patrol techniques and provided minor medical care to elderly patients in the very remote mountain villages," he said.
During the mission to Camp Nothing Hill, the Soldiers got a special visit from Brig. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, Bismarck, N.D., commander of MNBG-E, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jack W. Cripe, Dickinson, N.D., MNBG-E's top enlisted Soldier, as they showed their support for the U.S. Soldiers and toured the area.
It was Dohrmann's first visit to a U.S. force at Camp Nothing Hill.
"It's always good when the commander comes out to visit," Craig said. "I know the Soldiers really appreciate his interest in they're mission."
Also, as part of their visit, Dohrmann and Cripe went to Gate 1 along the ABL, a place where the 1-144th Soldiers were poised and ready be in less than 30 minutes, if needed.
"The efforts of the Soldiers here to keep important areas, like Gate 1, safe and secure are tremendous," Cripe said. "Their rigorous training has helped them achieve response times under 30 minutes, which is outstanding for this mission and in this challenging terrain."
While at Camp Nothing Hill, the 1-144th also logged long hours of important duty in the guard towers around the base, Craig said.
"The shifts in the guard towers could easily get tedious, but our Soldiers knew how critical it is to stay alert and the leadership ensured that our Soldiers were focused on the mission, Craig said.
Platoons would rotate every 24 hours from guard duty to patrols to quick-reaction missions, he said.
The 1-144th MTF is part of the California National Guard's 1-144th Field Artillery Battalion, based in the Los Angeles area. The unit was deployed as part of the U.S. contingent of KFOR 12 (Kosovo Forces), MNBG-E for NATO peacekeeping operations in Kosovo.
"I commend the hard work, arduous training and long hours completed by these highly motivated Soldiers of the 1-144th who were stationed at Camp Nothing Hill," Dohrmann said. "The relationships they forged with other members of the MNBG-N family, the citizens who live in the area and with our multi-national partners from France, Belgium, Poland, Italy and others ensured the success of their mission."
| Date Taken: | 02.04.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.04.2010 21:03 |
| Story ID: | 44935 |
| Location: | LEPOSAVIC, ZZ |
| Web Views: | 1,070 |
| Downloads: | 335 |
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