Photo By Sgt. Cheryl Madolev | Multinational soldiers assigned to Regional Command-East of the NATO-led Kosovo Force...... read more read more
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In 1999, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 mandated the creation of the NATO-led Kosovo Force, also known as KFOR. For many years multiple Ally and partner nations assigned to the KFOR mission have maintained a presence in Kosovo with the mission of serving the local population and providing a safe and secure environment for all communities living in Kosovo.
The UNSC Resolution 1244 also mandated the establishment of what is now known as the Kosovo Police, or KP.
The KP and KFOR forces work together regularly, whether it be conducting coordinated patrols along the Administrative Boundary Line separating Kosovo and Serbia, or together in large scale training exercises. The partnership also allows both organizations to utilize the KP training base near Pristina, Kosovo, known as Camp Vrelo.
Recently, the KFOR engineering team has initiated three base-level engineering projects at Camp Vrelo. They are renovating an obstacle course, improving and expanding the weapons range, and preparing an area for a storage space that will be utilized in the future.
Maj. Bobby Baca, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, is the KFOR Regional Command-East, or RC-E, Brigade Engineer and Force Protection Chief. He received the request for assistance for improvements to Camp Vrelo, and viewed it as a project that would benefit the KP, KFOR, and ultimately, the communities of Kosovo.
“We train on Camp Vrelo regularly and it is a way to give back to one of our primary partners,” said Baca. “The projects will improve the facilities that are used to train the future Kosovo Police force, and strengthen their position into the future.”
Baca gives praise to the RC-E engineers who have initiated the project and developed a plan of action. The multinational engineers working on the project include Finnish, German, U.S., and Swiss soldiers from the Joint Logistics Supply Group, or JLSG. All nations bring their own specialties, equipment and expertise to the multi-layered project.
The Finnish Combat Engineer Platoon Commander, OF-1 Juuso, considers it a privilege to work alongside multinational Allies and partners. He explains his platoon is a diverse asset to both KFOR engineers and the KFOR Maneuver Battalion.
“The Camp Vrelo project is a great example of how KFOR and local authorities have great cooperation for a common goal,” said Juuso. “A new obstacle course and shooting range will offer a very efficient and safe environment to practice different military skills. As a quite fresh NATO-member, it is a great opportunity to see how our Allies can work with our beautiful branch of engineers.”
Camp Vrelo hosts large-scale training exercises with KP, KFOR and the European Union Rule of Law Mission, also referred to as EULEX. These field exercises include Golden Sabre, Silver Sabre and Rapid Action. The events are important for interoperability between nations, understanding each organization’s standard operational procedures, resources and capabilities.
OR-6 Marco Mischon is an engineer and team leader with the German contingent assigned to the Camp Vrelo engineer project. He says there are many advantages to working with the other nations’ engineering teams, and emphasized the need to assist the KP with their obstacle course.
“We can all learn from each other, and it is nice to see what tools and machines they use,” said Mischon. “I think it is time to renew the obstacle course for the KP, so that training can be carried out properly again.”
Additionally, the KP allows KFOR to utilize the location for more military-specific events.
The KFOR RC-E Maneuver Battalion, currently commanded by Oregon Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, will be hosting a Best Squad Competition on Camp Vrelo in April, 2025. The competition is a fun and challenging squad-level event that will test soldiers on the necessary physical and mental skills that are vital for the battlefield.
Baca hopes that future KFOR rotations will continue to strengthen their partnership with the KP, and believes the completion of the engineering projects will help in doing so.
“We are hoping that Camp Vrelo becomes a beacon for Kosovo Police training,” says Baca. “The course and the range will provide better opportunities when complete, but ultimately it is about making it safer for the trainees and operators. I hope the partnership with KFOR, RC-E, and the engineers continues long after completion of these projects.”
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2025 14:38 |
| Story ID: | 491689 |
| Location: | CAMP VRELO, ZZ |
| Web Views: | 128 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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