CAMP NOVO SELO, Kosovo – Troopers from the Republic of Latvia conduct response to contact whereas mounted coaching at Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo, April 13, 2022. Throughout the coaching, the Troopers from the Maneuver Battalion, Regional Command East, Kosovo Drive, realized learn how to retreat from hostile fireplace whereas mounted in addition to learn how to retrieve and evacuate wounded.
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CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo — The NATO mission in Kosovo entails bringing collectively army models from dozens of nations to work towards a typical objective. These nations don’t function independently however quite as a single entity underneath a typical command construction.
One such command is the Maneuver Battalion of Kosovo Drive’s Regional Command East, comprised of components from the U.S., Latvia, Turkey and Poland — all underneath the command of a U.S. battalion headquarters from the Kentucky Army Nationwide Guard.
“The multinational forces the [battalion] works with are top-notch and one of the best of one of the best,” mentioned Sgt. Maj. Anthony T. Hughes, the operations sergeant main for the first Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Fight Workforce, twenty ninth Infantry Division, and Kosovo Drive Regional Command-East’s Maneuver Battalion. “Language boundaries are damaged by means of through the use of a typical information of Soldier expertise and expectations that our NATO companions are glorious in demonstrating.”
Sustaining and constructing upon their relationships with multinational companions is an ongoing effort for the leaders of the first Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment — not only for senior battalion leaders however for all of the Troopers within the battalion.
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – Turkish Armed Forces Troopers with the Maneuver Battalion, Regional Command East, Kosovo Drive, stand in formation for a photograph on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, April 16, 2022. The Turkish contingent is working alongside NATO companions to help the mission of sustaining a protected and safe surroundings and freedom of motion in Kosovo.
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“The battalion conducts a number of cultural briefs the place every nation is invited to study concerning the subsequent by means of open dialogue and meals that characterize the nation,” Hughes defined. “A number of coaching occasions and competitions are scheduled all through the week to construct esprit de corps amongst Troopers from every nation.”
The mission of the Maneuver Battalion, headed by the first Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, the “Mountain Warriors,” is to “conduct peace help operations in [Regional Command-East] with the intention to keep a protected and safe surroundings and freedom of motion whereas supporting establishments in Kosovo, civil companies, and humanitarian efforts to take care of situations for continued civilian dialogue in the direction of a political decision,” Hughes mentioned.
Main peace help operations in Kosovo is not like operations the infantry battalion has carried out previously, which usually centered on counter-insurgency operational areas reminiscent of Iraq. Now, their mission entails making certain a protected and safe surroundings is maintained in addition to safeguarding the liberty of motion for the folks of Kosovo.
CAMP NOVO SELO, Kosovo – Troopers from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland participated in medical evacuation, or MEDEVAC, coaching with U.S. Army Troopers of the Blue Ridge Dustoff, Process Drive Pegasus, at Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo, March 21, 2022. Throughout the coaching, members realized learn how to safely load sufferers onto helicopters whereas “spun up,” in addition to what specialised gear every MEDEVAC helicopter makes use of to deal with and transport sufferers to the next stage of care.
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“This mission requires a special ability set than what a standard infantry unit is accustomed to,” Hughes mentioned. “Coaching on crowd riot management, mounted and dismounted patrols and key chief engagements was a should previous to mobilization to make sure a baseline of the operational necessities have been established and Troopers have been capable of rapidly adapt to mission units upon arrival to Kosovo.”
Hughes mentioned his battalion’s preparation for his or her Kosovo mission required a shift from their conventional duties to a extra particular skillset wanted for the distinctive nature of their Japanese European deployment, which began with the unit’s annual coaching at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, final summer season.
“The battalion additionally, carried out two separate pre-mobilization annual coaching occasions, one in October and one in December,” Hughes added. “Every interval allowed the battalion to concentrate on obligatory duties together with the [Kosovo-specific] centered coaching.”
CAMP NOVO SELO, Kosovo – U.S. Army Troopers with 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Fight Workforce, twenty ninth Infantry Division, Kentucky Nationwide Guard, carried out weapon familiarization coaching on the Latvian major weapon programs underneath the tutelage of Kosovo Drive’s Latvian Contingent at Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo, April 23, 2022. As a part of the Regional Command East, Kosovo Drive’s Maneuver Battalion, Troopers from a number of NATO nations work collectively to permit companion nations’ armed forces to develop interoperability and improve capabilities.
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Now properly into their Kosovo rotation, the “Mountain Warrior” battalion headquarters has coordinated and led a number of named operations in preparation for occasions that would have degraded security, safety, and freedom of motion.
“These repetitions have allowed the battalion and every of its [companies] to [solidify a] idea of operations and refine technique with out being overburdened,” Hughes mentioned.
Moreover, “a number of situations of criminal activity on the [administrative boundary line] have been pursued and resulted in arrests to determine a sample of dedication to [a safe and secure environment] and [freedom of movement].”
Hughes credit his battalion’s success to this point to his Troopers’ ongoing arduous work, dedication and adaptableness whereas working in such a novel surroundings.
“Mountain Warriors are expert practitioners of their craft and have been strengthened by the addition of Latvian, Polish and Turkish Troopers,” he mentioned. “These Troopers reveal a dedication to one another each day. This stage of dedication has solely been met by the eye to element and a way of urgency to the folks of Kosovo.”
