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Greetings from Camp Bondsteel. When I last spoke with you back in April we had just begun our KFOR (Kosovo Force) rotation here in Regional Command-East. To say that our Soldiers have been busy would not convey the true scope of our operational tempo. Over the last several months our Soldiers have been actively engaged in numerous, large scale, joint operations with our Foreign National partners while simultaneously conducting their day-to-day missions. These missions include patrolling the Administrative Boundary Line between Kosovo and Serbia, aviation training and mission flights, medical evacuation training, Senior and Key Leader Engagements, as well as multiple community outreach training events.

Everything that our Soldiers do here is in support of our mission, which is to provide a safe and secure environment for all the people of Kosovo and to allow for the freedom of movement for everyone. I am sure that you are aware that recent events in our area of operation have caused a slight escalation of tension that could have an effect on our stated mission. I want to assure you that our Soldiers are well trained and properly equipped for any scenario that they may be faced with. We are confident that continued dialogue between all of the stakeholders will result in a solution that de-escalates the current situation and provides a way forward that will benefit all.

As our mission here winds down, I want to thank you again for your unwavering support. The care packages, cards, letters and other items of encouragement have been great and truly appreciated. I want to thank the families for all that they do while we are away, there is no way that we could do it without you. We look forward to seeing you soon.

“See You in ST Lo!”

U.S. Army photo by Cpt. Matthew Hurley

TASK FORCE SAINT LO Deployment Update

August 2022

Diaspora Days Festivities in VITINA/VITI Kosovo

Mountain Warrior Soldiers participated in multiple events for Diaspora Days in VITINA/VITI, Kosovo, August 1-2, 2022. During the event, Soldiers from the K20 Liaison Monitoring Team (LMT) participated in art, ping pong, and basketball activities with local residents.

KFOR Latvian Contingent Transfer of Authority Ceremony

RC-East’s Latvian Contingent celebrated the contributions of their Soldiers while welcoming their new rotation during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo, August 2, 2022. Read more about the ceremony here.

Aviation and Turkish partners train on medical evacuation

RC-East multinational partners of the Turkish Armed Forces alongside U.S. Soldiers from Detachment 2, C Co, 1-169th Aviation Regiment, Virginia National Guard, conducted MedEvac training together at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, August 2, 2022.

KFOR CIMIC donation to Viti/Vitina Fire Department

KFOR donated specialized fire-fighting equipment to the Fire Department of Viti/Vitina, Kosovo, August 4, 2022.The equipment donated will greatly enhance the capabilities of the Viti/Vitina Fire Department and will enable them to combat wild fires within the municipality.

Mountain Warrior hosts combatives tournament

Mountain Warrior Soldiers participated in a combatives tournament at Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo, August 6, 2022. During the tournament, Soldiers from HHC, C Co, and D Co, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry, participated in a one on one bracket style combatives tournament where victory could be achieved in one of two ways, by accumulating more points than your opponent after 8 minutes, or by submission.

Aviation and Mountain Warrior conduct sling load training

Soldiers from Task Force Aviation (2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th CAB, 29th Infantry Division) conducted sling load training for Soldiers from Liaison Monitoring Team (LMT) K18 at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, August 8, 2022.

KFOR CIMIC donation to Novo Brdo Fire Department

KFOR Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) team donated specialized fire equipment to the Novo Brdo Fire Station in the village of Bostane, Novo Brdo, Kosovo, during a ceremony, August 10, 2022. During the ceremony, KFOR Civil-Military Co-Operation Liaison Officer, Latvian Army Lt. Col., Girts Savins, presented wildfire fighting equipment to Ivan Ristic, Bostane fire chief, Gafure Vlasaliu, director of public services, and Novo Brdo Fire Station members.

KFOR partners from Türkiye conduct patrols in north of Kosovo

RC-East Soldiers from the Republic of Türkiye conducted an independent patrol in eastern Kosovo, August 10, 2022. During the patrol, Soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces conducted foot patrols along their area of operations in eastern Kosovo in order to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement in Kosovo.

Aviation trains on MedEvac procedures with Kosovo Security Forces and Iowa National Guard

Aviation Soldiers conducted MedEvac training with Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) and service members of the Iowa Air National Guard in Pristina, Kosovo, August 11, 2022.

116th IBCT Soldiers train with German partners

Task Force Saint Lo Soldiers assigned to the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team held U.S. Army Colt M4 Carbine service rifle qualifications and M240B service machine gun familiarization for Soldiers of the German Armed Forces on Camp Bondsteel, August 12, 2022.

KFOR multinational partners conduct Freedom of Movement training

RC-East Soldiers conducted Freedom of Movement (FOM) training at Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo, August 12, 2022. During the training, Soldiers from the Swiss, Polish, and Latvian contingents participated in training to provide a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo

Saint Lo Soldiers join community in pilgrimage to the Church of Black Madonna

RC-East Soldiers participated in the Feast of the Assumption pilgrimage ending in Letnica/Letnice, Kosovo, August 15, 2022. During the event, U.S. Soldiers of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division participated in a celebration of the Feast of the Assumption and supported local traditions and beliefs by walking in an eight mile pilgrimage from Vitina/Viti to Letnica/Letnice in eastern Kosovo. The Church of Our Lady of Montenegro (Church of the Black Madonna) has been a site of pilgrimages where people have celebrated the Feast of the Assumption for hundreds of years. The church is known for the Black Madonna statue of Mary holding baby Jesus, which dates back approximately 400 years.

Mountain Warrior Soldiers conduct patrols in north of Kosovo

Mountain Warrior Soldiers conducted presence patrols along primary routes of travel in northern Kosovo, August 16, 2022. The Soldiers, assigned to Charlie Company, @1st Battalion, 149th Infantry, conduct presence patrols in order to maintain freedom of movement along primary routes that service all communities in Kosovo.

Task Force Med trains infant and pediatric care to local women

Soldiers from RC-East’s Task Force MED (547th Medical Company, Area Support) conducted an infant and pediatric CPR and basic life support course for the Kosovo Women for Women organization in Kryshec, Kosovo, August 17, 2022.

Aviation fights fire in Kosovo

The threat of wildfires increases significantly during the dry, hot summers in Kosovo. Luckily, the dedicated, professional aviation teams with RC-East’s 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment of the Virginia Army National Guard, are on hand to provide much-needed aerial firefighting support to local authorities and all communities in Kosovo. Check out the story here to learn more about the efforts of our Task Force Aviation Soldiers.

TF Med trains Austrian and Italian partners on tactical casualty combat care

Soldiers from RC-East’s Task Force MED (547th Medical Company - Area Support, 56th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 62nd Medical Brigade), conducted medical evacuation and surgical intervention training on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, August 18, 2022. Members from the Austrian contingent and the Italian Carabinieri participated in a class designed to train on procedures involving needle thoracostomy, tracheostomy, as well as, how to apply a chest tube on a patient.

Mountain Warrior trains on Unmanned Aerial Systems

U.S. Army Soldier Spc. Vincent Dimercurio (left) and Sgt. Caleb Hall (right), Unmanned Aircraft System operators with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, control a RQ-20 Puma Unmanned Aircraft System in Kosovo on August 20, 2022.

Soldiers from Mountain Warrior, Latvia, and Poland occupy KFOR checkpoints

RC-East Soldiers occupied KFOR checkpoints along primary routes of travel in northern Kosovo, August 22, 2022. Soldiers, assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry, the Republic of Poland, and the Republic of Latvia supported KFOR’s increased presence to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement along primary routes to be able to intervene and respond quickly to any threats of the current security posture for all communities in Kosovo.

KFOR conducts freedom of movement training

KFOR Soldiers from the Austrian, Italian and Swiss contingents and Soldiers from the U.S. medical detachment conduct training to restore freedom of movement throughout all of Kosovo on August 23, 2022 at Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo.

Aviation conducts aerial gunnery range in North Macedonia

Soldiers from Task Force Aviation (2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th CAB, 29th Infantry Division) conducted an aerial gunnery range at Krivolak Military Training Center, North Macedonia, August 25, 2022. During the range, pilots were able to train and stay current on flying helicopters while aerial gunnery operations were being conducted. Crew Chiefs were able to qualify with their weapons while shooting from a moving helicopter.

Kentucky Army National Guard State CSM visit Kosovo

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj., Jesse S. Withers, State Command Sgt. Maj., Kentucky Army National Guard, visited command teams and Soldiers of the KFOR Regional Command-East area of operations, August 24 to August 27, 2022. During the visit, Withers received an operations brief of the RC-East area of operations, met with Soldiers from the 438th Military Police Company, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry "Mountain Warriors" at Camp Bondsteel, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Battalion Headquarters at Camp Novo Selo, and met with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Soldiers at Camp Nothing Hill and out in the field. For all photos of the visit, head over to our Flickr page here.

Task Force Saint Lo celebrates Women's Equality Day

RC-East Soldiers celebrate Women’s Equality Day at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, August 26, 2022. Women’s Equality Day is annually held on August 26 to commemorate the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which gave women the right to vote.

TF Saint Lo Soldiers participate in German Schützenschnur

Task Force Saint Lo Soldiers assigned to KFOR Regional Command-East competed for the German Armed Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency qualifications, also known as the Schützenschnur, hosted by the German contingent of KFOR in Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, August 27, 2022.

Military Working Dog teams conduct bite suit training

RC-East Soldiers conducted bite suit training at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, August 29, 2022. During the training, our Military Working Dog (MWD) team, led by Pfc. Kyle Johnson, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, attached to RC-East's Task Force Military Police, conducted bite suit training with the assistance of Soldiers from the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in order to maintain and enhance MWD skills and stay proficient while conducting force protection on Camp Bondsteel.

29th Infantry Division Commander visits Kosovo

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes, Commander, 29th Infantry Division, Virginia Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Col. Daniel L. Collins, Chief of Staff, 29th Infantry Division, visited Soldiers of KFOR Regional Command-East, August 27 to August 29, 2022. During the visit, Rhodes and Collins met with command teams and Soldiers throughout the RC-E area of operations, and also met with KFOR Chief of Staff, Brig. Gen. John W. Bozicevic. In addition, they received a tour of Task Force Med's and Task Force Aviation's area of operations on Camp Bondsteel, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Battalion Headquarters at Camp Novo Selo, met with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Soldiers at Camp Nothing Hill, and conducted an aerial site tour of Kosovo locations within RC-East.

Task Force Med leads TCCC live-fire exercise in Kosovo

RC-East Soldiers conducted a Live Fire Exercise (LFX) in Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, August 31, 2022. During the exercise, Soldiers from the 547th Medical Company Crusaders, 438th Military Police Company, Austrian Armed Forces, and U.S. Marines, properly identified and engaged enemy assets while also providing care to an injured Soldier, to ensure Soldiers are trained and familiarized with target identification, engagement, and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) while using multiple weapon systems. Watch the training video here.

Meet our Military Working Dog Teams

They say a dog is a man's best friend, but for some, they are also their partners. The Army has military working dogs, or MWDs, that help assist in operations both in the homeland and overseas. Read all about our MWD teams here!

Soldier and NCO of the month

Congratulations to CPL Cicic from the Slovenian Contingent in the Effect Battalion for being selected as the Soldier of the Month, Regional Command - East!
Congratulations to SSG Kerr from Task Force Aviation for being selected as the NCO of the Month, Regional Command - East!

To view all the photos and videos coming out of Kosovo follow us on social media on Facebook @KFORRCEast and Instagram @KFOR.RCE