Q and A with Regional Command - East Leadership
Maj. Anthony Cosentino, Executive Officer, Task Force Ransom
1. Why did you join the Army?
I wanted to join the Army since I was a child before I knew of anything else that I could do and I followed my dream and made it happen. I have come from a family of service members. Mainly hearing stories from my grandfather and my Great Uncle from WWII instilled that patriotism and sense of duty in myself.
2. You can meet one person in history: who is it and why?
Really just my Great Great Grandfather on my father's side. We cannot figure out his side of the family through genealogy since the family came over from Italy in the early 1900s. It's a mystery.
3. What is the most challenging part of this deployment for you?
Of Course being away from my family is a guaranteed challenge, but professionally it was coming into a mission not necessarily trained conventionally for from the school house and preparing the Staff and Soldiers for a non-traditional mission was quite the challenge.
4. Why did you pick armor as your branch?
Tanks are awesome! I wanted to be a tanker since I was a child. My Great Uncle was in Patton's 3rd Army as a Tanker in WWII and he created a desire for the branch. Granted I have not been on a tank since Armor School, but I learned to love the Cavalry and its long history and heritage.
5. You have a completely free day in the summer or winter - what are you doing?
Definitely the summer I hibernate in the winter. I will typically try to get to the lake, maybe try to golf (Not well) or make my way to the Saratoga Race Track and enjoy a day at the races.
6. Tell me about one moment/person/situation that has significantly impacted your military career.
I was an Executive Officer and Company Commander of a Warrior Transition Unit. I had the honor to manage the care of terminally ill Soldiers. I had to watch these brave Soldiers fight for their own lives, and most successfully won those fights off the battlefield, but unfortunately some did not. Those were some of the harder parts of my career. I was able to see both sides of War from creating those Wounds, Injuries or Illnesses to managing the care for them. Those Soldiers I think of daily and I continue to serve in honor of them and what they stand for.
We want to ask YOUR questions - if you have a question you'd like to ask RC-E leadership please send them to KFOR29.PAD@gmail.com.
SERE Training with the MANEUVER BATTALION
Soldiers with the Maneuver Battalion learned wilderness survival techniques and practiced skills to include fire and shelter construction during the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training hosted by the Polish KFOR contingent. The training allowed Polish soldiers to share expertise and promote relations with service members of 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment (Mountain).
MULTINATIONAL SOCCER TOURNAMENT
U.S. Army and multinational soldiers from Regional Command - East participated in an indoor soccer tournament hosted by the Command and Control node at Camp Novo Selo on Jan. 8, 2022. Great Britain's Royal Lancers won third place while athletes representing base contractors achieved second. Soldiers from the Polish Contingent, KFOR RC-E won first place. The event brings together military forces with installation leaders and contractors.
Chaplain (Maj.) Eric Stuepfert, Regional Command - East, welcomed Mr. Flori Zevi, Jewish Diplomat for World Jewish Congress, to come speak about his work, faith and the experience of Jewish people in Kosovo. Mr. Zevi is an engineer in addition to being part of the World Jewish Congress for the Jewish Diplomatic Corps of Kosovo, and he works to enhance relations between Kosovo and the Jewish and Israeli communities.
OPERATION ALPINE SWARM
Soldiers from Regional Command – East conduct Operations Alpine Swarm, an air insertion training exercise in the vicinity of Babaj Boks Training Area and Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, December 21, 2021.The exercise provided staff and Soldiers in RC-E the opportunity to plan and execute the capability to kinetically enforce a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement.
Check out the culminating video of the exercise here!
DANCON
Soldiers of Regional Command East competed in the "DANCON March," organized by the Danish contingent. The challenge allowed Soldiers to build camaraderie amongst the multinational force that is KFOR, and the opportunity to support Danish veterans. Soldiers were required to carry a ruck sack with a minimum of 22 pounds for 15 miles.
MILITARY POLICE RECOGNIZED
Soldiers from the 29th Military Police Company, Maryland Army National Guard, stationed at Camp Bondsteel, received patches and certificates after successfully completing the Swiss Police Institute Fire Arms Qualification Course. The following Soldiers were recognized for this accomplishment.
SSG Prinsen, Kirk
SGT West, Charles
SGT Asare, Kingsley
SGT Porter, Collin
SPC Downing, Thomas
SPC Jenson, Brandon
SPC Saltzman, Noah
SFC Contreras, Gerardo
FLAG FEATURE - POLAND
Whose flag is this, you ask? You're looking at the flag of Poland!
Donning a white stripe over a red strip of equal width, and at times with a white eagle wearing a gold crown cast over a red shield in the middle of the white stripe, the Flag of the Republic of Poland was first officially adopted in 1919.
The history of the Polish flag/banner probably goes back as far as the 10th century, but possibly even before. One of the first mentions of the Polish banner emblazoned with the sign of an eagle was found in writings from 1182. Found in Wincenty Kadlubek's 'Chronicle,' the Polish fought the Ruthenians "...under the sign of the victorious eagle..." The white color represents hope for peace by all people of Poland, and the red symbolizes the many struggles for freedom over the centuries.
The flag of Poland flies with and without the national coat of arms. The flag flies without the coat of arms on top or in front of official buildings. The flag with the coat of arms is legally restricted in Poland, and is typically only flown on missions or locations abroad, airports and airplanes, seaports and as a merchant flag at sea. In actual practice, the flags are flown interchangeably.
The Polish flag has a rich history. Where does the white eagle come from? One interesting story tells of three Slavic chieftains migrating west during the mid-10th century A.D. They came to rest when one of the brothers, Lech, spotted the white eagle launching from the nest in the crown of the tree against the red background of the sky at sunset. Moved by the sight, Lec made the decision to settle in the area and called the settlement "Gneizno" or, the nest. A story of course, but a fun one! The first documented image of the eagle appears on the Denar Eagle Coin from around the year 1025.
Soldier and nco of the month - DECEMBER
Congratulations to Soldier of the Month SPC Caleb Brisard and NCO of the Month SSG Kristopher Acevedo!
SOLDIer Spotlight
Here's SPC Zachary Bryant! Our Soldier Spotlight for January! SPC Bryant is from Brookhaven, Mississippi, and is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Squadron (Mountain). He is the Religious Affairs NCO for Task Force Ransom and providing Soldier support to the several hundred Cavalry Soldiers deployed between Camp Novo Selo and Camp Nothing Hill.