Preparation for the Balkan Mission

Szöveg: 1st Lt. Csaba Búz | 2018. december 1. 6:37

The 20th Rotation of the HDF KFOR Contingent (KFOR-20 HUNCON) began its mission rehearsal training in November, in the Hódmezővásárhely garrison of the HDF 5th Bocskai István Infantry Brigade.

Galéria

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Each member of the next rotation of the KFOR Contingent preparing for the mission in the Balkans area of operation (AO) participated in the shooting drills held in the Dóc shooting range. The specific feature of the so-called peacekeeping shooting drill is that the soldiers preparing for the peace-support operations have to "solve" the tasks with weapons, but without killing another human being. In the shooting drill the American soldiers assigned to the Contingent also shot with the weapons in service with the Hungarian Defence Forces.

Following the peacekeeping shooting drills, the KFOR-training continued with the special pre-deployment trainings. A class rating preparation course and an examination were held for the soldiers filling the motor and combat vehicle-driving positions, where the soldiers acquired the effective use of the different technical tools.

At the same time the Contingent’s manoeuvre companies began to practice the Crowd and Riot Control – CRC operations, regarded as one of their most important tasks. The several week-long training sessions began with the practice of the different techniques, and then ended with the real use of the acquired knowledge and skills and the movements in company-level formation. In the formation-drills the peaceful "crowd" gradually became more and more violent. During the task-execution the manoeuvre company had to break themselves through a barricade in order to clear the mob from the designated area. It may occur that an aggressive crowd throws inflammable materials or perhaps Molotov-cocktails on the soldiers, therefore the trainers also lay a great emphasis on overcoming the fire-phobia.

The operation of Kosovo Force – KFOR was launched under the UN Security Council Resolution (1244) in 1999. The soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces constitute part of the international peacekeeping forces under NATO-Command; their task is to maintain public safety and public order. The main mission of the KFOR Tactical Reserve Battalion – KTRBN is to secure free movement in the entire territory of Kosovo, and to conduct presence patrol.