At the End of the Mission…

Szöveg: Ltc Loretta Tömbölné Czirfusz | 2012. február 25. 17:34

In the evening of February 16, Thursday there was a sense of farewell in Camp Slim Lines, Pristina, Kosovo. The Hungarians were busy packing and preparing, as the 2nd group of the fifth rotation of the HDF KFOR Contingent, having completed its mission abroad, was to return home to Hungary next day.

That evening the commander of the KFOR TACRES Battalion, Lt.-Col. Paulo Marques said farewell at a dinner to the troops of the fifth rotation led by Lt.-Col. Miklós Tajti. The Portuguese lieutenant-colonel thanked the Hungarian peacekeepers for their work done in the area of operation. He added that he had been happy to work together with the Hungarians, knowing well that during the last six months the soldiers of the two nations became very good friends. The commander concluded his speech by wishing those returning home a good journey, and he also wished those staying until the end of February determination in their work during the remaining days.

After the luncheon on Friday, February 17, Lt.-Col. Tajti held the last parade for the contingent, said farewell to the personnel, and then the march column started off. While travelling to the airport, the soldiers took a last glance from the bus at Camp Slim Lines, the place that had been the scene of so many significant events and tasks over the last six months of their life.

No sooner did the airplane for Budapest take off from the tarmac of Pristina than another one landed, carrying the commander and the first group of the sixth rotation to the area of operations. Lt.-Col. András Polyák, the new commander of the contingent came from the HDF 5th ‘Bocskai István’ Infantry Brigade of Debrecen to the Balkans Joint Area of Operations to relieve the outgoing commander on February 26.

As a result of the thorough preparations, the persons in charge started immediately to distribute to the new arrivals their areas of accommodation and the documents to be used in the area of operations. The new rotation was divided into small groups and was briefed on workplace safety and accident prevention rules and also on the general orders regulating life in the camp.

“Our soldiers did not stop working on Saturday and Sunday, as they have to hand over the tasks to the next rotation, together with all the equipment, logistic materiel and property books related to the operation of the contingent. This period is a big challenge in the life of the contingent because we beyond all that, we have to execute our daily tasks too. I am proud of the personnel because everything is going according to schedule", Lt.-Col. Miklós Tajti said.