Deserved Medals

Four Hungarian troops of the first OMLT (Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team) recently received a special recognition: US Ambassador Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis and Defense Attaché Col. Robert W. Duggleby presented LTC Zsolt Molnár and Capt. Miklós Oláh with the Army Commendation Medal, while Maj. Károly Varga and SFC Tibor Rozsovics with the Army Achievement Medal. OMLTs operate in Afghanistan as parts of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), They are in charge of training and mentoring the personnel of the Afghan National Army (ANA). The US service members of the HungarianAmerican team are drawn from the personnel of the Ohio National Guard. In the framework of the State Partnership Program, the state of Ohio has long-standing and excellent relations with Hungary. The members of the OMLT go on a one-year tour of duty together, during which Hungarian and US troops manage to form a really cohesive team. The first Hungarian OMLT deployed in 2009.

LTC Zsolt Molnár received the Army Commendation Medal for his support and operational assistance in the ISAF area of operations in Afghanistan. “Two officers, one NCO and myself have the honor to receive these medals from the US Ambassador and the Defense Attaché in recognition of our efforts in the OMLT," the commanding officer of the HDF Ludovika Battalion told us. Although there are a few Hungarian soldiers who have also received similar recognitions, it is not typical that the United States decorates troops of foreign militaries with these medals  soldiers have to deserve them. In close cooperation with the US forces, the four Hungarian service members participated in the training of 600 Afghan troops and executed special tasks and conducted operations with them. “On a personal level, this medal is hugely important to me," said Zsolt Molnár. “The Hungarian armed forces have also recognized my work more than once, but this recognition is a tribute to Hungary, my officer colleagues, and to the efficiency of the Hungarian training system. In fact it is the Hungarian Defence Forces that have received this medal."
LTC Molnár said they had faced many challenges during the months they had spent on their tour of duty with the OMLT in Afghanistan, but also learnt a lot of positive lessons. "For me this mission was a real military assignment. I urge everyone to try to carry out such a task and earn a similar recognition, for they have the opportunity to do that."

Photo: Attila Németh / US Embassy