HDF EUFOR Contingent: Beyond the First Half

The EUFOR-9 HUNCON deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in early July. After the transfer of authority procedures, they took over responsibilities and tasks from the personnel of the outgoing contingent in the last days of that month.

The first half was a busy one indeed, as the personnel were almost immediately detailed to participate in an exercise during which the command group of the Austrian-led Multinational Battalion (MNBN) was concerned to find out if the Hungarians were ready to execute their tasks in the area of operations.

Fortunately, this exercise was a success, so the Hungarian peacekeepers had opportunity to receive the MNBN badge from the commander at a ceremonial staff meeting.

Their taskings have not changed, so they have to carry out the same duties as the personnel of earlier rotations, such as providing a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) alert service and maintaining their capability level by conducting continuous training programs. In addition, they are tasked with implementing training programs and preparatory sessions together with the local armed forces.

Lt.-Col. Kiss told us that in the last period the troops of the Hungarian maneuver company took part in battalion-level exercises on a monthly basis, which means their superiors are overseeing their activities all the time to inspect their progress with the training schedule.

Of course, the Hungarian troops also joined the action. The soldiers of the contingent – and the personnel of the Bocskai Brigade in Hungary – have collected a total of nine sacks of clothes and toys, which they presented to the patients in a ceremony.

Speaking about the upcoming tasks for the next weeks and months, he commander of the contingent told us that the soldiers are currently taking their paid leaves, but of course the daily training routine must go on. The troops are expected to prove themselves on another MNBN exercise, after which they are going to start preparing for the end-of-year celebrations.

From mid-January on, another transfer of authority process will start, but this time it will be they who are to hand over their responsibilities to the personnel of the incoming contingent. The key leaders of the EUFOR-10 HUNCON have recently been to Sarajevo to learn about the circumstances and their future duties. The next rotation will be drawn from the personnel of the HDF 12th Arrabona SAM Regiment of Győr.

Photo: EUFOR-9 HUNCON