Instructors to Depart for Afghanistan

The members of the upcoming ninth rotation of Resolute Support Mission (RSM) are going to depart for their tour of duty abroad in a couple of days. The soldiers who assume individual advisory positions in Afghanistan were bidden farewell by their colleagues and friends at the Szolnok helicopter base.

“The experience gained in the last years has shown that your work is needed there indeed", this was how Col. Bali said goodbye to the members of the group. In his speech, the vice-commander of the helicopter base emphasized that although this time the ninth rotation has conducted pre-deployment training for the Resolute Support Mission, to the aircrews and ground crews of the unit, this one is already the 25th tour of duty in Afghanistan in seven years. At first, they performed mentoring tasks deploying in eight rotations and flying Mi-35 helicopters, and then, throughout another eight tours of duty, they were training the Afghan aircrews flying Mi-17s. “Perform your duties with honor, always do your best in a professional way, earn further reputation for Hungary and the Hungarian Defence Forces! Take care of yourself and your comrades, and help each other in your work! Return home safe and sound!" – this is how Col. Bali said farewell to his colleagues.

Maj. Gábor Oláh, the commander of the group told us that they will be partnering their Croatian and Czech colleagues to perform their core task, which is to support the daily work of the aircrews and ground crews of the Afghan air force, and help them in carrying out their service duties.

Besides the representatives of military organizations stationed in the garrison, Sándor Kovács, President of the General Assembly of Jász-Nagykun Szolnok County also attended the farewell ceremony at the helicopter base.

Photos by the author