Needed Like Air
Szöveg: WO József Csajbók | 2015. április 13. 7:52“Some think it is hackneyed to say that »logistic is like air because we notice it only when it is absent«. Still, this saying is very much true.”, Lt. Gábor Asztalos, the deputy commander of the logistic company of the Hungarian–Portuguese KFOR Tactical Reserve Maneuver Battalion (KTM) told us when we asked him about logistic support.
Basically, the camp is run by the Portuguese, they are responsible for the operation of the camp. In fact, logistic support is a subsystem of Combat Service Support (CSS), and covers the whole spectrum of tasks related to planning and organizing the movement and sustainability of military organizations.
What are the Hungarian soldiers’ tasks?
If needed, they manage transportation, issue materiel; if needed, they repair equipment, work in storehouses, cook meals – so “logistics" is the answer to the words “if needed". Let me give you some figures that may help understand this answer to the “if needed": driving thousands of kilometers every week, moving several tons of materiel, more than 60 repairs completed, more than 100 instances of refueling, and the preparation/distribution of close to 8,000 meals. Besides the staff of the managing company, three Hungarian cooks serve in the kitchen of the camp, and they always try to cook the meals in a more Hungarian way. The mechanics’ job in the workshop is not any easier, as they always have a lot of work to do. Periodic maintenance of the pieces of equipment is very important because it can significantly extend their life cycle.
Speaking about repair and maintenance, can you tell us how procurement works?
Here in Kosovo, we can acquire some of the materials and services needed for the day-to-day operation of the camp, but some are transported from Hungary to the contingent. We always have to carefully plan and prepare the shipment of materiel from/to Hungary because transportation is not available every day.
What is the relationship like between the Portuguese and the Hungarian logisticians?
We are in an international environment. Everybody has to bear great responsibility here, not only the military logisticians but all Hungarian soldiers serving in the camp. So far we have not encountered any unsolvable logistic problems, as everybody immediately starts to look for the solution, whatever the tasking is. The Portuguese partners are fully cooperative and maximally helpful. The writing on the board placed at the gate of the camp – “Two nations, one force" – truly reflects the relationship between the two nations.
Photos by the author
