Site Survey in Sarajevo

Szöveg: 1st Lt. Ferenc Szabó | 2014. március 3. 9:00

Although it has been just a month since the 14th rotation of the HDF EUFOR Contingent started its tour of duty in Sarajevo, the commanders of the next rotation have already conducted the first site survey in the area of operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and at Camp Butmir.

The pre-deployment training for the 15th rotation (mainly drawn from the HDF 5th ‘Bocskai István’ Infantry Brigade) is about to commence in Hungary, so the future commanders were required to gain experience in the area of operations.

Accompanied by his future deputies and the commander of the infantry company, Lt.-Col. Zsolt Vantal, the designated commander of the 15th rotation arrived in Camp Butmir to conduct a four-day site survey there between February 17 and 21, and to learn about the characteristics of peacekeeping tasks on the scene.

The commanders of the 15th rotation conducted a four-day site survey in Camp Butmir

Representatives were also present from the co-organizers of the journey, the HDF JFC Operations Control Directorate and the Land Forces Operations and Training Directorate. The survey team was received by Lt.-Col. Péter Somogyi, the commander of the Hungarian contingent currently serving in Sarajevo. The guests were given an insight into the working and living conditions of the contingent. During the visit, they met the senior national representatives – Brig.-Gen. József Szpisják, who is going to complete his one-year tour of duty soon, and his successor to the post, Brig.-Gen. András Szücs, who will assume the EUFOR chief of staff position.

At the meeting, the participants discussed the current tasks and working order of EUFOR, the Multinational Battalion (MNBN) and the contingent, and the everyday life in the mission. They learned about the daily tasks of the infantry company and the support element, the job of the infantry company which carries out force protection duties in the camp, and were given insight into the workings of the local communication and information systems (CIS) as well as the work of the special field of operations. They familiarized themselves with the workings of the special MOS system of responsibilities and the workflow of logistic supply. They also visited a workshop where the motor vehicles of the contingent are maintained and repaired on site.