Three Months Have Passed…
Szöveg: Lt. Rita Dr. Markovics Révészné | 2012. május 22. 14:13The six-month tours of duty in Afghanistan and Kosovo have reached halfway point. To mark this occasion, on Saturday, May 12 the HDF 5th ‘Bocskai István’ Infantry Brigade held a family day in its Kossuth barracks, Debrecen.
Before the departure, the troops deploying with the HUN PRT-12 and KFOR-6 contingents
and their family members had already participated in three similar events – on those
occasions, together. This time the brigade hosted the relatives left behind at home. Edit
Déginé Bulyáki, the Head of the Human Service Office told us that more than 50 people came
to attend the event, including spouses, parents and children. The specialist informed us that
these family programs are always a great success – the follow-up to the present one at the end
of summer will be aimed at preparing those at home for the family members’ much awaited
return home. She pointed out that an increasing number of people take the opportunities
offered by the Human Service, and the staff members say the Office provides unfailing
support and a reliable “home front" for more and more families during deployment abroad.
He talked about the significance of family days and announced the schedule of the day. In
what followed, Lt.-Col. János Somogyi, the commander of the HUN PRT-12 reported from
Afghanistan via the computer network used for videoconferences. The commander thanked
the family members for coming, telling them that the soldiers under him are well-trained,
disciplined and do a very effective job. “We have a lot of tasks but nothing we do is routine. I
don’t send my soldiers to places where I myself would be reluctant to go", the commander of
the contingent said. He is very proud his cohesive team, which has a high morale.
Lt.-Col. András Polyák welcomed the next of kin of the KFOR-6 HUN CON. “Although it is
difficult for us to get used to the absence of our loved ones, we can find some relief in being
able to contact them via the internet and in our good MWR facilities. The members of our
contingent perform their duties with discipline to the best of their ability, so we have earned
recognition from the troops of other nations. We have good relations with the local people
and, as far as I can tell, the civil society accepts the presence of the KFOR contingent."
In his report, 1st Lt. István Rácz, the field chaplain of the KFOR-6 HUN CON said that they
organize various free-time programs and excursions to the extent the security situation allows,
and many soldiers use the services of the library, which has a holding of 1,100 books. The
Greek Catholic priest emphasized that they have very good relations with the Portuguese
contingent: they organize joint sporting events and jointly attend the Holy Mass in the chapel
of the camp on Sundays.
While the adults were receiving useful information, the children were having a good time,
being absorbed in various activities under the supervision of the staff members from the
Human Service Office. There were a bouncy castle and a lot of skill games going on inside
the sports hall where the creative ones had opportunity to make small gifts during handicraft
practices.
