Training and Tasks in Kosovo

First Lieutenant Viktor Tabányi, the officer commanding (OC) of the Hungarian infantry company assigned to the multinational KFOR Tactical Reserve Maneuver (KTM) Battalion (who is the leader of the 1st squad of the 3rd company of the HDF 25/88 Airmobile Battalion) is on his third tour of duty with a mission abroad. During the past few weeks the infantry company under the young officer was tasked with operating vehicle checkpoints (VCPs) within the area of responsibility (AOR) of the KTM Battalion, and was assigned various patrol duties.

Furthermore, in the first half of September the personnel of the company supported the execution of the security tasks of the KFOR change of command ceremony by operating observation posts and providing a standby force, as this Hungarian unit currently reports to the commander of KFOR (COM KFOR).

The company places special emphasis on training, the OC told us. For example, last time the nominated personnel of the unit went on the quarterly culmination exercise (CULEX) of the KFOR Crowd and Riot Control (CRC) training program.

1st Lt. Tabányi informed us that he considers close cooperation with the Portuguese contingent a priority in the interest of effective task execution. In his opinion, the Hungarian company has managed to fit well into the structure of the multinational battalion.

(Text and photo: TCL)