Well-Earned Rest Waiting For Them

The troops of the Afghan Election Security Platoon (AVBSZ) arrived to Baghlan province on July 16, to join the HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HDF PRT) for the period of the Afghan presidential elections and to take part in ensuring the security of the elections. Their stay abroad has become a bit longer than it the original plan because the first round of the elections did not produce results, therefore they had to stay until the planned date – November 7 – of the second round. The voting was cancelled only in the last moment by the Afghan Independent Election Committee.

The platoon arrived to the operational area in the summer, when the sixth rotation of the HDF PRT was on duty, and they were working in close cooperation with the guard and security company of the Reconstruction Team. The troops of the HDF PRT-6 were a great help in their integration and understanding the local conditions, and the two contingent participated together in the successful organization of the first round of the presidential elections.

Following the August elections, the ABVSZ played an important role in the September personnel rotation of the HDF PRT as well. In the period of transition, they represented permanence. They transferred their experiences and local knowledge gained earlier to the new rotation, and helped them to start their work. During their four months of foreign service, the soldiers of the reinforcement platoon had, beyond their tasks related to the elections, other assignments as well. They were basically working as one of the platoons of the guard and security company, and just like every other soldier in the company, they were also given a role in guarding and protecting the camp, patolling, and escorting individuals and consignments.

Now there is a well-earned rest waiting for them and they will have an opportunity to spend a longer period with their loved ones. And in the future, probably a lot of them will return to Camp Pannonia in the next rotations of the Reconstruction Team. The HDF 5th ‘István Bocskai’ Infantry Brigade counts on the troops’ further service in missions, and counts on them to make good use of their knowledge and experiences gained in the operational area in Afghanistan, and continue to contribute to the efficient operation of the PRT.