Tuesday June 24, 2014
What is it?
The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is composed of approximately 5,000 troops from 31 contributing nations supporting the NATO-led peace enforcement mission to provide a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all Kosovo citizens as mandated by U.N. Security council Resolution 1244. Currently, more than 700 U.S. troops support Multinational Battle Group-East (MNBG-East) and provide highly mobile, flexible and rapidly deployable company-sized elements to respond to potential trouble spots in Kosovo.
What has the Army done?
The Army relies upon its reserve component force, as an operational reserve, to help fulfill the requirements of combatant commanders throughout the world. The RC (mostly Army National Guard) has played a critical role in sourcing the U.S. troop rotation requirements for KFOR for almost 14 years.
First Army serves as Force’s Command’s executing agent for training and mobilizing RC units to support the nine-month KFOR deployment rotations.
Skilled observer coach/trainers from First Army Division West are responsible for providing the collective training support to mobilizing RC KFOR units at Fort Hood, Texas.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?
First Army is committed to providing deploying RC KFOR Soldiers with relevant, realistic and mission-focused training including peace support, conflict prevention, peacemaking, peace enforcement, peace keeping, peace building and humanitarian operations.
First Army trainers continually review lessons learned from redeploying RC KFOR unit leaders to adapt training scenarios and processes to better replicate conditions within the operational environment from company to division staff level.
Why is this important to the Army?
Reserve component forces comprise more than half of the Army’s total force and will continue to provide Soldiers in support of KFOR mission for the foreseeable future. First Army will continue to adapt its training regimen to the needs of KFOR commanders.
Resources:
Subscribe to STAND-TO! to learn about the U.S. Army initiatives.