We have recently surpassed the 200-day mark of this

deployment, an event marked by a BBQ attended by

members of the Liaison and Monitoring Teams (LMT),

which included Soldiers from five nations and seven states.

As I attended this celebration I took time to think about what

we have accomplished here so far.

We have eight L.M.T. that cover 11 municipalities. There

are 48 Sub Teams, covering in excess of 125 villages. We

have conducted just over

3,000 patrols.

The Soldiers of the LMT

meet with local people

ranging from municipal

mayors to primary school

teachers, municipal

assembly members to

the KeK representative,

small shopkeepers to the

owners of rock quarries

and cement factories. We

try to engage the local

populous to primarily

identify potential threats to a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement

and mitigate the events that could lead to such. However, as

we have had minimal SASE and FOM issues we have been

trying to facilitate a link between the Institutions in Kosovo,

Non Governmental Organizations and the local populous to

address issues perceived by the people in Kosovo.

In addition, several teams have been teaching English in

the local schools. Lately we have also incorporated student

teachers from Pristina into these classes to serve as the

continuity of effort if KFOR 13 chooses not to continue the

program. We also have several firefighters from N.D. who

have been working with the local fire departments to conduct

training and try and fix some of their equipment. Several of

our traditional mechanics have also pitched in with regard to

the latter. We have Soldiers working with a local wrestling

team as volunteer coaches.

The diversity of the LMT Soldiers has facilitated success

during this deployment. Coupled with the multinational

make up of the teams, we have a great dynamic for gaining

and maintaining rapport and have established many fruitful

relationships.

It has been a true pleasure and honor for me to serve as the

LMT Commander for the past two years. The Soldiers of the

LMT are dedicated, mission-focused and true professionals.

The goal of our team has been to leave Kosovo in a better

state than when we arrived, to this point I believe we are on

target.