As the sun lowered and cast its evening light on Kandahar Airfield, the Slovak flag was lowered during a ceremony on their compound marking the end of their mission in Regional Command-South, Sept. 22, 2014.
The Slovak's mission was two-fold: advising an Afghan army kandak, a battalion-sized element, and base defense. The Slovaks also guarded entry control points where vehicles and visitors were searched as they entered and left KAF.
"In manning the entry control points of KAF, you have verified nearly 22,000 pedestrians and over 6,000 vehicles in the past three months," said Maj. Gen. Michael Bills, RC-South and 1st Cavalry Division commanding general. "Your team's mission has been vital to KAF's success and I cannot thank you enough for your service and your sacrifice."
The Slovaks formed the 2nd Mobile Strike Force, Security Force Advisory Team, and advised the 4th Kandak, 2nd MSF, Afghan National Army, also known as the 4/2. The Afghan MSF is a unique fighting force that is relatively new to RC-South, and is designed to rapidly deploy wherever they are needed to provide security in Afghanistan.
"There's only two MSF's in Afghanistan. The first is based in Kabul, and the second is based down here in Kandahar. It's a very young battalion that was formed earlier this year in January," said Lt. Col. William Voorhies, a native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who worked side by side with the Slovaks.
A lot of resources have been put into the formation of the 4/2 MSF and, "the Slovaks were assigned to them to help establish them as a fighting force," added Voorhies, commander of 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Inf. Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., also known as the Red Warriors.
During the Slovak's six-month deployment, they grew fond of their American partners. Through working closely together, both elements were complimentary to each other's missions of keeping KAF safe and bringing the 4/2 up to a high readiness standard.
"I'm proud to have worked with these guys, and I'm sad to see them go," Voorhies said.
"During my military career I have had a lot of colleagues, but only a handful of friends. I would like to call all of the Soldiers of the Red Warriors my friends," said Lt. Lt. Col. Peter Michlík, a native of Levoča, Slovakia, who served as commander of the Slovak Army SFAT. "Thank you for supporting us in our mission. God bless the Red Warriors, and God bless America."
"As you begin to head back to Slovakia walk with pride knowing that you were successful here, very successful," Bills said in his closing remarks.
Social Sharing