BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, October 4, 2015--A ceremony was held to transfer authority from Czech 4th Force Protection Company to Czech 5th Force Protection Company.
The 4th Force Protection Company is predominantly made up of the 42nd Mechanized Battalion located in Tabor, the southern part of the Czech Republic. Since April, the Company has served as members of Task Force Solid. Its main efforts were to establish a secure environment in the Bagram Ground Defense Area (BGDA) by conducting indirect fire patrols, deliberate operations, air assault operations, and escorts.
"To the Soldiers of the 4th Force Protection Company, well done," Lt. Col. Zachary Miller, TF Solid commander, said. "The hundreds of patrols, covering thousands of kilometers, and countless engagements with the people of Afghanistan have truly made a difference. I strongly believe that when we look back at this period of Bagram's history years from now, your tour of duty will be the gold standard against which Resolute Support forces are measured."
The battalion's history began with the establishment of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Tank Brigade in the Soviet Union in 1944. That year, it fought in the Battle of the Dukla Pass, at the Poland -- Slovakia border, on the eastern front of World War II between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. The 42nd Mechanized Battalion has participated in many NATO operations, with soldiers deployed in Balkan countries and Afghanistan.
"At the beginning of April I promised to do our best to protect the base and the people in it," Capt. Marek Jerabek, 4th Force Protection Company commander, said. "I hope I have kept my word and the work we've done here is appreciated. Thank you for the confidence you have put in us, and for your help. We are proud to be deployed under TF Solid's command and we greatly appreciate your support."
The 5th Force Protection Company was established from the 71st Mechanized Battalion out of Hranice, within the eastern part of the Czech Republic. Its history traces units in Great Britain, USSR, and France during WWII.
Col. David Schnabel, Czech Headquarters commander, welcomed members of the 5th Force Protection Company, and thanked the 4th Force Protection Company for its discipline, pride, professionalism, and work ethic. He also highlighted its hundreds of hours of patrols in harsh climate conditions.
"To the Soldiers of the 4th Force Protection Company, you have come a long way," Col. David Schnabel, Czech Headquarters commander, said. "You are at the very end of one of the most difficult deployments in the history of the Czech army. You have driven and walked hundreds of kilometers, spent hours planning and preparing. And, in doing so, you helped countless people and built trust in the heads and hearts of the people of Afghanistan. You have succeeded in your mission."
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