CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - Senior Kosovo Forces (KFOR) noncommissioned officers from across Kosovo met at Camp Bondsteel April 27 for the monthly Command Sergeants Major meeting.
Command Sgt. Maj. Jack Cripe, Multinational Battle Group East's top enlisted Soldier, hosted the event. KFOR Command Sgt. Maj. Martin Kahl, of the German Army, was the senior Soldier in attendance.
Kahl said the meetings help KFOR's top enlisted Soldiers develop relationships with each other.
"It's a good opportunity to talk with senior NCOs from all the battle groups," said Kahl.
About 40 senior NCOs representing France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Portugal and the United States took part in the daylong event. The NCOs had a morning meeting to get reacquainted with each other, pose for a group photo, observe a demonstration by Camp Bondsteel's K9 dog handler team and conduct weapons-firing scenarios on the Small Arms Virtual Trainer (SAVT).
"It's important to share information between battle groups and to observe different training events conducted by the battle groups," said Cripe.
To start the day, Kahl presented certificates and coins to five MNBG E Soldiers who were nominated by their commands for special recognition. The honored Soldiers were Sgt. Heather Barta, Minot, N.D., of the Regional Liaison Monitoring Team; Spc. Joshua Dietz, Buffalo, N.D., of the U.S. Maneuver Company; Sgt. Joshua Dodds, Leeds, N.D., of the 116th Public Affairs Detachment; Sgt. Richard Soto, Phoenix, Ariz., of the 160th Finance Detachment; and Spc. Patrick Stine, Crete, Ill., of the 847th Human Resources Co. (Postal). A sixth Soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Arnold Gulka, Valley City, N.D., of the MNBG E logistics section, was also recognized but was not able to attend.
"The recognition of six of our Soldiers for outstanding achievement was a great addition to the meeting," said Cripe.
After the presentation, Col. Robert Fode, Deputy Commander - Maneuver for MNBG E, spoke to the senior NCOs about the future of Camp Bondsteel and MNBG E. Fode stressed that MNBG E was working to make its headquarters "more multinational" as it moved forward. He said his new Deputy, Maj. Andrzej Glowacki, of Poland, was an example of this trend.
"It's always amazed me when I look at your headquarters to see all the multinational partners," said Fode. "Our headquarters is currently transitioning and will have representatives from Greece, Poland, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine on the staff."
"It was a good meeting and it was very interesting to see the training with the dogs and the weapons simulator," said Kahl. "It was a very good program."
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