Afghan National Security Forces, Hungarian Special Operations Forces , and Coalition Forces: shoulder to shoulder

U.S. Special Operations Command Europe
Story by Maj. Joel Anderson

Date: 12.07.2012
Posted: 12.07.2012 06:27
News ID: 98910

KABUL, Afghanistan – Soldiers from the Hungarian Army’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) arrived here recently to assume responsibility for operations in eastern Afghanistan.

The specially-trained Hungarian soldiers will work with a multi-national, SOF Task Force, with whom they have previously served here in Regional Command East (RC-E).

The mission of the Hungarians will be to assist their coalition partners by delivering sustainable and transferrable capabilities through provincially-based Special Police. SPUs specialize in civil order security and high-risk arrests, and partner with the International Security Assistance Forces Special Operations Forces (ISAF SOF) for training and operations.

Hungarian SOF has been assisting in this mission for almost the entire five years that the task force, has been in existence.
Like most of ISAF SOF, Hungarian SOF members conduct six-month rotations to Afghanistan. This rotation marks their eleventh rotation.

“I would like to let everyone know that we are extremely proud to serve here, we are especially proud to assist with training and operate with ANSF ,” said Col. Tamas Sandor. “We have been here before many times and we work well with our partners, both ANSF and from the Coalition,” Sandor said.

Sandor also explained that his fellow citizens back home in Hungary are very supportive of his unit’s presence here in Afghanistan, as well as this mission overall.

A major part of SOF efforts in training the SPUs is to develop capacity for future, sustainable tactics and inter-ANSF collaboration, Sandor went on to explain.

Hungarian SOF and their coalition partners will continue to train and mentor ANSF units in the months ahead to ensure the Afghan people and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan are ready to independently face the security challenges of the future.