Photo By Master Sgt. Thomas Duval | Soldiers and senior leaders from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry...... read more read more
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Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo – There are more than 4,500 troops, from various countries, participating in the NATO-led mission in Kosovo and out of those 4,500 there are more than 280 National Guard Soldiers supporting the Kosovo Force 21 mission. However, National Guard Soldiers taking the lead in the Multinational Battle Group-East isn’t a first for the Kosovo mission, with the previous headquarters leading Multinational Battle Group-East being a National Guard unit out of North Carolina.
The National Guard might be taking the lead of the MNBG-E but the guard units have been activating to support the Kosovo mission and U.S. Army Europe for years.
“National Guard has been involved in Europe since 1993 with the state partnership program…..The National Guard has had a relationship with many of these countries, especially in Eastern Europe, for well over 20 years,” said Maj. Gen. John Gronski, U.S. Army Europe, deputy commanding general, Army National Guard.
The role of National Guard Soldiers in Kosovo Force is significant as the United States Army continues to downsize to its lowest active duty numbers.
For more than 15 years, the National Guard units have been integrated with active duty units. National Guard units like 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, from Washington, Pa., are an example of how well National Guard units are doing leading full time active duty units.
The 2nd IBCT, 28th ID is leading the peace support mission in Kosovo and is in command of an active duty infantry battalion, military police detachment, explosive ordnance detachment , a public affairs detachment and multinational partners from across five nations.
Not only is 2nd IBCT, 28th ID in command of active components but the brigade is also leading multinational partners in the Kosovo peace support mission.
“The multinational battle group is the perfect mission to exercise this type of operation due to the civilian experience brought to the table by the Army National Guard,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Hileman, multinational battle group-east command sgt. maj. “This experience is a force multiplier because of the unconventional nature of peace support operations.”
Kosovo Force is a United States Army Europe (USAEUR) mission. Overall, the role that the National Guard plays in USAEUR’s mission is a great one that ensures USAEUR’s role in its land force capability.
“I think with the National Guard doing the mission in Kosovo it is very significant,” said Gronski. ”It is a great opportunity, it gives the National Guard Soldiers a chance to work with our multinational allies, partners and working with the active component. So, it’s all about building the total force and building relations with our allies and partners.”
With future deployments on the horizon for National Guard Soldiers, it might not be a surprise to some that the next unit to lead the Multinational Battle Group-East is a National Guard, this time a unit out of Ohio.
“The National Guard force is operational force component, not a strategic. With the active duty drawing down on their numbers the National Guard and Reserves will be more and more important,” said Gronski.
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2016 09:14 |
| Story ID: | 200199 |
| Location: | CAMP BONDSTEEL , ZZ |
| Hometown: | PITTSBURGH, PA, US |
| Hometown: | WASHINGTON, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 850 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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