Photo By Sgt. 1st Class William Prahl | U.S. Army Spc. Brady Verbrugge (R), 831st Engineer Company, Iowa Army National Guard,...... read more read more
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Operating a bulldozer near a simulated Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the hills of the Balkan Penisulua creates quite the contrast compared to working on a job site during an ordinary drill weekend in America’s heartland.
Roughly 20 engineers of the 831st Engineer (ENG) Company out of both Middletown (-) and Johnston (Detachment), Iowa are learning to operate in a new environment with members of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) engineer platoon.
As part of the state partnership program between Iowa and the Republic of Kosovo this engineering endeavor is just one element of the Eagle Six field training exercise (FTX).
Besides the engineers the exercise included search and rescue operations, explosive ordinace disposal, firefighting, medical and humianitarian assistance.
Since March 2011, the Kosovo Security Forces Eagle Exercise is a semi-annual FTX designed to exercise and evaluate capabilities on complex emergency and security situations.
The collaboration offers many learning opportunities and life experiences for both engineering units especially after overcoming a few initial obstacles.
“It was kind of difficult because of the language barrier,” said Army Sgt. Paul Bergmann, acting Squad Leader for the 831st (-) from Grinnell, Iowa. “After that we had a great time. We all got to know each other.”
A series of “icebreaker” sessions were introduced to assist both groups of engineers after the Iowa Army National Guardsmen arrived. These sessions included physical training (PT), group sports and a cultural day culminating with a lunch at the town of Peja known for it’s beautiful waterfalls.
PT, soccer, basketball and volleyball brought both Amercans and Kosovars closer while maintaining a healthy does of competition.
“That was fun,” said KSF Pvt. Zenel Zogu of the Xhenio Engineers. “We played football (soccer) in Pristina with the U.S.A. Army.”
The active duty engineers of the KSF outmatched the Iowa Guardsmen when it came to the athletic competions.
“We all enjoyed it and saw how they did PT compared to how we do PT,” said Bergmann. “They take their physical training pretty serious. They are in great shape. They brought their “A” game.”
One of the many tasks the engineers collaborated on was wire obstacle placement missions, placing concertina wire around the perimeter of their forward operating base (FOB).
Both units’ outstanding work ethics were evident as they labored under the hot sun. However, there were subtle differences between each side’s work philosophy.
“They work hard and don’t take breaks,” said Zogu. “We work hard but take many breaks.”
Bergmann added that the Kosovars work style was different from what he was used to. He is used to getting up and going right to work while the Kosovars are more laid back and have a get it done when they get it done attitude.
The bonds created over the course of the exersice will last well beyond the tents and fortifications they built together.
“It’s been a great experience,” said Bergmann. “Going out and mingling with the locals in the area, seeing the culture and trying their food.”
Many of the U.S. engineers were unaware of just how strong a bond was already in place between America and Kosovo. The NATO alliance with the Republic of Kosovo has endured since the late 1990’s and continues to grow.
“We went to Peja,” said Bergmann. “One of KSF engineers was from this town. We learned a lot of culture and what they all went through. Seeing their history and culture. It opened a lot of people’s eyes.”
Bergmann went on to say it caught him and his team members by surprise by how much shared history the U.S has with Kosovo and how much they love Americans.
At the end of the day, new friendships were formed and memories were made as Soldiers from the 831st ENG Co. worked and lived side-by-side as partners during FTX Eagle 6.
| Date Taken: | 05.11.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.11.2018 05:14 |
| Story ID: | 276639 |
| Location: | PRISTINA, ZZ |
| Hometown: | GRINNELL, IA, US |
| Hometown: | JOHNSTON, IA, US |
| Hometown: | MIDDLETOWN, IA, US |
| Web Views: | 252 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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