KFOR Monthly Military Police Meeting Shows a United Force

Photo By Sgt. Lynnwood Thomas | Military Police members of KFOR 26’s Multinational Battle Group East and West, the International Military Police and the Multinational Specialized Unit stand together after a K-9 demonstration on Camp Bondsteel, July 25, 2019. The MP units came together for a monthly meeting intended to disseminate information and build camaraderie. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Lynnwood Thomas, 40th Public Affairs Detachment)  

CAMP BONDSTEEL, KOSOVO

07.25.2019

Story by Pfc. Lynnwood Thomas 

40th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – Military Police Soldiers of Multinational Battle Groups East and West, the International Military Police and the Multinational Specialized Unit attended a joint military police meeting on Camp Bondsteel July 25.
This is the second time the MP units have come together since KFOR Provost Marshal Lt. Col. Stephan Theimer, Swiss Armed Forces, reinstated the meetings in June. The meeting rotates from base to base monthly and serves as a way to strengthen ties among each MP unit.
The MPs convened at the Camp Bondsteel Provost Marshal’s Office to introduce themselves. Theimer and MNBG-E Provost Marshal, U.S. Army Maj. Matthew Zilinski provided briefs concerning current events, and plans for future training and missions.
“The idea of this meeting is to give the information of the provost marshal, information from the chain of command on the level of the COM KFOR and also to increase our team spirit and to get to know each other,” Theimer said. “We have newcomers and people going out of the theater, so it’s exactly the right moment to share and exchange best practices with each other.”
The meeting continued with a demonstration from the MNBG-E Task Force MP K9 handlers. The handlers displayed the working dogs’ ability to detect explosives, obedience drills and attack maneuvers.
Following the demonstration, the MPs discussed upcoming joint trainings that will begin as early as next week.
The meeting brought together MPs from the United States, Italy, Slovenia, Poland, Austria and Switzerland.
“I think the number one aspect of significance is building our relationship with the other units and getting the chance to see that we are both trained and competent,” MNBG-E Deputy Provost Marshal, 1st Lt. Sarah Baermann, said. “This is how we can work together and build our cohesion and relationship between the multinational battle groups.”
To end their meeting, the MPs shared a meal together as they compared notes and shared stories with one another.
“I really feel the spirit of the military police -- a highly motivated troop ready to support the force as a combat element, but also ready to enforce the regulations of the KFOR,” Theimer said. “It’s really a mission accomplished, because I see people chatting together, I see a lot of smiles and I’m sure that if it comes to crisis or reaction from our side, we are ready to combat together or support the troops together.”
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• Date Taken: 07.25.2019
• Date Posted: 07.26.2019 08:30
• Story ID: 333141
• Location: CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ