CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – In the time it takes to unlock a phone, millions of emails, texts and social media posts are sent around the world. Information moves faster than ever, and in military operations, speed and accuracy can mean the difference between success and failure.
In today’s fast-paced information environment, success in peacekeeping operations relies on more than just boots on the ground. For Kosovo Force (KFOR) Regional Command-East (RC-E), two critical sections working mostly behind the scenes to ensure operational success, S-2 Intelligence and S-6 Communications. Their efforts ensure information is gathered, protected, and shared fast enough to keep every mission effective.
The NATO-led KFOR mission aims to provide a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo. While patrols and public engagements often represent the most visible aspect of the mission, the S-2 and S-6 are critical components to the overall success of an operation.
“On the ground, customer service is important to us. We ensure the units have the equipment that they need at all times,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Tiffani Byrd, S-6 Communications Information Systems non-commissioned officer under the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). “For us, it's ensuring the unit's computer networks and radios are operable and secured.”
Communication security, also known as COMSEC, touches every part of a mission, ensuring secure transmission of information between soldiers, tactical operation centers, vehicles and much more. The S-6 ensures there is reliable access to NATO systems and tactical satellites for command and control across RC-E.
“It is important for soldiers to have a secure line of communication to complete their mission,” said Byrd. “We need to secure and protect our communications from interception.”
The S-6 manages every aspect of networking at Camp Bondsteel. From troubleshooting, help desk, user management, equipment distribution, telecommunications, data integrity and more to make sure every soldier can stay connected.
“I like to problem-solve and troubleshoot,” said Spc. Chase Hines, an Information Technology Specialist under the 256th IBCT. “Without us, the mission is in jeopardy. If communication goes down, units may have to send soldiers as runners, and when information is delayed, the mission is delayed.”
While S-6 ensures communication networks are secure and operational, the S-2 provides intelligence analysis that guides mission decisions.
“The amount of data that is publicly available grows exponentially every day,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Young, S-2 Intelligence Warrant Officer with the 256th IBCT. “Our job is to filter that information, make sense of it, and provide analysis that helps commanders make decisions.”
Since KFOR’s mission is focused on peacekeeping and stability, most intelligence analysis is political and civil in nature. With emerging tools like artificial intelligence, the information environment has become crowded, difficult to navigate with blurred lines of information integrity.
“For us, it requires a lot more education on our part to understand the various tools that are out there on how to collect information in legal ways while also building on our basic knowledge to provide a better analysis,” said Young.
For the S-2, building trust is just as important as analyzing data. One way they do this is through language. U.S. Army Capt. Patrick Connor, a military intelligence officer with 16 years of experience, says even small efforts to speak the local language can make a big difference.
Where fluency is key to aid in cultural nuances and historical context, part of the S-2's job interconnects with linguistics, which is why KFOR sometimes relies on local translators.
“Learning how to say hello to somebody, asking them how they are in their language, it surprises them a lot of the time,” said Connor. “The first time I met some of our Romanian counterparts, I said, ‘Salute?’ and they were like, what? Or ‘Përshëndetje, si jeni?’ in Albanian, or ‘Zdravo, kako si?’ in Serbian. More often than not, you’re going to get a smile.”
For Connor, even small efforts to learn the language helps build stronger relationships, making the job run more smoothly. Connor has studied Chinese and Polish and continues to learn languages spoken by NATO partners in Kosovo.
“Overall, working with NATO is an immense pleasure,” said Connor with a smile. “I love it. When working with our partners, it is important to come to the table with clear eyes and a full heart.”
With that quiet dedication, through radios, analysis, and even a few words in another language, that keeps KFOR one step ahead in Kosovo.
| Date Taken: | 09.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.27.2025 08:10 |
| Story ID: | 551675 |
| Location: | CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ |
| Web Views: | 5 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Keeping KFOR One Step Ahead: The Hidden Strength of S-2 and S-6, by SSG Alyssa Lisenbe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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