FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 11, 2026 By Staff Sgt. Spencer Rhodes, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – Florida National Guard senior leaders visited Task Force Gator Soldiers serving across Kosovo, Sept. 8-9, 2026, to see their work firsthand, recognize their contributions and connect with troops as they near the end of their deployment.
Florida National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. John Haas, Command Senior Enlisted Leader Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Sweat and Florida Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Brandon Williams met with Soldiers at Camp Nothing Hill, Camp Novo Selo and Camp Bondsteel during the two-day visit.
Task Force Gator, a multi-state formation led by the FLARNG’s 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, serves as the core of NATO’s Kosovo Force Regional Command-East. The task force contributes to KFOR’s mission of maintaining a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo.
While meeting with leaders from 1st Squadron, 153rd Cavalry Regiment, Haas said seeing the Soldiers succeed in Kosovo was the culmination of the extensive training and preparation that preceded the deployment.
“It’s great to see the fruition of all the extensive hard work and training these Soldiers have had to go through, from XCTC, NTC, Camp Shelby, to finally carrying out the mission they’ve been working toward. I’m super proud of you guys, really I am. I can’t say it enough,” Haas said. “I think Florida creates great leaders, I really do. All the time, everywhere I go, I see it and I’ll tell you, what I’m seeing here just proves my point.”
At Camp Nothing Hill, KFOR’s northernmost camp, the senior leaders met with Soldiers from Troop A, 1-153rd Cavalry Squadron, who conduct patrols throughout their area of responsibility, including along the Administrative Boundary Line.
Staff Sgt. Aubrey Phillips, a platoon sergeant with Troop A, said the visit had a noticeable effect on Soldiers as they approached the end of their deployment.
“I saw a positive impact from the state leadership visit,” Phillips said. “It reminds Soldiers they aren’t forgotten about back home, especially nearing the end of a deployment. It gave some Soldiers the opportunity to ask questions and get direct answers about upcoming missions they can take part in with the Florida Army National Guard.”