The 40 Inf Gp KFOR have recently returned to Ireland after a six-month tour in Kosovo, Here, Comdts Jim Murphy, Patrick Maher, Capt Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Carolyn Casey and Lt John Hogan give an after-action report of some of the positive aspects of their mission abroad…
On October 17th, 40 Inf Gp KFOR led by Lt Col Des Bergin handed over command to the 41 Inf Gp. In doing so very successful and rewarding tour of duty concluded. During their six months tour in Kosovo, 40 Inf Gp experienced its fair share of change, which included the handover and taking over off different posts and areas of responsibility. No sooner had the operational Company of 120 Irish troops established its operational footprint as part of the Multinational Task Force Centre (MNTF-C) when it had to adjust to major changes, which saw the removal of Company boundaries, leaving it operating with what were termed as ‘Focused Areas of Responsibility - FAOR ’. It also meant a significant increase in joint patrolling with other Manoeuvre Companies namely; A Coy (FIN); B Coy (SWE); D Coy (CZE) and E Coy (SLO) in order to ensure that our contingent had increased situational awareness and was in a better position to achieve its mission to provide a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all citizens of Kosovo.
For more information see Novembers issue of An Cosantoir.