TF Falcon

TF Falcon

2008-09-01

By Sgt. Ty Stafford

A small team of U.S. Soldiers from the Multi-National Task Force (East) Kosovo Force 10 rotation gather in an office on Camp Bondsteel to review the plan for the day’s mission: a meeting with Kosovo Protection Corps Protection Zone 6 (Trupat e Mbrojtjes së Kosovës “TMK” PZ 6) head Brig. Gen. Imri Ilazi and a muster inspection of PZ 6 headquarters.

Ilazi and his nearly 600-strong force of active-duty and reserve troops are responsible for providing disaster response, humanitarian assistance in isolated areas, performing limited search and rescue operations and contributing to the rebuilding of Kosovo’s infrastructure and communities.

Similar to the National Guard’s state mission, the KPC is often called to support local villages and municipalities. They will also support the Kosovo government to aid in natural disasters at anytime.

To help monitor and train the KPC, Kosovo Forces created the Kosovo Inspectorate of the Kosovo Protection Corps.

The KPC was established by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, Regulation 1999/8, and by mandate, at least 10 percent of each contingent must be from a minority group. There are 6 protective zones in Kosovo with nearly 3,000 active members. In PZ 6, which MNTF (E) is responsible for, the minority ratio is upwards of 12 percent according to the KIKPC staff.

“My initial impression of the TMK/ KPC is that they are a very proud organization and are very respected in the communities,” said Maj. Richard Kempker, the KIKPC officer-in-charge.

Many of the KPC’s core members left good jobs in other European countries to come back to Kosovo in 1999 to assist their families and friends during the conflict, Kempker added.

“It’s important for people to realize, the KPC is not a law and order element. They are unarmed and are intended for use in emergency response and civil disasters,” Kempker said.

Until 2003, KFOR’s Joint Implementation Commission (JIC) monitored the KPC. In May 2003 the JIC split creating the new JIC and the KIKPC.

Now in 2008, the KIKPC finds itself with an additional mission.

NATO aims to train and launch the Kosovo Security Force by the end of 2009. The 3,000 members of the force will initially take on duties like emergency response, protection of civilians and de-mining. The plan also foresees a multi-ethnic security force. In early July NATO allies agreed to take on training the new force to reshape the international security presence in Kosovo.

The KIKPC will be responsible for assisting with the stand down with dignity of the KPC.

“Currently the mission of KIKPC is acting as a liaison between the MNTF (E) commanding general and the KPC to insure the overall compliance with UNMIK Regulation 1999/8 on the establishment of the KPC,” said Maj. Kevin Mullen, KIKPC deputy, from St. Charles, Mo.

As part of the KIKPC, they serve as an inspectorate function by providing mentoring, inspections, reports and recommendations. They also conduct emergency readiness tests, roll calls, support of training, logistics inspections and monitor to ensure compliance with the KPC Disciplinary Code.

Making sure the KPC are a trained and ready force to deal with local disaster always presents a challenge, Mullen said.

 “The KIKPC works in conjunction with KFOR to ensure we provide valuable training to the KPC and works in conjunction with all multi-national task forces to ensure we have a combined effort in training management and to ensure all U.N. mandates are met across the country,” Kempker said.

The KIKPC team works with liaisons within Task Forces Saber, Thunder, POLUKR and Hellas that have partnerships with TMK/KPC units. Their goal is to ensure the battalion task forces have a good working relationship as well as a strong personal relationship with their peers in the TMK/KPC.

“We feel the relationship KFOR 9 has established will help and we look to build on those relationships they developed over their rotation. The “warm handoff” during TOA (transfer of authority) has helped get us off on a great start,” said Sgt. 1st Class Wayne Craft, the KIKPC noncommissioned officer-in-charge, from Perryville, Mo.

Many of the units are partnered with protective brigades, which Mullen stated are general purpose units capable of minimal firefighting, engineering and basic manpower support.

The new KIKPC team stated that the previous KIKPC staff helped their transition by providing all current standard operating procedures, regulations, and directives.

“They integrated us into the way to do business in Kosovo and guided us through the working process. Lt. Col. [Charles] Brown and Maj. [Thomas] Dysinger [KFOR 9’s OIC and deputy] have been very helpful providing not only support for our formal duties, but also great information on the informal relationships,” Craft said.

Mullen added that a big win for the KFOR 9 Soldiers was the inception of maintenance training for several of the units within the KPC.

“They [KPC] are resource starved. Most of the vehicles and equipment are old but they keep working and producing which says a lot about them,” he said.

The KIKPC team will continue to improve upon the work of the previous rotations and keep the training process in line with the standards in place and looks forward to working with the KPC on emergency assistance and humanitarian aid projects in the future, “Mullen said.