PRISTINA, Kosovo,- More than a decade into a National Guard
mission to support Kosovo's security and stability, the chief of the National
Guard Bureau said he saw significant progress in the young nation during a
late May visit here.
"The mission has evolved over the years from a hot, kinetic fight to
supporting ... NATO forces ... to a point where Kosovo can continue to be an
independent country and can stand on its own two feet with good governance,"
Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley said during his second visit here.
"The reason I wanted to come back to Kosovo was to thank these forces -
predominantly from North Dakota, but with 13 additional states - for this
mission, because I think at times it does drop off the average American
citizen's radar screen," McKinley said.
Through the 1990s, this Delaware-sized new nation was wracked by Serbian
repression of the Albanian majority and by an insurgency bent on
independence. NATO intervention in 1999 ended the violence.
U.S. troops, including the National Guard, have been part of a NATO and
United Nations police force on the ground ever since. Kosovo declared
independence from Serbia on Feb. 17, 2008.
"The National Guard is a tremendous instrument for smart power," Missouri
Sen. Christopher Bond said in March. Smart power is the application of a
range of diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal and cultural tools
to foreign-policy demands.
Here in Kosovo, the National Guard assists in keeping the peace and helping a
fledgling nation find its feet. This is one of numerous domestic and overseas
missions simultaneously executed by Guardmembers who have seen a greatly
increased operational tempo since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and
the Guard's transformation from a strategic reserve to an operational force.
"The fact that the National Guard is supporting our two fronts in Iraq and
Afghanistan with almost 60,000 Soldiers every day, and the fact that we're in
Kosovo ... and the Sinai ... and the Horn of Africa, and we're supporting our
governors at home with disaster relief for fires and floods, the oil spill in
the Gulf, is a remarkable credit to this very resilient organization,"
McKinley said.
McKinley was the most senior of a visiting delegation of National Guard and
Defense Department leaders, which also included Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry
Wyatt, the director of the Air National Guard; Army Maj. Gen. David
Sprynczynatyk, the adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard; and
Air Force Maj. Gen. Kelly McKeague, special assistant to the chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard affairs.
"The National Guard can be very proud of participating ... as part of a NATO
peacekeeping force, in NATO's first-ever, out-of-area operation, and I'm most
proud of this formation," McKinley said.
The majority of the about 800 U.S. troops serving in Kosovo Forces 12,
Multi-National Battle Group-East, are drawn from the North Dakota National
Guard, supported by units from 13 other states and territories. Along with
the U.S. troops, soldiers from Albania, Greece, Poland, Romania, Turkey and
Ukraine are also part of KFOR 12.
Their primary mission is maintaining a safe and secure environment and
ensuring residents' freedom of movement.
"The troops are doing an outstanding job here," Sprynczynatyk said. "Their
attitude, the morale, is excellent. I'm so proud of them. They know as they
carry out the mission that they're greatly appreciated by the people of
Kosovo."
The Guard delegation met with German Army Lt. Gen. Markus Bentler, KFOR
commander, and with North Dakota Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Alan
Dohrmann, MNBG-E commander, as well as U.S. Ambassador Christopher Dell to
assess the current situation here and the path ahead.
Among the Guard's contributions here: security patrols in support of Kosovo
police; a medical task force working with local professionals to improve
education on H1N1 flu and other specialized medical issues; Guardmembers
teaching English and helping Kosovo authorities with civil affairs activities
to advance the quality of life and improve infrastructure.
The unique Citizen-Soldier structure of the Guard means members bring
civilian-acquired skills in addition to their military expertise.
A force led by the Puerto Rico National Guard is expected to relieve North
Dakota as KFOR-12 rolls into KFOR-13 later this summer.