15th HRVCON KFOR deployed to Kosovo
The first part of the 15th HRVCON to KFOR had a send-off at the Lučko Barracks on 12 March 2014.
The Contingent comprises 17 members of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence, one member of the Support Command and two multi-purpose Mi-171Sh helicopters
Col. Mate Gudelj of the Command of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence has been nominated Commander of the Contingent.
The segment of the HRVCON, which departed to conduct a hand-over with the 14th Contingent, is accompanied by team consisting of the Croatian Air Force Commander, Brig. Gen. Dražen Ščuri, the Commander of the General Staff Operations Centre, Brig. Gen. Ivan Jurić and the U.S. Defense Attaché to the Republic of Croatia, Col. Douglas Faherty – the team is inspect the situation in the field, the ongoing preparations and the requests placed before the Croatian Armed Forces in the forthcoming period (re-stationing of the HRVCON and the Staff personnel) as a result of the new phase of KFOR and to review the elements important for the efficient operation of the national command and control system.
“This is the 15th Croatian Contingent to be deployed to Kosovo, composed mostly of members of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence. KFOR is a well-established operation, with prospective partial changes. I expect continued professionalism and expert performance, demonstrated by the previous Contingents”, said Brig. Gen. Ščuri.
Prior to the departure for Kosovo, the Contingent Commander emphasised that all members had successfully completed the pre-deployment training, jointly with the members of the 10 Mi-177 Air Advisory Team and were ready to take up their duties. “The major part of the members of the Contingent have already served in KFOR, some of them were in ISAF too, and thus they have both the flying experience and the experience from the KFOR theatre. Furthermore, we are well acquainted with our mission, and rely on the experience and the lessons learned from previous terms; I am proud to command this Contingent and looking forward to working together to contribute to the success of the operation”, stated Col. Gudelj.
The Croatian Contingent, stationed in the area of the Bondsteel Camp in Ferizaj/Uroševac and serving five-month terms, is assigned with transportation of KFOR forces, cargo and VIPs and directly subordinated to the KFOR Commander.
The remaining part of the 15th Contingent is to be deployed within next days, to complete the rotation.
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