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Invictus Battalion replicates Kosovo forces for Puerto Rico National Guard unit

Jun 4, 2010

By Capt. Kurt Van Slooten

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. -- Soldiers from Puerto Rico, held their farewell ceremony at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center on June 1, and will soon be part of a NATO-led force working in conjunction with both military and paramilitary forces in Kosovo.

The 1-335th Infantry Battalion and the 3-338th Infantry Battalion, 205th Infantry Brigade of 1st Army Division East are provided the site training for the Soldiers and mentoring for the leadership that the deploying 92nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade will need to facilitate their transition into their role in the Kosovo Force 13 mission.

A contingent from the 3-345th Combat Service Support "Invictus" Battalion, 188th Infantry Brigade worked, in support of the 1-335th and the 3-338th, to replicate the myriad of forces that the 92nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade will encounter while in Kosovo. These forces included: Kosovo Police, Serbian Armed Forces, Serbian Boundary Police, military civilians and civilians on the battlefield.

"We helped to add to the realism of the scenarios provided to the deploying unit by reproducing similar events and interactions that they will face in country," said Maj. John Q. Newby, team chief for the 3-345th CSSB. "As we are in a transitional stage in the KFOR mission, role-playing that took place here will take on a greater significance as it prepares the 92nd MEB to work with the Kosovar and Serbian units."

"I felt that the Puerto Rican National Guard unit was exposed to some of the stumbling blocks and was able to work through those here rather than waiting until in country," said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony D. McAllister, a member of the 3-345th CSSB contingent replicating the Kosovo Police force. "If they get the basics down concrete, they can adjust left or right to meet situational requirements for the mission."

McAllister said that the 345th's performance improved during rehearsals along with the performance of the unit his group was training. McAllister also said, based on the motivation and professionalism he observed from the Soldiers of the 92nd MEB during their training that he would volunteer to go over and serve with them.

"I feel my unit will be better prepared for the mission due having the Kosovo Police and other Kosovo forces replicated and in position to train with," said Capt. Carlos Gonzales, Commander, A Company, 1-296th Infantry Battalion, 92nd MEB.

Gonzales also said the realism of the training is good for the moral of his unit and adds to their overall confidence.

Following the farewell ceremony at CAJMTC, the 92nd MEB will shift to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany to complete its final training, prior to deploying to Kosovo. KFOR is a NATO-led international force responsible for establishing a safe and secure environment in Kosovo. KFOR tasks include: boundary security, smuggling interdiction, medical assistance, civil security and support for the reestablishment of civilian institutions.

The 188th Infantry Brigade, along with the other training support brigades in First Army Division East, provides and facilitates theater-focused training for deploying National Guard and Reserve formations. Based out of Fort Stewart, the 188th has been training deploying National Guard and Reserve units for Iraq deployments continuously since 2003.