Taking place from Sept. 3-7, “Quick Response 2018” practices EUFOR’s capability to call in parts of their reserve forces and engage them in an international exercise. This annual international exercise involves EUFOR’s Multinational Battalion, the elements of the reserve forces from Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, the United Kingdom and the NATO Kosovo Force Tactical Reserve Battalion.
In a situation of a potential threat to the safe and secure environment, Quick Response Exercises test the complex mechanisms that can be activated and integrated with reserve troops already arranged.
“Exercise Quick Response 18 is the largest in our series of exercises this year, and it has been an ambitious one taking place in multiple areas throughout the whole country,” COMEUFOR Major General Martin Dorfer said.
During the address, Dorfer emphasized that Exercise Quick Response 18 followed three goals.
“It is our annual test to make sure that our procedures and contingency plans work. I’m proud to say that for the first-time elements from all reserve forces provided by EU member states and NATO participated in the exercise. This is a strong sign of commitment and credibility. This has led to EUFOR ranks increasing to over 1000 for this period.”
In addition, he said that EUFOR has been visible in the whole of BiH, that army exercised in the RS, the FBiH as well as in Brcko District.
“It is a unique opportunity to closely cooperate with our partners here in BiH: the Armed Forces of BiH, the BiH Law Enforcement Agencies as well as their respective ministries, collectively unified in the primary aim of ensuring SASE. EUFOR, the AFBiH and Law Enforcement agencies together have demonstrated the commitment to ensuring the safe and secure environment,” Dorfer said.
After the exercise, we will continue our training with AFBiH supporting them and BiH on their path to European integration. And we will support BiH authorities to serve the citizens in BiH under the common motto “One Mission – One Team”, Dorfer concluded.
