On 03 September 2013 approximately 200 EUFOR troops, 250 servicemen from their Intermediate Reserve Force and senior military officers from the Headquarters EUFOR gathered in Camp BUTMIR for the opening ceremony of the two-week “Exercise Quick Response 2”, announced EUFOR.
Commander of the EUFOR, Major General Dieter Heidecker, opened the event by highlighting the importance of the role that EUFOR is playing in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). He said: “The basis for this Exercise is that EUFOR still guarantees the peace and maintenance of the Safe and Secure Environment in BiH.”
When required, EUFOR can rapidly deploy Over the Horizon Forces to sustain the security and safety in BiH. In order to train and test this key capability, EUFOR rehearses these deployments on a regular basis. This month’s operational rehearsal is the latest in an ongoing series of military exercises conducted by EUFOR and will put into practice the deployment and integration of two light infantry companies, one from Austria and the other from Slovakia.
The 10-day exercise focuses on regional security with the main objective to integrate the Reserve Forces into the EUFOR Multinational Battalion and also to conduct Peace Support Operations (PSO) training with the Armed Forces of BiH (AF BiH).
Other objectives are to evaluate the interoperability between the EU Partner States’ Armed Forces, to enhance the readiness of EUFOR to deploy its Intermediate Reserve Forces and to strengthen liaison and cooperation between EUFOR and other agencies, including the local Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).
During the first phase of the exercise, a one-week situational training program will be performed by EUFOR troops in Camp BUTMIR, SARAJEVO and the nearby RAJLOVAC barracks involving convoy operations and patrolling missions to prepare for next week’s Field Training Exercise (FTX). This training will also include dismounted infantry tactics and response to situations that might threaten the Safe and Secure Environment in the country.
Phase two will comprise of approximately 800 personnel including units from the AF BiH in the conduct of a joint FTX. The aim of this phase is to assure the training provided to the AF BiH and give them the opportunity to work with international military units in order to progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration. This week-long joint field-training exercise will culminate in a display of combined military capability to distinguished visitors and representatives of the local and international media at the AF BiH barracks in LIVAĆ on 12 September 2013.
Exercise Quick Response 2 is scheduled to run until 13 September 2013 when the companies from Austria and Slovakia will return to their home bases at the conclusion of the exercise.
General Heidecker said “EUFOR is committed to assist BiH and its Armed Forces on a successful path to Euro-Atlantic Integration, as well as to have the capacity and skills to deploy and positively contribute to international Peace Support missions abroad.”
