----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, August 25, 2000 9:28 PM Subject: [STOPNATO] IRF deploys to Kosovo STOP NATO: �NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Online training from Headlight.com can improve your team's skills, and keep your business on the cutting edge! Act today and save $30. Prices starting at $12 Choose from 1,500 courses ranging from business to IT. Click here to save http://on.linkexchange.com/?ATID=27&AID=1578
Content-Length: 3404 Text Version RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany, (Army News Service, Aug. 25, 2000) - A new Army unit deployed last week for Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, as an additional resource for the Task Force Falcon commander's use in maintaining a secure environment. The Immediate Ready Force, composed of U.S. Army, Europe soldiers, was first proposed by USAREUR and 7th Army Commanding General Montgomery C. Meigs about a year ago to enhance the ability of the task force commander to gather information and provide additional security as required, according to Millie Waters, a USAREUR spokeswoman. "There is a range of capabilities here," Meigs said. "You've got infantrymen; you've got military police; you've got scouts, and you have a very capable command and control package that goes with this. This is a versatile, well-trained, very experienced bunch of folks." The IRF deployment is more evidence of the U.S. commitment to NATO's mission of achieving peace in Kosovo, according to a Task Force Falcon news release. The majority of the soldiers are from 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment of 1st Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade. The force also includes an MP platoon from the 1st MP Company in Wuerzburg. Size of the ready force will vary depending on what it is to do, according to the general. "The beauty of the IRF is that you can tailor the force you're sending out," Meigs said. "So if you need somebody on a presence mission, and you need the command and control and the scouts, for instance, that's all you send. If you need a larger and more complicated organization to reinforce the 173rd Airborne because they've jumped into somewhere, then you send that." Meigs said that except for its armored vehicles, the IRF moves very quickly. He said the IRF's flexibility is important, but its strongest capability is its mix of troops and their level of training. "You get new privates in every year, but the level of training we have in USAREUR and the cadre make for some pretty high-powered units," Meigs said. Rifleman Pvt. Nathan Kooiman said he feels good about helping keep the peace in Kosovo because, "I would want someone to do the same for me." Spc. Richard Milstead, 1st MP Company, who has deployed to Kosovo before, described Kosovo as a dangerous place where soldiers have to pay attention. "You've got to concentrate on the mission," he said. "You've got to try to put everything else aside and concentrate on what you're doing and helping the people on your team stay safe." Milstead added that he was glad to be part of the peacekeeping force, but said that he didn't see any easy fixes to the problems in Kosovo. First Lt. Sean French, 1st MP Company, said he hoped to maintain the peace, allow the Kosovars a chance to rebuild, give the Kosovars a sense of security -- and something else. "A normal life," French said, "like we would expect." Col. Peter Palmer, 2nd brigade commander, commended the joint effort of the Air Force and Army support elements in helping to deploy the troops quickly and efficiently. "Right now we're ahead of schedule," Palmer said. (Editor's note: this story is compiled from an article written by Staff Sgt. Raymond Drumsta, a Task Force Falcon news release and an interview with Waters. Drumsta is assigned to the 138th MPAD.) Link to original news item: http://www.dtic.mil/armylink/news/Aug2000/a20000825irf.html
