MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE

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1 MINISTRY FOR THE KOSOVO SECURITY FORCE From the Minister s Desk Dear friends, welcome to the 14 th KSF s newsletter. edition of the Last month we performed several life-saving missions while also conducting training and community outreach. Once again we demonstrated our ability to perform core capabilities in protecting the lives of people of Kosovo. We are strongly committed to increase the number of ethnic communities in the Kosovo Security Force. Thus, we visited several municipalities where nonmajority ethnic communities live, and we were successful in generating a significant number of applications. We offer many opportunities for young people who want to be part of a Force that represents and serves all citizens of Kosovo. Have a pleasant reading. Sincerely Yours, AGIM ÇEKU

2 Minister çeku reports to the parliamentary oversight committee On March 26, Minister Çeku briefed the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Internal Affairs, Security and Oversight of the KSF. The information provided focused on the details for the implementation of MKSF objectives, KSF development, training and education processes, international cooperation, establishment of a Search and Rescue Task Force and the ongoing Strategic Security Sector Review. Minister Çeku noted that the ongoing multi-ministry Strategic Security Sector Review would provide recommendations on future security capabilities. This will take time, but this is a process which is going the right way and with the right dynamics, said Çeku. He also stressed that it is the Assembly s decision for future transformations of the KSF and what capacities it will be granted.

3 MKSF AND KSF LEADERSHIP ENCOURAGES ETHNIC COMMUNITIES TO JOIN THE KSF In March, Minister Agim Çeku and COMKSF Lieutenant General Kadri Kastrati visited several municipalities to encourage youth from non-majority ethnic communities to join the KSF. Kosovo s Constitution and the Laws governing the KSF require the integration of personnel from the non-majority ethnic communities. We want to ensure that the KSF is a role model for other state institutions when it comes to reconciliation and employment of non-majority communities, said Minister Çeku. Kevin Lynch, Director of the NATO Advisory Team, pointed out that the KSF is a modern force and a part of Kosovo s future serving all the communities of the country therefore the recruitment process is supported by NATO member states. The local governments and their citizens fully support the efforts of the MKSK and KSF. Currently, non-majority ethnic members of the KSF is 8.2% of the total force; the total number of minorities serving in the KSF is 179 (30 Ashkali, 49 Bosniaks, 5 Croats, 20 Egyptians, 2 Gorans, 3 Romani, 16 Serbs and 54 Turks).

4 KSF HELPS CITIZENS IN FLOOD-HIT AREAS In March, the KSF Crisis Response Liaison Unit conducted an evacuation operation after flooding resulted from unseasonal rainfall in many areas of Kosovo. The Municipalities of Klina, Peja, Skenderaj, Mitrovica were hit especially hard; the KSF teams moved to the affected areas to observe and assess the situation. In the village of Zajm, KSF teams checked flooded houses and a restaurant and evacuated 6 citizens. Another KSF team assisted citizens and observed the situation in the Municipality of Skenderaj.

5 In the first quarter tradoc has conducted a wide range of courses Between January and March, the KSF Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) conducted 13 different courses with a total of 400 members participating. The training programs were: Basic NCO course; Driver s License Course; Communication Course; Engineering Course; Winter/Mountain Search and Rescue Course; Physical Fitness Course; Advanced NCO Course; Basic Officers Course; Logistics Course; Combat Leaders Course; Turkish Language Course; Command Staff Procedures Training; and Training on the familiarization with the weapon Colt M4. TRADOC began operations on 20 January 2009 and is responsible for the basic, specialized, leadership training as well as the collective training for active and reserve KSF personnel. TRADOC has five Training Centers: Basic Training Center; Specialist Training Center; Professional Leader Training Center; University Study Center; and Collective Training Center. It closely cooperates with Albania, the US, KFOR and the Iowa National Guard in the development of the training programs.

6 University clinical center of Kosovo nurses complete training in the ksf On March 30, nurses from the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) completed one week of training on Advanced First Aid Techniques. The training was organized by the MKSF Medical Department in cooperation with the UCCK for Continuing Nurse Education; the training was held in the KSF barracks in Pristina. Nurses were trained on advanced airway management procedures, shock management, treatment of fractures, issues associated with intoxication, refresher cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other topics. The cooperation between the MKSF and the UCCK is planned to continue in the future.

7 Us supports ksf hazardous material training program and field training exercise During February and March, the US Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) facilitated a visit between the Iowa Army National Guard and the KSF Civil Protection Regiment. The focus of this visit was to assess the KSF Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) response capability, equipment status, and determine future training and equipment requirements. This assessment laid the foundation for future KSF training in environmental stewardship, HAZMAT assessment and response. From 25 February 1 March, the US ODC hosted a different delegation from the Iowa Army National Guard which mentored the KSF Rapid Reaction Brigade in the development of squad lanes for proficiency training. Following this event, soldiers from the Iowa National Guard worked with their KSF counterparts to reinforce the previous training and set the stage for future higher level training. The Rapid Reaction Brigade is in their first year of conducting formal collective training which begins at the squad level and continues through the Platoon and Company levels. The culmination of this training will be a Brigade level field training exercise. This event is the first of several related events scheduled with Iowa and elements of US Army Europe.

8 Ksf members complete training on combat leadership course On March 22, 22 KSF members completed the Combat Leadership Course at the Training and Doctrine Command in Ferizaj. The three week course focused on small groups with modules in training management: military leadership, health and physical fitness, NCO corps legacy, military history, first aid and land navigation. KSF instructors which were trained and certified by the 7th Army NCO Academy, ran the course that was assisted by the US instructor team at Camp Bondsteel. Colonel Ray Wojcik, Chief of US Office of Defense Cooperation, congratulated the instructors for their performance, professionalism, discipline and dedication. Staff Sergeant Cole Hardee, US instructor, said that this is the second time that this course has been conducted by KSF instructors and he has the deepest respect for the instructors who have shown their dedication. I would take each of them for a mission," he added.

9 Ksf, us and kfor eod teams dismantle 500 kg bomb On March 31, KSF, US and KFOR EOD Teams dismantled 500 kg Bomb in Harilaq village, Pristina. The bomb was discovered by a worker of Eko-Kos Company in Harilaq, near Golesh Hill. The 500 kg bomb was of British production and was dropped during the NATO air campaign in Major Fadil Sahiti, KSF Demining Company Commander said that this was the biggest bomb found (1.4 m long, 40 cm diameter and charged with over 113 kg of explosive) and was safely detonated by the KSF in cooperation with the US and KFOR. More than 115 citizens have lost their lives and 456 people have been injured, most of whom are children, as a result of the unexploded ordinances remaining in Kosovo. KSF de-miners have checked more than square meters and have found and detonated over 3000 unexploded ordinance devices including personnel mines, bombs, cluster bombs, explosives and other devices.

10 Mksf and ksf celebrate the international women s day On the 8 th of March, the International Women s Day, all women working in the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force and the KSF were invited to luncheon. The reception was organized in order to thank women for the work they have done to contribute to KSF development and progress. Currently, women make up 8.2% of the KSF.