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1000 patrols in Kabul
KABUL: The Hungarian company in Battle group 3 (BG3) this week celebrated the completion of its thousandth patrol in the streets of Kabul.
By Knut Helge Grandhagen, Norwegian Press- and informationofficer ISAF
| | 1000: The Hungarian company celebrated its thousandth patrol with a formation and a poster. |
The Hungarians in BG3 will finish their tour of duty in Kabul in the middle of August. When they arrived in Kabul in February the city was covered with snow and the temperature was creeping below minus 20 degrees Celsius.
By now the snow is long gone, and Kabul is once more plagued by heat and drought. Over the next week the Hungarian soldiers will rotate back home, but before departing they completed their thousandth patrol in the Afghan capital.
- Now we focus on completing our tour here in the same manner that we started and ensure that our thousandth patrol is completed as professionally as the others, only better, said Captain Gábor Híves, the Hungarian company commander.
- What is important is for the troops to keep the pace all the way before departure. We are in no position to slow down before we are on the aircraft leaving Afghanistan behind, added Captain Híves.
Hectic
The Hungarians have had a hectic period since arriving in Kabul.
- When we first arrived we conducted seven or eight patrols every day. It has been hectic, particularly since part of my company has been purely restricted to a logistical role and therefore not available for patrols, said Híves.
The thousand patrols have therefore been completed by a force of about 85 soldiers who, in addition to patrols, have also manned observation points, had guard duties and escort-missions.
- It has been hectic at times, but our main focus now is on completing our duty here with flying colours and keeping the pace until the last day, added Híves.
Celebrated
A thousand patrols gives cause to celebrate, though the Hungarian celebration was limited to a gathering of the patrol and the company’s officers in the pitch-dark Kabul night. The only source of lighting being the headlights of the two jeeps scheduled for the patrol facing inwards on the assembled troops.
- The soldiers have already completed their pre-mission training and preparation. The only thing remaining now is completing it, said Híves before forming up in front of his men and giving the latest information, and instructions to the patrol.
| | GRATEFUL: The commander of Battle Group 3, Lieutenant Colonel Rune Sørra, thanked the soldiers for their efforts. |
Complimented
Lieutenant Colonel Rune Sørra, the Norwegian Battle group commander, was also present to wish the Hungarian soldiers luck, but also to extend his gratitude for the effort they had put into their jobs in Kabul.
- You have done a very good job, and I appreciate all that you have accomplished, said Sørra before passing out the Battle group commemorative coin to each of the company’s officers as a symbol of his appreciation.
Sørra also handed a commemorative knife to Captain Híves in appreciation of the work that he has done over the last six months as company commander in Kabul:
- Giving a knife to a fellow soldier is a symbol of our bond as brothers in arms, and there are few in this theatre who have earned the title more than Captain Híves, said Sørra after the ceremony was over and the Hungarian vehicles disappeared into the darkness for the thousandth time.
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