COM EUFOR: “Forces at all times ready and able to respond quickly and effectively”
Exercise QUICK RESPONSE 2016 completed today, successfully allowing all contributing nations to be able to conduct larger Brigade Level Peace Support Operations should they be called upon.
AFBiH fighting vehicles provided essential support to Quick Response 2016
Over 750 troops and 70 supporting vehicles were based in the tented city and successfully conducted training and tasking injected by the Exercise Control Team. With a Brigade sized force, both AFBiH, EUFOR and the contributing nations were able to complete the larger enhanced scenarios delegated to them. Exercise QUICK RESPONSE 2016 proves decisively that EUFOR along with our comrades from AF BiH and our Reserves are at all times ready and able to respond quickly and effectively to any potential threat to our Safe and Secure Environment.
During the Distinguished Visitors Day (DVD), the representatives from AFBiH, EUSR and ambassadors of the troop contributing nations as well as other VIP’s witnessed the dynamic display in Manjača showcasing the training during the exercise. In a fictional scenario, the guests were able to watch VIPs escorted to a meeting under convoy protection and then civil unrest control before a small skirmish resulting in a medical evacuation. Reserve troops provided by 140 soldiers from AFBiH in M113 armoured fighting vehicles quickly secured the area before an explosive ordnance disposal team secured the exit route allowing the VIPs to safely evacuate the area. From their vantage point the invitees were able to see the large support elements involved from air support, armoured vehicles from KFOR, sniper teams and a reserve company from the UK rapidly responding to a request for support.
After the dynamic display Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark gave a press statement and said: “This exercise shows how EUFOR continues to play a critical role in BiH. I am particularly pleased to see the excellent co-operation and co-ordination between EUFOR and Armed Forces BiH and I welcome participation of professional soldiers from a wide range of EU Nations working together for a secure and stable Bosnia and Herzegovina.” This was followed by Lt Gen Anto Jeleč, Chief of Joint Staff of the Armed Forces BiH, who stated: “The relationship between EUFOR and Armed Forces BiH is important for overlapping of different synergies.”
COMEUFOR Major General Schrötter concluded by saying: “While this exercise is primarily designed to practice our contingency plans, the participation of units from Armed Forces BiH serves to showcase their forces’ significant progression in Capability Development and Capacity Building and their growing potential for increased participation in international peace support operations.” He added: “Large scale Brigade-Level exercises such as Exercise Quick Response 2016 prove decisively that EUFOR Forces along with our comrades from AF BiH and our Reserves are at all times ready and able to respond quickly and effectively to any potential threat to our Safe and Secure Environment.”
EUFOR Operation Althea is currently made up of soldiers from 15 EU member states and 5 partner nations. Its primary roles are to provide capacity building and training support to the Armed Forces of BiH and to support BiH efforts to maintain a safe and secure environment, whilst providing support to the overall EU comprehensive strategy for BiH.