Italian Operational Reserve Force Battalion arrived in Kosovo

“Using Kosovo Railways J.S.C. to transport the military equipment for KFOR has turned out big benefits for NATO troops,” said loadmaster Capt. Simone Baldo (Italian Army). “We can safe a lot of money comparing to road transportation and we are not exposed to traffic jams. All trucks, Armored Fighting Vehicles and containers full with important cargo arrived without any delays or losses on the spot.” 

The Italian ORF Battalion is from the 7th Alpini Regiment located in Belluno, in the north-eastern part of Italy. It has 560 soldiers and has already conducted training in the KFOR area in 2006 and last summer. Last year it was also employed in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.

This Italian ORF Battalion assigned to NATO deploys to Kosovo in order to participate in a routinely-scheduled exercise starting in February until March 2008.

During these types of deployments the ORF battalion practice operational concepts and familiarize the troops with the terrain and environment. These reserves are designed to be a mobile, versatile force to augment in-theatre forces in order to deal with any military contingency.

 

(Story by Mjr. Gernot Schwarzenberger – Austrian Air Force)