Military Operations

The U.S. Army
in
Bosnia and Herzegovina
7 October 2003

##


FOREWORD
Through the final decade of the 20th century and into the first years of the 21st, the U.S. Government has been the leader in ensuring peace and stability throughout the world. This leadership can be seen in our Government's skill in negotiating settlements among nations with differences before those differences escalate to become armed conflicts.  It can be seen in our commitment to insert peacekeepers between warring factions, and it can be seen in our willingness to back diplomacy with force when necessary. When our Government needs to project power to prevent or end regional conflicts, it turns to the most powerful force in the worldthe United States Army.


A prime example of our global leadership and military strength can be seen in the history of the U.S. Army in Bosnia-Herzegovina. As ethnic cleansing in the Balkans began to take on a dimension that Europe had not seen since World War II, the world watched and the governments of Western Europe began debating how best to respond. While talks continued, USAREUR began preparing to deploy, in case it was called on to intervene on behalf of NATO. When the call came, USAREUR was ready.


It would take a bombing campaign and boots on the ground to ensure implementation of resolutions. Those boots were worn primarily by USAREUR soldiers. Their first mission as the Implementation Force was to maintain a ceasefire, oversee the withdrawal of hostile forces, and guarantee safe passage for refugees. The success with which our troops accomplished that mission was the result of their skill and determination to get the job done, no matter how difficult. The story of crossing the Sava River stands out as a shining example of that determination. That story in itself proves that USAREUR soldiers allow nothing to stand in the way of their objectives.


The story of the U.S. Army in Bosnia-Herzegovina is one that will live in the annals of U.S. military history. It also provides a lasting chapter of USAREUR history. Even today USAREUR soldiers are in Bosnia-Herzegovina serving as an Army Forward, preserving peace and stability as proud members of Freedom's Expeditionary Force. The following pages are a tribute to them and to youthe USAREUR soldierin recognition of your peerless ability to execute with excellence, Any Mission, Anywhere.


PREFACE

This pamphlet is based on a wide range of both primary and secondary sources. Much of the introductory and political background information was derived from a study prepared by the Plans and Training Analysis Branch, Plans Division, Office of the G3, HQ USAREUR/7A, entitled "A Condensed History of the Balkans." Other secondary sources included  Annual histories of Headquarters, United States Army, Europe, and Seventh Army.

 Annual histories of the 1st Armored and 1st Infantry Divisions.  The draft study called "USAREUR in Operation Joint Endeavor." Original source documents in the research and reference files of the Military History Office, HQ USAREUR/7A, included electronic messages, correspondence, situation reports, after-action reviews, recurring periodic reports, and briefing slides. At the time this pamphlet was published, the United States Army was still heavily involved in the Balkans. Because of that, this pamphlet should not be considered complete or definitive. It merely provides a snapshot of one part of the United States Army's contributions to peace and stability in a troubled world and of the selfless service and dedication of the soldiers who participated and continue to participate in those endeavors.

Headquarters United States Army, Europe, and Seventh Army United States Army Installation Management Agency, Europe Region Office Heidelberg, Germany Army in Europe Pamphlet 525-100

7 October 2003

Military Operations

The U.S. Army in Bosnia and Herzegovina


For the CG, USAREUR/7A: MICHAEL L. DODSON Lieutenant General, USA Deputy Commanding General/ Chief of Staff Official: GARY C. MILLER Regional Chief Information Officer - Europe Summary. This pamphlet provides a history of U.S. Army involvement in Bosnia and Herzegovina from March 1998 through January 2003. It was written by the Military History Office, HQ USAREUR/7A.


Applicability. This pamphlet applies to personnel interested in the history of U.S. Army operations in the Balkans. Suggested Improvements. The proponent of this pamphlet is the USAREUR SGS (AEAGS-MH, DSN 370-7367). Users may suggest improvements to this pamphlet by sending DA Form 2028 to the USAREUR SGS (AEAGS-MH), Unit 29351, APO AE 09014-9351. Distribution. A (AEPUBS).

CONTENTS Historical Background
3
NATO Reinvents Itself
6
UNPROFOR
7
Early USAREUR Aid to the Area
10
Humanitarian Aid - Airdrop Support 1993-1994
11
Preliminary USAREUR Planning for Possible Intervention
12
Predeployment Activities & Actions
12
The Intermediate Staging Base and Transit Agreements
13
The Road to Dayton
13
The Military Task of the Dayton Accords
16
U.S. Command and Control
16
The Line of Communications
17
The Deployment of Task Force Eagle
17
The Role of Reserve Components
18
Bridging the Sava
18
The Force Buildup
20
Political-Diplomatic Perspectives
21
The Second Year
21
The Mission Continues
23

Annexes A. TF Eagle Force Structure
25
B. Evolution of MND(N) and US Component
27
C. Chronology
28

Illustrations 1980s: Nationalism Rises in Yugoslavia
4
1991-92 War in Croatia
5
UNPROFOR
8
1994-95: War in Bosnia & Croatia
9
Political Divisions
15
SFOR
23
Evolution of MND(N) and US Component
27 Glossary
76


Historical Background The Balkan region that was known as Yugoslavia after World War II has been an area of almost continuous political and military strife for centuries. At different times it has been controlled by the Romans, by the Byzantine Empire, by the Ottoman Turks, and by the Austrian Hapsburgs. Throughout its history, the ethnic minorities that live in the region have struggled for independence and territories of their own. The German World War II invasion of the Balkans and the appearance of both Royalist and Communist guerilla organizations have complicated the political and economic history of the region even further. After World War II, a communist guerilla leader, Marshall Josep Broz Tito, came to power. Under his rule, Yugoslavia was aligned with the Soviet-dominated Communist bloc in Eastern Europe as a member of the military alliance known as the Warsaw Pact. With economic and military support from Moscow and from other members of the Warsaw Pact, Yugoslavia remained under Tito's very tight control. Any idea of independence on the part of the various ethnic minorities was successfully blunted and submerged. When Tito died in 1980
without selecting a successor, the nation began to crumble as the ethnic minoritiesSerbs, Croats, and Bosniaksstarted to demand independence and the right to sovereignty in specific regions. By the mid-1980s deteriorating economic conditions and demands for political reform had increased tensions among the ethnic groups that comprised the population of Yugoslavia. In 1986 Slobodan Milosevic began to centralize power among the Serb portion of the population. This move caused ethnic rivalries to intensify. When the period of "revolution" in the Soviet satellite states came in 1989, Milosevic took advantage of it to rename the Serbian Communist Party the League of Communists and to convert it to a nationalist organization. At the same time, Milosevic's use of state power prevented alternative forces from becoming viable in Serbia. His centralist and pro-Serbian agenda persuaded reformers in Slovenia and Croatia that it would be dangerous to remain part of a Yugoslav state that might be dominated by Milosevic and a Serb majority.


 In January 1990 the League of Communists split along ethnic lines and ceased to be a unifying national force. That same month, riots in Kosovo reached new levels with several dozen people killed. When the Yugoslav National Army (JNA), which had a Serb officer corps, intervened to restore order, there was widespread concern that the JNA was a tool of Serbian interests. In the spring of 1990 Slovenes and Croats took steps toward setting up new forms of political power. In April there were free elections in these two northern republics. In Slovenia, a center-right coalition won and began work on a new constitution, which claimed the right to secede from the federal state. In Croatia, Franjo Tudjman's Croatian Democratic Uniona conservative nationalist partytook the largest share of seats. In Serbia, on the other hand, the results of a June 1990 referendum favored keeping a single-party state and curbing ethnic autonomy in Kosovo and Vojvodina. These are the very policies that were fueling Slovene and Croat efforts to distance themselves from Serbia. In August 1990 Serbs in the Serb-majority Krajina region of Croatia (a
"frontier" area on the border with Bosnia) began to agitate for autonomy. They argued that if Croatia could leave Yugoslavia, they could leave Croatia. To prevent Croatian interference in a planned referendum, local Serb militias made up of trained army reservists set up roadblocks to isolate the Krajina region. In Serbia, Milosevic announced that if Yugoslavia broke apart, there would have to be border changes that would unite all ethnic Serbs in a single political entity. At this time Serbia also cracked down on Albanian agitation.

##

 These steps alarmed Slovenes and Croats and propelled them toward independence. The two republics organized local militias and armed their police despite warnings from the JNA and the anxiety among Croatia's Serbs. In March 1991 Serbs in Croatia proclaimed an autonomous Krajina, which was recognized by Milosevic. Clashes over control of local police stations brought the first casualties and deaths in that area. Since Tito's death, Yugoslavia had had a collective presidency made up of representatives from the six republics and two provinces. The head of this presidency rotated annually among members. In May 1991 Serbia refused to accept a Croat, Stjepan Mesic, to take his constitutional turn as Yugoslavia's president. This act ended any chance for a solution through constitutional means. A month later, in June 1991, Slovenia and Croatia declared their independence, and Yugoslavia ceased to exist. Serbia and Montenegro established the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) with its capital in Belgrade. The FRY retained control of the JNA.

Slovenia's Independence Slovenia's declaration of independence was successful because the Slovenian authorities were well prepared to defend their country and there were no significant ethnic minorities in the territory to complicate the situation. In an attempt to frustrate Slovenian independence, however, the JNA seized the customs posts on the borders of Slovenia and attacked the airport at Ljubljana.

After fighting between Slovenian militia and the JNA, there was a stalemate.

JNA unitstoo powerful for the Slovenian forces to attackwere blockaded in their barracks. Under a negotiated settlement, the JNA units (consisting by now of only Serbs) withdrew and allowed the Slovenes to secede. Slovenia was not involved in any of the subsequent conflicts.

Croatia's Independence Croatia's story was much different. In Croatia conflict escalated. Croatia was not well prepared militarily and had a significant ethnic Serbian population within its borders. Fighting began with guerilla warfare in Krajina between the new Croatian armed forces, local Serbian militia, and elements of the JNA stationed there. In August 1991 Serbian regular army units began campaigns to control two strategic areas: Vukovar and Dubrovnik. At Vukovar in eastern Slavonia, artillery fire drove Croats out of the city. This city was strategically important as a gateway to Serbian areas in the western parts of Bosnia and in Krajina beyond. The city also was important as a source of oil. Two recurring patterns in Serbian strategy were observed here for the first time: the use of terror to drive away local populations ("ethnic cleansing") and a Serbian reliance on heavy weapons to attack urban areas. The Serbs used heavy weapons because of a shortage of infantry.

NATO Reinvents Itself As the above developments were taking place in the Balkans, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was in the process of reviewing the nature of the alliance and its appropriate role under the radically changed conditions in Europe. The NATO London Declaration of July 1990 established the outline of the alliance's strategic concept for a stable security environment in the post-Cold War era. Following the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact in April 1991, the Rome Declaration on Peace and Cooperation of November 1991 provided a new strategic concept for NATO. This declaration recognized that there was no longer an immediate threat of invasion of Western Europe by the Soviet bloc, but, regional political instability in eastern Europe posed new threats to the general peace. The new NATO strategic concept called for a structural reorganization based on smaller, more flexible, and more mobile NATO forces. This redefinition of NATO missions and the consequent restructuring of NATO forces led to the development of new binational and multinational units and task forces (TFs) aimed at a wide variety of operations other than war.

On 20 December 1991 in the Balkans, Federal Executive Council President
(Premier) Ante Markovic, a Croat, stepped down after refusing to approve a federal budget of which four-fifths was earmarked for the war effort. All semblance of a central government was gone, and only two republics, Serbia and Montenegro, had not declared independence. That same month, both Macedonia and the republic of Bosnia and Herzegovinawith its mixed population of Bosniacks, Serbs, and Croatsformally announced they would seek independence. The announcements were spurred by a decision of the 12-nation European Community to recognize by 15 January 1992 any independence-minded Yugoslav republic that met certain conditions, including stable borders and respect for minority rights.

UNPROFOR Fighting in Croatia continued until 2 January 1992 when an unconditional ceasefire agreement was signed and the JNA began to withdraw from the troubled region. On 21 February 1992 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 743, which established the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR). The UNPROFOR was given the mission of demilitarizing UN protected areas (UNPAs) in Croatia and establishing conditions of peace and security that would facilitate the negotiation of an overall settlement of the Yugoslav crisis. UNPROFOR deployed in March and April 1992, reaching a total of approximately 14,000 military, police, and civilian-staff personnel from 29 nations. The UNPROFOR headquarters was originally located at Sarajevo. It was transferred to Belgrade when conflict broke out in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and then, in August 1992 to Zagreb, where it remained until it was replaced by the Implementation Force (IFOR) in December 1995. In early March 1992 as the UNPROFOR was in the process of deploying to provide stability in Croatia, a majority of Bosniaks voted for independence in a plebiscite. The vote was split along ethnic lines. The most ethnically diverse of the former Yugoslav republics, Bosnia was at the time 43.7% Bosniak, 31.4% Serbian, and 17.3% Croatian. The Serbs had boycotted the referendum. Immediately after the voting local Serbian militia set up roadblocks that isolated Bosnia's major cities from surrounding Serbian-dominated rural areas, and many Serbs chose to leave cities such as Sarajevo. The Serbs then proclaimed their own Serb Republic of Bosnia-
Herzegovina (*Republika Srpska*) and enlisted the huge majority of the JNA in Bosnia into the Bosnian-Serb Army.

 As these events were taking place in Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro formed the
FRY (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) with Slobodan Milosevic as its leader. Bosnian-Serb forces then began a methodical effort to seize control of as much territory as possible, especially in the eastern part of Bosnia, as a step toward a possible union with Serbia. Self-proclaimed "Chetnik" gangs that included criminal elements backed by JNA units used terror tactics to drive Muslims out of their villages. These villagers sought refuge in larger cities such as Zepa, Srebrenica, Tuzla, and Sarajevo. Serbian units seized roads and began a siege of Sarajevo, shelling the city and using snipers to kill civilians. Bosnian-Croats subsequently organized themselves as the "Croat Community of Herceg-Bosna" and fought for control of territory with both Bosnian-Serbs and Bosnian-Muslims. Vicious fighting, shifting alliances, widespread atrocities, and the techniques of "ethnic cleansing" combined to cause hundreds of thousands of casualties and millions of refugees and displaced persons within the borders
of the former Yugoslavia. As a result of these conflicts, UNPROFOR II was established in the summer of 1992 in Bosnia. Its mission was to guarantee delivery of relief supplies and perform other humanitarian and peacekeeping duties.
By the end of the summer of 1992, two-thirds of Bosnia was in Serb hands: the eastern zone near Serbia proper, a thin corridor running east-west, and land on both sides of the Bosnia-Croatia border in the Krajina area. Croat forces had also attacked and seized Muslim districts in Bosnia, leaving very little in Muslim hands except for some larger cities. During 1993 all sides in Bosnia were pursuing dual strategies by balancing fighting with negotiations to seek maximum advantage. Peace talks began in Geneva, Switzerland, based on the Anglo-American Vance-Owen plan to partition Bosnia, separate the ethnic factions, and end the fighting. Because, in effect, it accepted the results of Serb aggression, the Vance-Owen plan was widely criticized and was unacceptable to the Bosnian-Muslim government. In March 1994, U.S.-led negotiations between Bosnia's Muslims and Croats resulted in a cease-fire, the formation of a bi-communal Federation, and improved relations with neighboring Croatia. This Federation freed the Muslims and the Croats in Bosnia and in Krajina (who remained in revolt against the Zagreb government) to face the Serbs. Later in the spring of 1994, a five-nation contact group was formed to broker a settlement between the Federation and the Bosnian-Serbs. In July the contact group proposed a 51/49 percent territorial compromise between the Federation and the Bosnian-Serbs. The Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian governments all accepted the proposal, but the Bosnian Serbs rejected it.

In the fall of 1994 Serbia announced it was withdrawing its support of the Bosnian-Serbs, would seal them off economically, and would allow a United Nations-European Union team to monitor the border closure. The UN Security Council then offered a temporary suspension of some of the economic sanctions that had been in place against Serbia since 1992. In the spring and summer of 1995 a series of events changed the situation in the region. On 25 May 1995 NATO conducted air strikes against Serbian military targets. In reprisal, the Bosnian-Serbs took more than 400 UN military personnel hostage. Some hostages were handcuffed to trees and telephone poles as human shields against further air attacks. The resultant publicity badly hurt both the UN and the European peace efforts. The hostages eventually were released after intense negotiations, in which Serbia helped greatly. In July, Bosnian-Serb forces overran two UN-declared safe havensSrebrenica and Zepadespite Western air strikes against them. Almost immediately after that, reports of massacres of Muslims in the two captured towns reached the West. The killings in Srebrenica were the largest such incident in Europe since World War II. In response to the overrunning of Srebrenica and Zepa, the United States insisted that NATO and the UN make good on their commitment to protect the remaining safe havens. At the London Conference on 21 July 1995, the Allies threatened broad-based air strikes if the safe havens were attacked again. In mid-August U.S. negotiators, led by Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke, began intensive shuttle diplomacy with the parties to the conflict. In late August 1995 a Bosnian-Serb artillery round struck a crowded marketplace in Sarajevo and killed 37 people. NATO and the UN issued a joint ultimatum to the Serbs telling them to stop shelling Sarajevo, stop offensive actions against the remaining safe areas, withdraw their heavy weapons from around Sarajevo, and allow road and air access to Sarajevo. On 30 August, after the Bosnian-Serbs rejected the ultimatum, NATO began heavy and continuous air strikes against the Bosnian-Serb military in Operation Deliberate Force. The Bosnian-Serbs then agreed to enter into meaningful discussions about bringing peace to the region.


Early USAREUR Aid to the Area

U.S. aid to the stricken area began in 1992 even as the internal situation was deteriorating and becoming increasingly lethal. In the face of continued fighting among the ethnic groups, UNPROFOR planned expanded relief operations in Croatia in the fall of 1992. Because UNPROFOR had no dedicated hospital support and the civilian hospitals were full of casualties from the fighting, the National Command Authority (NCA) directed the United States Commander in Chief, Europe (USCINCEUR), to provide medical support to the UNPROFOR. The USCINCEUR tasked the United States Army, Europe (USAREUR), to deploy a 60-bed hospital to Zagreb, Croatia. USAREUR sent the 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH). Over 100 personnel from the 7th Medical Command (MEDCOM) were needed to augment the 212th MASH. This included doctors, dentists, nurses, anesthesiologists, physical therapists, lab technicians, and medical-supply specialists. The hospital was assigned to the UN under the operational control (OPCON) of the UNPROFOR headquarters in Zagreb. Along with medical support, USAREUR sent staff officers to work on both the UNPROFOR and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) staffs. The 212th MASH's equipment traveled by rail and arrived in Zagreb between 7 and 10 November. The unit's personnel flew from Germany on 10 and 14 November. In April 1993 the 502d MASH replaced the 212th MASH. In 11 months of operations, the 212th and 502d MASHs treated more than 9,700 UNPROFOR and civilian casualties from over 31 countries. USAREUR turned the operation of the hospital over to the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) in October 1993.

Humanitarian Aid - Airdrop Support 1993-1994 The UNPROFOR requested that USAREUR and USAFE provide airdrop support for UN humanitarian-aid operations in those areas where motor convoys could not go. USAREUR's 5th Quartermaster Detachment prepared leaflets informing residents in the airdrop area what was about to begin and assembled the first set of 50 bundles of medical supplies to be dropped. On 27 February 1993 the leaflets were dropped, and on 28 February four C-130s began dropping food bundles over the town of Cereska. Germany and France contributed riggers and other soldiers to help. Each nation flew a C-160 in support of this operation. By the end of 1993, Germany had increased its contribution to three aircraft, crews, and 10 soldiers; and France increased the number of riggers augmenting the 5th Quartermaster Detachment. The United States increased its contribution from four to six aircraft; and USAREUR's V Corps and United States Army Southern European Task Force (USASETAF) were providing riggers and support personnel. From 26 February to 31 December 1993 the 5th Quartermaster Detachment prepared 19,781 bundles and Triwall Delivery Systems (TRIADS) for delivering meals. In 1994 over 16,000 bundles were dropped, including 12,507 bundles of food, 538 bundles of winterization materials, 404 bundles of medical supplies, and 2,953 TRIADS. The airdrops were reduced at the end of 1994, but continued sporadically into 1995.

Preliminary USAREUR Planning for Possible Intervention

Early 1993
As early as 1993 NATO began planning for the possibility of peacekeeping operations in the FRY. Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) took the lead in the planning process and developed Operation Plan (OPLAN) 40103, which called for the deployment of ground forces from NATO's Allied Command Europe (ACE) Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC). Among the national forces earmarked for the ARRC was USAREUR's 1st Armored Division (1AD) and supporting elements from V Corps. Although the NATO North Atlantic Council (NAC) never approved OPLAN 40103, work on U.S. national plans to support its concepts continued.

Summer of 1994
The situation in the FRY continued to deteriorate. AFSOUTH developed a new plan, OPLAN 40104, which centered on the ARRC as the lead element to provide for the extraction of UNPROFOR from Bosnia and Herzegovina under hostile conditions. The concept called for USAREUR to provide a mechanized force based on the 1AD(-), a corps support group, and additional logistical and signal support.

May 1995
When the Bosnian-Serbs launched their ground offensive in May 1995, USAREUR developed another concept to support OPLAN 40104 and the associated quick response options (QRO) designed to extract UNPROFOR units from specifically designated safe areas of Bosnia and Herzegovinathe cities of Gorazde, Srebrenica, Zepa, and Bihac. The extraction force, known as TF Lion, was to come from USASETAF airborne units that were equipped only with light weapons. Additional aviation support for the extraction mission was to come from V Corps units.

Predeployment Activities & Actions On 1 August 1995 the 1AD ceased routine operations and focused on planning and preparing for possible deployment of a force package that came to be known as TF Eagle. At the same time, USASETAF was considering a possible mission as an "initial-entry force." Under this option, TF Lion, with 16th Air Force support, would deploy rapidly to Tuzla, secure the airport, and hold it for 96 hours until the deploying 1AD could arrive. When it became apparent that USAREUR would probably be deploying troops on a peacekeeping mission, the command designed and conducted the Mountain Eagle exercise series at the Combat Maneuver Training Center to prepare for such deployments. Mountain Eagle I (25 Sep to 15 Nov 95) prepared the two brigades of the 1ADa total of 7 maneuver TFsfor the initial occupation of the TF-Eagle-proposed area of responsibility (AOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mountain Eagle II (3 through 20 Dec 95) was conducted in Schweinfurt, Germany, to prepare the 1st Battalion, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division (1ID), for a contingency deployment to Bosnia.

The Intermediate Staging Base and Transit Agreements Major General Wright, Commanding General of the 21st Theater Army Area Command (TAACOM), and designated National Support Element (NSE) commander, toured several possible sites for an intermediate staging base (ISB). Potential sites included Zagreb, Croatia; Belgrade, Serbia; and Pecs and Kaposvar, Hungary. General Wright concluded that Kaposvar was the best site for the ISB, the USAREUR (Forward), and the 21st TAACOM (Forward) headquarters. The location was about 210 kilometers by air from USAREUR headquarters in Heidelberg and about 310 kilometers using ground transportation. The local airfield was capable of handling C-5 type aircraft, there were four major railheads, and two major highways led into the AOR. In-place military structures included the airfield, military barracks, and an ammunition storage facility. Additionally, Hungary had a number of elements available to provide hostnation support (HNS), including a skilled workforce, a well-developed communications network, and the capability to assist in security and force-protection matters. Because personnel and equipment would need to cross Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Switzerland to reach the ISB and move into the AOR, USAREUR contacted the various U.S. embassies on 4 December
1995 so they could begin working on the necessary agreements. All the required transportation agreements were signed and in place by 9 December. A Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was signed by the Hungarian government in early December and by the United States on 12 December.

The Road to Dayton At meetings sponsored by the Contact Group in Geneva on 8 September 1995 and in New York on 26 September, the foreign ministers of Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia (who also represented the Bosnian-Serbs) agreed to the basic principles for a settlement in Bosnia. A cease-fire was signed on 5 October, and the Dayton Proximity Talks began on 1 November 1995 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. The Dayton Proximity Talks were still going on when, on 16 November, USAREUR issued an alert order and units began to prepare for deployment. At this point, USAREUR's two major concerns were the movement of forces into the forward AOR and the procurement of trains and rolling stock for the deployment of personnel and equipment.

These issues were critical. If a train was ordered and spotted but not used immediately, USAREUR would have to forfeit $55,000 per train per day. On 27 November, after consulting with the Deputy Commander, USEUCOM (known then as the Deputy USCINCEUR), the CG, USAREUR/7A (known then as the CINCUSAREUR), directed logistics planners to order the trains. At the same time, USAREUR began working on a logistics civil augmentation program (LOGCAP) statement of work (SOW) for contractor support of the operation. After a great deal of wrangling, gentle and not-so-gentle persuasion, and some threats, the participants in the Dayton Proximity Talks initialed a peace agreement on 27 November. On Thursday, 14 December 1995, the parties signed the Dayton Peace Accords, also known as the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), in Paris. This agreement included

 A military cease-fire.


 A comprehensive national structure and a series of actions that would confirm the existence of an independent state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This independent state would be a multiethnic federal body of the following two political "entities"

-
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which consisted of a union of Croat and Muslim majority areas.


-
The Republika Srpska (RS) or Serb Republic, which consisted of the Serb majority areas.


 A zone of separation (ZOS) to be set up between the Federation and the RS. On 15 December the United Nations Security Council adopted Security Council Resolution 1031. This resolution authorized NATO to implement the peace agreement and sanctioned the creation and employment of a NATO IFOR. The following day, the NAC approved the overall military plan for the IFOR and directed NATO to begin Operation Joint Endeavor immediately. IFOR replaced the UNPROFOR on 20 December 1995 and assumed responsibility for enforcing the ZOS. Almost 60,000 strong, the IFOR was formed from existing NATO organizations and consisted mainly of American, British, and French troops with small detachments from other countries assigned to support these three contingents.

 The IFOR was more heavily armed than the UNPROFOR and was authorized to operate under "robust" rules of engagement consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 1031. The land component of IFOR was the ARRC, a standing NATO corps headquarters commanded by United Kingdom (UK) Lieutenant General Sir Michael Walker. The IFOR subordinate formations were three ad hoc multinational divisions (MNDs). The United States, United Kingdom, and France provided the main forces and divisional headquarters of the MNDs. Units from both NATO and non-NATO nations were assigned to these MNDs for tactical control. A U.S. major general commanded MND (North); a French major general, MND (Southeast); and a British major general, MND (Southwest). The U.S. Secretary of Defense, William Perry; the U.S. Secretary of State, Warren Christopher; and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General J.M.
Shalikashvilli, all told the U.S. Congress in early December 1995 that the
Bosnian peacekeeping mission would last no longer than 1 year. That prediction would soon be overcome by unforeseeable events.
The Military Task of the Dayton Accords The military tasks derived from the Dayton Accords included responsibilities to

 Ensure that IFOR could defend itself and move freely.

 Supervise selective marking of boundaries and ZOSs between the
parties.

 Monitorand if necessary enforcethe withdrawal of forces to their
respective territories.

In addition, IFOR was tasked to

 Provide a safe environment for civil peace-implementation functions
(assisting the UNHCR and other international organizations engaged in humanitarian work in Bosnia and Herzegovina).

 Help observe and protect the civilian population, refugees, and displaced persons.

 Help monitor the clearance of minefields and other obstacles.

As the primary military tasks were accomplished, the secondary tasks assumed greater importance.
U.S. Command and Control From the USAREUR perspective, one key issue in Operation Joint Endeavor was how the CINCUSAREUR would execute responsibilities as the Army service component commander. After considering a number of possibilities, the CINCUSAREUR established a USAREUR (Forward) headquarters. LTG John Abrams, the Commanding General, V Corps, was selected to lead the USAREUR (Forward) headquarters as its deputy commanding general.

The primary U.S. headquarters for Operation Joint Endeavor, USAREUR (Forward), was located at Taszar, Hungary, and supported by the NSE from the
21st TAACOM located in Kaposvar, Hungary. USAREUR (Forward) was staffed with personnel from the headquarters staffs of both USAREUR and V Corps. USAREUR (Forward) was responsible for

 Overseeing the deployment and subsequent redeployment of U.S.
forces to and from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 Aiding in carrying out the CINCUSAREUR's responsibilities for the
administration and support of the deployed force.

The USAREUR (Forward) and the NSE established an ISB in Hungary and, in conjunction with Central Region units, executed the deployment of TF Eagle equipment and personnel.

The Line of Communications Since the Adriatic ports were overwhelmed with UNPROFOR facilities and other NATO lines of communications (LOCs), the U.S. deployment into Bosnia came from the North. Surface LOCs stretched over 1,500 kilometers (about 900
miles) from Germany through Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Croatia into Bosnia. From the ISB at Kaposvar, surface movement was routed through tactical assembly area (TAA) Harmon, located outside Zupanja on the Sava River. This river separated Croatia from Bosnia. Units then traveled tactically from TAA Harmon across the Sava River on a floating bridge to their assigned base camps in Bosnia. It took 3 to 4 days to reach Kaposvar by rail from Frankfurt am Main, and another 10 hours by rail to travel 250 kilometers (about 150 miles) to reach Zupanja. Once the units got to the Sava River, they had another 50 kilometers (about 30 miles), or 2 hours by road march, to reach Tuzla. The rail connection between Kaposvar and Zagreb was 162 kilometers (about 97 miles) and took some 6 hours travel time. The connection between Zagreb and Slavonski Brod was 190 kilometers (114 miles) and took about 8 hours travel time. The link between Slavonski Brod and Zupanja (50 kilometers (about 30 miles)) took about 2 hours. All these connections came into use during the deployment. The first C-130 aircraft carrying the initial contingent of U.S. personnel of the Enabling Force arrived at Taszar on 6 December 1995. The first trains left Germany on 8 December with communication equipment for Zagreb and Split. The U.S. reception, staging, onward movement, and integration (RSOI) forces were not included in the NATO Enabling Force. RSOI forces included 6,800 troops to staff the NSE in Hungary and open the surface LOC between the ISB
and Bosnia. This force deployed ahead of the main force. The force included the bridging equipment for the Sava River bridge site, a communications package, and the aviation brigade to provide security for the crossing.

The Deployment of Task Force Eagle

TF Eagle deployed by air, rail, and bus. Some vehicles even road marched into Bosnia. (For the structure of TF Eagle, see annex A.)

The 1AD's maneuver brigades deployed as brigade combat teams (BCTs). The 1st Brigade's vehicles went by train and their personnel by bus directly to Zupanja, Croatia. The 2d Brigade's assault command post (CP) personnel flew to Belgrade and then road marched into their sector, while the rest of the 2d Brigade used both rail and bus transportation to reach the ISB and then road marched into Bosnia. The Engineer Brigade deployed directly to Zupanja and then built the bridge over the Sava River. The remaining combat support (CS) and combat service support (CSS) units moved into the ISB and then road marched into Bosnia. High-priority units and those with time-sensitive missions continued to bypass the ISB and took trains directly to TAA Harmon on the banks of the Sava River or in some cases flew directly into Tuzla. In addition, the helicopters of the 1AD's Aviation Brigade and of the cavalry squadrons (some 145 helicopters) were flown directly to their areas during a 3-week period from 17 December 1995 to mid-January 1996. Deployment of the main force began on 16 December and progressed in this sequence: division assault CP; 1st BCT; 2d BCT; 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry; division main CP; and a final "package" of additional signal, medical, and CSS units that were not already deployed with the RSOI package. The total deployment effort required 373 trains, 7,187 railcars, and 1,408 cargo plane sorties. Road transport included commercial buses, commercial trucks, and military vehicles in convoys. During the road deployment, a total of 441 buses, 42 military convoys, and 206 commercial truck convoys carried over 9,000 passengers and 20,000 short tons of equipment.

The Role of Reserve Components The need for support from the Reserve Component (RC) (U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) and Army National Guard (ARNG)) was recognized early in the planning phases. In October 1995 the HQ USAREUR/7A staff developed and submitted to USEUCOM a proposal for a Presidential Selected Reserve Call-Up (PSRC) of some 4,000 personnel. The PSRC was announced on 8 December and a significant number of ARNG and USAR units were activated to support Operation Joint Endeavor. By 31 December, 34 units with more than 1,100 personnel had deployed to Europe and more were to follow in early 1996. Some went to the forward areasBosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, and Croatiawhile others served in Germany as "backfill" for USAREUR units that had deployed.

Bridging the Sava

The Sava River posed a significant obstacle for TF Eagle's entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina. Zupanja was selected for the bridge staging area since it was flat and had a railhead that, although small, could accommodate heavy loads. Further, the road distance from Zupanja to Tuzla was only 36 miles (about 60 kilometers) and the road was capable of bearing the 1AD's class 70 M1 tanks.

The crossing was under the command of the 1AD's assistant division commander for support. As a multirole engineer battalion, the 16th Engineer Battalion got the mission for which the 1AD's Engineer Brigade had unsuccessfully requested an engineer group. Units under the control of the 16th Engineer Battalion included
 The 535th Engineer Company (Combat Support Equipment) (CSE) to provide entrance and exit ramp construction as well as bridge stagingarea support.


 The 502d Engineer Company (Assault Floating Bridge) (AFB) to build the float bridge.


 The 38th Engineer Company (Medium Girder Bridge) (MGB) with bridging materials to support the 502d Engineer Company.


 A diving team of U.S. Navy SEALs detached from USEUCOM to check the river bottom for mines. (The use of Army divers was not considered since the SEALs were stationed in Europe and Army divers were not.) The bridge was a ribbon bridge that consisted of individual aluminum alloy bridge bays with an integral roadbed. The bays were transported in a folded position and automatically opened on entering the water to form a 22-foot section. The floats were linked together in rafts of six to eight sections and maneuvered into place by "purpose-built, water-jet-propelled boats" that could function in less than 2 feet of water. In optimum conditions (sunny weather and mild currents) such a bridge could have been assembled in about 2 hours. The engineers did not have these conditions at the Sava River. The Sava River is 300 meters (936 feet) wide at Zupanja. The TF engineers determined that the operation required two bridges: one to move units south into Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a second to provide for traffic going north. Since an AFB company had only one 230-meter long bridge and the TF had only two bridging companies, there was not enough equipment to construct two bridges. The CG, USAREUR/7A, authorized drawing bridging equipment from war reserve stocks in Livorno, Italy, and Zuttendahl, Belgium. This equipment was flown to the Sava River in C-17 "Globemaster III" aircraft. The bridge was built by the 502d Engineer Company, which left Germany by rail on 10 December and reached Zupanja on 17 December. Because there was very little land suitable for setting up unit positions, the engineers settled in as close to the bridge site as possible.

On 22 December the 535th Engineer Company began constructing the exit and approach ramps while Company B, 16th Engineer Battalion, began constructing a mine boom to keep waterborne mines away from the bridge. On 25 Decemberas work progressed on the near sidethe engineers constructed rafts. On 27 December the engineers ferried a platoon of Bradleys from A Troop, 1/1 Cavalry, across the river to provide security on the far side. The Sava River began to rise on 24 December, and disaster struck in the early morning of Thursday, 28 December. At about 0200 a flood caused by melting snow broke through a levee and then a second barrier and inundated the engineer camp. Troops watched helplessly as their clothing, bedding, and rations swept downstream. While the flooding disrupted the construction of the bridge, a larger problem was the sudden increase in debris being washed downstream. This debris caused problems with the bridge itself and with the bridge-erection boats. When the Sava flooded, the engineers decided the bridge had to be lengthened despite the fact it was almost finished. To avoid delaying the TF's deployment, C-17 aircraft flew additional bridge sections to Tuzla. From there CH-47
helicopters were used to fly the bays and associated materials to the construction site. The CH-47s also placed the bays directly in the water because trucks could not negotiate the flooded plain. In addition to the problems mentioned above, brutal winter weather returned with snow flurries, heavy at times, temperatures in the 15 to 20 degree Fahrenheit range, and icey roads. Despite all of this, the bridge over the Sava River was completed on 31 December at approximately 1000. About 2 hours later, an M1A2 tank from Troop A, 1/1 Cavalry, was the first of many TF Eagle armored vehicles to cross it into Bosnia and Herzegovina. A companion bridge to the first one had been in the deployment plans from the start. The 586th Engineer Company (AFB) from Fort Benning, Georgia, arrived on 10 January 1996 to construct this bridge. Construction began on the evening of 11 January and was finished on 17 January.

The Force Buildup When the transfer of authority (TOA) from UNPROFOR to NATO took place on 20 December 1995, over 17,000 non-U.S. troops of UNPROFOR came under NATO control in all three MND sectors. At that time the number of Americans in Bosnia was less than 2,000. Within a month, however, the number of U.S.

troops would grow to more than 13,000 and eventually reach a total of almost 16,000 in early February 1996. To support the U.S. deployment, some 900 U.S. personnel were deployed to the ISB at Kaposvar, Hungary. By mid-January 1996, there were almost 7,300 U.S. personnel in Hungary; but by mid-February, that number dropped to about 6,600. Similarly, the number of U.S. troops in Croatia (mostly in Zagreb and Zapanja)
grew from some 1,200 in early December to almost 5,000 by mid-January, and then tapered off to 3,500 by early February. The U.S. deployment was officially declared complete on 15 February72 days after the first C-130 landed at Tuzla and 70 days after the first train left a German railhead. During this time, more than 28,000 personnel, 11,000 vehicles and pieces of equipment, and 145 helicopters were deployed more than 1,500 kilometers (about 900 miles) from the Central Region into the U.S. sector of operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The force deployed into 24 base camps in and around the ZOS, from where it could best monitor the terms of the Dayton Accord. Sustaining the deployed forces required a daily flow of three convoys and 12 air sorties carrying 75,000 meals, 192,000 gallons of water, 130,000 gallons of fuel, and 133 short tons of supplies.

Political-Diplomatic Perspectives Operation Joint Endeavor was unique in several respects. It was the first time NATO forces deployed out-of-area. It also marked the resumption of direct French participation in NATO operations. Not only were all 16 NATO-member nations involved, but the coalition also included Partnership for Peace countries and a number of other nations (Egypt, Jordan, Malaysia, and Morocco). More than 30 nations were involved in IFOR, which was formed to enforce the terms of the Dayton Peace Agreement. Especially noteworthy was an agreement reached on 8 November 1995 between U.S. Secretary of Defense Perry and Russian Minister of Defense Grachev that established the terms and conditions for the participation of a Russian contingent in Operation Joint Endeavor. It was the first time since the beginning of the Cold War in 1945 that a Russian force engaged in a major cooperative military effort with its former NATO opponents.

The Second Year The 1ID was selected to replace the 1AD in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 8 October 1996 the 2d Brigade, 1ID, began its deployment to serve as a covering force while 1AD was making its redeployment to homestations in Germany. The formal TOA for command and control of TF Eagle and MND (North) took place on 10 November when 1ID assumed responsibility for the North sector. Shortly thereafter, demonstrations in the villages of Celic and Gajevi tested the resolve and ability of the newly arrived Big Red One. On 12 November 1996 an armed altercation between the former warring factions could have hindered the fragile peace process, but soldiers of the 1ID intervened and quickly brought the situation under control. The IFOR mission was intended to last only 1 year, but in the face of continuing strife and the obvious need to maintain a peacekeeping force in the unstable area, NATO decided to create a Stabilization Force (SFOR) to replace IFOR and continue the mission. The SFOR was accepted by the parties to the Dayton Accord under the same terms of reference and authorities as the IFOR. The use of the SFOR was validated by a UN Security Council resolution. When the IFOR mission formally ended 20 December 1996, the 1ID was designated to remain in Bosnia and Herzegovina as the U.S. contribution to SFOR. With the dissolution of IFOR, Operation Joint Endeavor ended. The new peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina was designated Operation Joint Guard. Half the size of the IFOR, the SFOR had 30,000 troops, of which about 8,500 were American. SFOR was more lightly armed than IFOR since much of the U.S. armor was withdrawn to bases in Germany, but it was still both larger and better armed than the UNPROFOR. In an interesting political-military note, SFOR included a small Bundeswehr contingent. This contingent was the first unit of the German army to serve outside of Germany for any purpose other than training since World War II. SFOR was to remain in operation for 18 months, but this plan, like the plan to be in Bosnia for 1 year, was overcome by events. The 1ID was still the main element of MND (North) when, in April 1997, the "temporary" peacekeeping operation known as SFOR became "SFOR 1," and
1ID remained in place at the head of MND (North) and TF Eagle.


The Mission Continues On 22 October 1997 the 1AD returned to resume command of MND (North) and TF Eagle. The 1st Cavalry Division replaced the 1AD in October 1998 and,
in turn, was replaced by the 10th Mountain Division on 4 August 1999. As the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina continued to improve, the NAC decided on 25 October 1999 to implement a phased reduction that would reduce SFOR by approximately 50 percent between November 1999 and April 2000. As part of this restructuring, U.S. Army strength in MND (North) began to decline. It went from 5,400 in November 1999 to 4,600 in December and to
3,900 in February 2000 where it stabilized for a time. The 49th Armored Division, Texas ARNG, succeeded the 10th Mountain Division on 7 March 2000. This was the first time that a division-size RC formation had deployed outside the United States since the Korean War in the early 1950s. Moreover, the 49th Armored Division headquarters commanded units from the Active Army (for example, the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment), the USAR, and the ARNG. On 5 October 2000 command and control of MNB (North) and TF Eagle returned to the Regular Army when the 3d Infantry Division replaced the 49th
Armored Division. In addition to the 3d Infantry Division, TF Eagle included
ARNG units from nine states. Through this entire period personnel strength remained in the range of 3,900 to 4,000. Continuing the SFOR restructuring and reductions that had begun in November 1999, U.S. Army strength deployed in TF Eagle declined to 3,500 late in July 2001. Gradual reductions continued so that by the time the 29th Infantry Division (Virginia ARNG) replaced the 3d Infantry Division in October 2001, the strength of TF Eagle was down to 2,600. The TF at that time included USAR and ARNG units from 16 states. When the 25th Infantry Division (Light) assumed command of MND (North) and TF Eagle in April 2002, the TF included USAR and ARNG units from 11 states and had a strength between 2,000 and 2,100. When the 28th Infantry Division (Pennsylvania ARNG) assumed command and control in September 2002, TF Eagle included RC units from 12 states, but strength had dropped to 1,500. By year's end, strength had dropped to 1,400. Completing the NATO-directed restructuring of SFOR on 3 January 2003, the much-reduced MND (North) was formally redesignated as the Multinational Brigade (North).

Annex A
TF Eagle Force Structure
(December 1995) The National Support Element at Taszar, Hungary: USAREUR (Forward) 21st Theater Army Area Command (Forward)
 Logistics support element, 19th Transportation Company,
   27th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control)
 266th Finance Command, 29th Area Support Group, 51st Ordnance
   Battalion, 95th Military Police Battalion (-)
 28th Transportation Battalion, 191st Ordnance Battalion (-), 330th Rear
   Tactical Operations Center (Presidential Selective Reserve Call-Up)
 Civil Affairs Support: 16th Corps Support Group (Forward)
1st Personnel Command (Forward) 30th Medical Brigade (Rear)(-) 7th Signal Brigade (-) Task Force Eagle quartering parties Lines of Communication Opening Forces:
 502d Engineer Company (Assault Float Bridge)  586th Engineer Company (from the continental U.S.)
 535th Engineer Company (Combat Support Equipment)  1/1st Cavalry (the security unit)  Two medium girder bridge companies Strike Force: 4th (Aviation) Brigade headquarters
 2-227th Aviation Battalion (Attack Helicopter)  3-1st Aviation Battalion (Attack Helicopter)  7-227th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter)  A Company, 5-159th Aviation Battalion (Medium Helicopter)  236th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) Initial Entry Force (Task Force Eagle): 1st Armored Division assault command post 3-325th Infantry (Airborne) Combat Team 67th Medical Detachment A Battery, 25th Field Artillery (-) U.S. Air Force elements:
 Tanker airlift control element  Prime Beef and Red Horse (Rapid Engineer Deployable, Heavy
   Operational Repair Squadron, Engineer)
 Security police  Combat communications  Air evacuation teams Annex C
Chronology

General Comments This is a chronology of the weekly highlights between March 1998 and January 2003. This information was extracted from the weekly CG, USAREUR/7A, input to the Chief of Staff, Army. It has been edited only to remove duplications.

The glossary explains abbreviations used in the chronology.


This chronology is provided to illustrate the continuing and evolving nature of the operations by Task Force Eagle, the Multinational Division North, and the Multinational Brigade North.

21 March 1998 While closely monitoring the Kosovo situation, SFOR tracked continuing tensions in Drvar and Stolac and Croat intransigence in Central Bosnia. The Balkan winter was not yet over and road conditions remained hazardous; the most serious of five vehicle accidents seriously injured two US and two Norwegian soldiers in Multi-National Division North (US) sector on 13 March. Multi-
National Division South-East (French) conducted a successful show of force in the Pale area involving 450 Italian, French and Moroccan soldiers, 70 wheeled fighting vehicles, and three helicopters. The 15 March Arbitration decision delaying jurisdiction of Brcko allowed the new Republika Srpska government time to demonstrate cooperation with Dayton's requirements; SFOR's Information Campaign helped prepare the general public for this announcement. RS Assembly approval of the Serb Radio and Television Restructuring Plan and the newly nominated Board of Directors on 20 March provided evidence of that cooperation. The SFOR and IPTF weapons and munitions amnesty program, Operation HARVEST, collected to date, 1800 mines, 16,000 indirect fire rounds, 305 small arms, 3000 grenades and some 2100 kg of explosives. SFOR continued support to exhumations; on 16 March, the Bosniac Commission exhumed the bodies of 16 ABiH soldiers and one civilian in the West Mostar area. Civilian air traffic at the Sarajevo airport continued to increase and reached 80% of its pre-war business level.

22 through 28 August 1998 SFOR continued reconnaissance patrols and surveillance operations to provide the secure environment for civil implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords.

Though numerous disruptive acts occurred throughout the AOR, preparations for the September elections and campaigning continued on track. Any violence appeared to be focused between the political parties and not against SFOR or the International Community. On 25 August an explosion underneath a car in EAST BRCKO occurred and on the morning of 26 August a bomb was discovered attached to the front door of the home of the Bosnian-Croat chairman of the BUGOJNO municipal assembly; no injuries resulted.

Enforcement of the Military Common License Plate initiative continued. After concluding exhumations in BIHAC, OHR exhumed four bodies and parts of three additional bodies in PRIJEDOR. ICTY concluded their exhumation operations in LIPJE pleased with the coordination and cooperation of SFOR.


On 22 August in BIJELJINA approximately 100 Bosnian-Croats participated in a mass; at the request of IPTF, the Russian Brigade of Multi-National Division North (US) provided forces to ensure a secure environment. Of approximately 7700 DPREs expected to return, over 70% came back, despite continued intentional intimidation and emplacement of booby traps. SFOR monitored 160 Entity training and movement events and 97 de-mining activities, inspected 26 weapons storage sites, and maintained four training bans in effect. According to OSCE, over 2,200,000 people registered for the elections; approximately two million are in BiH and the rest out of the country. The Election Appeal Sub Commission (EASC) removed three hardline Bosnian-Croat HDZ members from the September elections; overall, OSCE has accepted 5916 candidates and has removed 429 names for various irregularities. Croatian state leadership finally recognized opposition party leaders at a 26 August meeting in ZAGREB, though seven of nine of the invitees declined to attend the meeting. The Serb member of the BiH Tri-Presidency MOMCILO KRAJISNIK supported the OSCE initiative to organize and participate in a television debate with fellow candidates and the Republika Srpska President BILJANA PLAVSIC.


On 28 August approximately 1000 persons demonstrated at the FAMOS Factory in LUKAVICA, possibly in reaction to the recent murder of SRDAN
KNEZEVIC and the subsequent detention of seven witnesses at the factory. SFOR issued orders directing the Multi-Specialized Unit (MSU) Argentine Company and Romanian Platoon training program and information gathering plan.



29 August through 4 September 1998 On 29 August SFOR conducted a Key Leaders seminar with representatives from each major international organization to synchronize efforts prior to the strategically significant elections; preparations continue on track. 85% of the election material was delivered to the polling points and election supervisor training continued. SFOR monitored 56 Entity training and movement activities, inspected 12 weapons storage sites, observed 27 de-mining activities, and maintained three training bans in effect. More than 700 members of the Police Anti- Terrorist Brigade were trained in crowd control in SEKOVCI, JANJA, and BANJA LUKA during the last seven dayspart of the overall effort to get Bosnians to take on police functions themselves rather than depend upon outside powers to enforce the Rule of Law.

12 through 18 September 1998 SFOR supported Bosnia's fair and free elections on 12 and 13 Septembera significant step towards democratization and full implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. SFOR support included providing security for polling stations, increased patrols, communications assistance, and logistics, including transportation for the ballot boxes. Minor difficulties and incidents occurred on both polling days, but OSCE, IPTF and the Civilian Police, with SFOR assistance, successfully found solutions to all of the election related problems. Pluralism was given voice and moderates made significant gains. SFOR also supported IPTF operations to control the IEBL and external border crossing sites.


The Multi-National Specialized Unit's 472 members and 118 vehicles conducted reconnaissance, information campaigns, and presence patrols in addition to providing a force on call. UNMiBH head Mrs. Elizabeth Rehn approved the decertification of the RS Chief of Uniformed Police, Ljubsia Savic, for allegations of human rights abuse. Over 150 representatives from SFOR, UN, OHR and Non-Government Organizations attended a commemorative ceremony at PROKOSO LAKE for the 12 U.N. diplomats who died there in the tragic helicopter crash last year. SFOR provided security, and the ceremony ended without incident.


Two-thirds of the expected DPREs continued to return. Approximately 10,000 refugees from KOSOVO relocated to BiH and are protesting the limited resources available to support them; SFOR is considering UNHCR's request for assistance in providing temporary shelter for the growing number of refugees from KOSOVO.

19 through 25 September 1998 SFOR's priority of effort was maintaining the safe and secure environment while Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) awaited the election results. The Election Appeals Sub-Commission (EASC) reprimanded Nikola Poplasen, apparent winner of the race for Presidency of the Republika Srpska, for his violation of the election blackout. SFOR operations included area reconnaissance and surveillance involving framework ground patrols, supporting UN Security Council Resolution 1160 by monitoring border-crossing points and by providing area security for DPRE visits and returns. SFOR monitored 155 Entity training and movement and 145 de-mining activities, inspected 52 Weapons Storage Sites, and maintained two training and movement bans in effect. Entity Armed Forces (EAF) remain generally compliant and the threat to SFOR remains low.


SFOR supported ICTY searches for documentary evidence to use in the trials of Persons Indicted for War Crimes (PIFWCs) currently in custody in The Hague. On 19 September, SFOR held Children's Day in SIPOVO, with as many as 1000 children attending. The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) reported there were more than 4500 KOSOVO refugees confirmed in BiH. SFOR assisted UNHCR in working with local authorities to deal with this growing number of refugees from KOSOVO. The number of DPREs returning decreased; scattered incidents continued to show the difficulties of minority returns.

On two occasions, LASERs engaged SFOR soldiers in the Multinational Division Southwest (UK) sector. Multi-ethnic policing advanced as a new antiterrorist unit of up to 250 Bosniacs and Bosnian-Croats was formed at the Federation level. Eighty-two aircraft supported SFOR with an average of 50 sorties daily.

26 September through 2 October 1998 SFOR monitored 122 Entity training and movement and 115 de-mining activities, inspected 37 weapons storage sites, and kept two training and movement bans in effect. On 27 September in the Multinational Division North (US) area, SFOR arrested war crimes inductee Stevan Todorovic, nicknamed "The Monster" for alleged crimes in 1992 in BOSANSKI SAMAC. On 28 and 29 September, SFOR conducted unannounced inspections and inventories of Republika Srpska's surface-to-air missiles; some discrepancies were noted at two locationsas part of efforts toward EAF professionalization, SFOR continued to emphasize the need for Bosnian military authorities to assume responsibility for such matters.


On 2 October, the results of the Bosnian elections were announcedAlija Izetbegovic, Bosniac member was re-elected and Ante Jelavic, (Bosnian-Croat)
and Zivko Radisic, (Bosnian-Serb) joined him in the Tri-Presidency. Radisic chaired the Presidency for the next eight months. Hardline Serb candidate Nikola Poplasen won the race for the President of Republika Srpska, one of the two States, which make up Bosnia; despite his campaign rhetoric, upon election he affirmed his support of the Dayton Peace Accords. Elsewhere, moderates gained ground at the expense of nationalist parties.

2 through 9 October 1998 Bosnian-Croats continued to attempt to deter minority Displaced Persons and Refugee returns in the Mostar-Stolac-Capljina area. SFOR monitored 246 Entity training and movement and 132 de-mining activities, inspected 58 Weapons Storage Sites, including careful inspections and inventory of surface-to-air missiles, and maintained two training and movement bans in effect.


The Provisional Elections Committee certified the election results, which reflected less dominance by the three nationalistic parties. On 6 October, the out-going Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Tri-Presidency Members held their last session, ratified the land mine convention banning storage and production, agreed to purchase air traffic control equipment, and accredited four Ambassadors. COMSFOR met with key BiH political leaders to emphasize the separation between NATO operations in Bosnia and NATO planning for Kosovo, and to affirm the conditions for continued DPA compliance during the post election period. High Representative Carlos Westendorp ordered the dismissal of a senior Republika Srpska member of Parliament for threatening statements he made concerning the Kosovo crisis and the outcome of the BiH elections.

On 7 October, Multi-national Division North (US) Transferred Authority from the U.S. 1st Armored Division to the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division from Texas. Two days later, 1st Armored Division was welcomed home warmly as it unfurled its colors back in Germany, having spent two of the last three years in Bosnia.

10 through 16 October 1998 SFOR monitored 266 Entity training and movement and 140 de-mining activities, inspected 49 Weapons Storage Sites, and maintained two training and movement bans in effect. SFOR also conducted a 100 percent verification and subsequent confiscation of VRS SA7 and SA18 air defense missile system components, including more than 600 trigger mechanisms and over 7000 batteries.


The three newly elected members of the Bosnia Presidency officially assumed their duties on 13 October, pledging to fully support the implementation of the DAYTON accords. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recognized JABLANICA and TRAVNIK as Open Cities, conferring priority of funding and aid from the international community, based upon continued demonstration of commitment by a municipality to reintegrate other entities per UNHCR criteria.


The TUZLA airport opened to civilian as well as military traffic on 10 October and the UNA Railway Line linking WESTERN BOSNIA with Croatia began operation on 11 October after being repaired by the 1st Italian Railway Battalion.

17 through 23 October 1998 During a routine patrol on 17 October, SFOR discovered and confiscated over four tons of ammunition and explosives from a private home in STARCEVCI. EAF Confidence Building Measures were enhanced by agreement between Bosniac and Bosnian-Serb forces to conduct joint de-mining operations near MOSTAR. SFOR maintenance of a safe and secure environment contributed to modest gains in DPRE returns. Although progress was made with Bosniac and Bosnian-Serb refugee returns in the Multinational Division North (US) and Multinational Division Southeast (FR) areas, minor hostile acts in DRVAR and GLAMOC in the Multinational Division Southwest (UK) area interfered with minority returns and challenged local police authority. On 21 October, the High Representative, Carlos Westendorp, and COMSFOR transmitted a joint letter to the leaders of the National and Entity Governments directing them not to purge their respective Armed Forces as a consequence of the election resultskey issue in the continued professionalization of the EAF and democratization of the nation. 29 October through 4 November 1998 Bosnian-Serb forces concluded their annual exercise, COMMON EFFORT 98, on 28 October, with a firepower and capabilities demonstration at MANJACA
Range in the Multinational Division Southwest (UK) sector. SFOR leaders attended the exercise in order to assess training and readiness, and as part of an effort to encourage pride in a tradition of service to the nationa key issue in the continued professionalization of the EAF and democratization of Bosnia- Herzegovina. SFOR continues to provide area security for Displaced Persons and Refugee (DPRE) visits and returns, though the number of returnees has decreased over the past few weeks as winter approaches. On 28 October, a CAPSTONE group visited SFOR Headquarters as part of its European orientation. Following an overview briefing and discussion of the complexity of the joint and multinational mission, the group toured Multinational Division North (US).

5 through 11 November 1998 The Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU) was employed this week to restore freedom of movement at MRKONJIC GRAD. The unit, formed around a battalion of Italian Carabinieri and augmented with an Argentine Military Police (MP) company and Romanian MP platoon, helps bridge the public security gap while the capabilities of the local authorities continue to develop. Confidence and security-building measures were enhanced among the EAF when the commanders of the Bosniac 1st Corps and Bosnian-Serb 5th Corps inaugurated joint de-mining activities by the two entities. As part of his ongoing theater orientation, GEN Meigs, Commander SFOR, met with Foreign Minister Prlic to discuss the maintenance of peace and stability in a regional context.

12 through 18 November 1998 366 EAF training and movement and 210 de-mining activities were monitored, 57 Weapons Storage Sites inspected, and one training and movement ban maintained. SFOR submitted its Six-Month Review to SHAPE this week. The report pointed out that progress to date in ensuring EAF compliance with Dayton was largely due to SFOR's active presence. It also highlighted the high expectations of SFOR by the international community in Bosnia for support of civil implementation tasks over the next two years. The study did, however, recommend implementing additional efficiencies and economies while beginning the transition to a lighter and more agile force.

19 through 25 November 1998 On the third anniversary of the initialing of the General Framework Agreement for Peace, the Stabilization Force (SFOR) continues to promote a self-sustaining safe and secure environment and professionalized Entity Armed Forces (EAF), while supporting civil implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords. Exercise Joint Resolve XI was conducted from 16-20 November in the Multinational Division (MND) Southeast (French) sector. This series of deployments and employments demonstrated again SFOR resolve and capability to commit Operational Reserve assets. On 13 November, against the Office of the High Representative's instructions, hardline Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Seselj attended a reception in Banja Luka as the guest of newly elected Serb Republic President Poplasen. MND Southwest (UK), in coordination with MND North (US), monitored the police escort of Mr. Seselj out of the country after he was declared persona non grata.

26 November through 1 December 1998 As part of the continuing effort to improve the integration of the EAF into a democratic society, GEN Meigs met with the three EAF commanders to discuss establishment of and compliance with professional and ethical guidelines for General Officers in their forces. On 21 November, SFOR opened the Doboj III Bridge. The third bridge to be built by SFOR in Doboj, it is the longest freestanding bridge in the country. Completion of this, the 57th military bridge in Bosnia, demonstrates SFOR's dedication to improving freedom of movement throughout the nation.

2 through 9 December 1998 On 2 Dec, SFOR troops detained Radislav Krstic, Commander of the Bosnian Serb 5th Corps, in the Multinational Division - North (US) area of operations. Krstic, who was under a sealed indictment for offenses allegedly committed following the Serb take-over of the U.N. safe haven of Srebrenica in eastern Bosnia in July 1995, was dispatched to the Netherlands where he will stand trial for genocide.

13 through 18 December 1998 During the week of 14-18 December, both the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) and the Defense Ministers of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) met to review progress over the past year in implementing the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Council expressed its gratitude to the members of SFOR for their contributions and sought SFOR's continued support to keep the peace and provide a safe and secure environment for civil implementation. The PIC also called upon SFOR and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina to work with the Entity Armed Forces (EAF) and State governments to maintain military stability, increase cooperation and confidence between the EAF, nurture stronger joint military institutions, reduce defense expenditures, increase professionalism, and remove the military from inappropriate involvement in the political process. The NAC Defense Ministers affirmed the importance of the work being done in Bosnia, but also pointed out that while there would be no major changes in the size and shape of SFOR in the near-term, that an international military presence should not, nor can not, continue to be the principal basis for stability in Bosnia and the region.

31 December 1998 through 6 January 1999 SFOR continued to promote a self-sustaining safe and secure environment and professionalized Entity Armed Forces (EAF), while supporting civil implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords.

11 through 17 February 1999 SFOR continued to promote a self-sustaining safe and secure environment and professionalized Entity Armed Forces (EAF), while supporting civil implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords. Multinational Division, North (MND(N)) continues to conduct day and night patrols in sector and daily inspections and oversight of EAF storage sites, training and movement. The situation in the MND(N) AOR remains stable.

18 through 24 February 1999 SFOR continued to promote a self-sustaining safe and secure environment and professionalized Entity Armed Forces (EAF); monitor the most important crossing points on the Bosnia-Herzegovina and Federal Yugoslav Republic (FRY) border; support civil implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords; and provide security for displaced person/refugee (DPRE) visits and returns. Multinational Division, North (MND(N)) continued to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance and day and night ground patrols in sector and daily inspections and oversight of EAF storage sites, training and movement. Command and staff elements of the 10th Mountain and 49th Armored Divisions conducted leaders' reconnaissances in the MND(N) Area of Responsibility (AOR) in preparation/anticipation of their respective future roles in SFOR. On 22 February 1999, USAREUR completed deployment of Force Protection, Real Estate, Medical, Transportation, Postal, Public Affairs, Chaplain and Finance Support Teams to Rijeka Port, Croatia, in order to support 1st Cavalry Division's SFOR 4/5 rotation through that facility. Port operations are planned to begin o/a 28 February 1999 with the scheduled arrival at Rijeka of a Fast Sealift Ship carrying 335 pieces of equipment (wheeled vehicles, trailers, military vans, helicopters) for SFOR 5.

25 February through 3 March 1999 SFOR continued to monitor the most important crossing points on the Bosnia- Herzegovina and Federal Yugoslav Republic (FRY) border; support civil implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords; and provide security for displaced person/refugee (DPRE) visits and returns. Multinational Division, North
(MND(N)) continued to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance and day and night ground patrols in sector and daily inspections and oversight of EAF storage sites, training and movement. Port operations in Rijeka Port, Croatia commenced on 28 February 1999 with the on-time arrival at Rijeka of a Fast Sealift Ship carrying 335 pieces of SFOR 5 equipment (wheeled vehicles, trailers, military vans, helicopters) for 1st Cavalry Division. Receive, Stage, and Onward Move (RSO) operations for the equipment and accompanying personnel began.

4 through 10 March 1999 On 5 March 1999, a U.S. non-commissioned officer serving as a Russian linguist with the MND(N) Liaison Team to the Russian Separate Airborne Brigade shot and killed a Serbian civilian in the town of Ugljevik, Boznia-Herzegovina. The NCO was the senior man in a group of four U.S. soldiers from the Liaison Team eating at a restaurant in town, some two miles from the Russian camp. They were accosted as they ate by a group of Serbs who entered the restaurant, brandishing clubs. In the face of threatening acts and language, the Americans left the restaurant, but were followed outside by the Serbs. Outside the restaurant, an additional 15-20 men had gathered. The crowd began chasing the Americans to their vehicle and a man in the crowd hit the NCO in the back with a club. The NCO drew his 9mm sidearm and confronted his assailant. When the man continued to act in a threatening manner, the NCO fired once, killing him. After the shooting, the crowd quickly dispersed and local police forces responded. The soldiers returned to the Russian camp and reported the incident. After review of the circumstances, U.S. military investigators later concluded that the NCO acted in self-defense. Port operations in Rijeka Port, Croatia continue. The Fast Sealift Ship that arrived on 28 February 1999 off-loaded its cargo of 335 pieces of SFOR 5 equipment (wheeled vehicles, trailers, military vans, helicopters) for 1st Cavalry Division by 1 March 1999 and departed for CONUS the next day. The next ship, which on-loaded designated SFOR 4 materiel, was expected at Rijeka on or about 29 March 1999.

18 through 24 March 1999 Following the attempted assassination of the Federation's Deputy Interior Minister, political unrest in the RS over the dismissal of President Poplasen by the High Representative, and the designation of the disputed city of Brcko as an element of the nation, rather than one of the two entities, tensions remain high throughout the AOR. Consequently, appropriate force protection measures were in effect. Port operations in Rijeka, Croatia continued. The next ship, which will on-load designated SFOR 4 materiel for return to CONUS, was expected to take place 30-31 March.

25 through 31 March 1999 On 26 March 1999, two Serbian MiG-29 fighters were intercepted and destroyed in air-to-air combat in Bosnian airspace by NATO aircraft (U.S. Air Force F-15s/Royal Dutch Air Force F-16s). As a result, tensions heightened throughout the AOR, and appropriate force protection measures were in effect. Port operations in Rijeka, Croatia continued as planned. The USNS ship *'Antares'*
arrived at Rijeka on 27 March 1999. It immediately began on-loading designated SFOR 4 materiel for return to CONUS. Loading of the ship was completed on 30 March 1999, with departure for CONUS scheduled for that same day. Port closure will occur o/a 1-2 April 1999.

1 through 7 April 1999 In recognition of the continuing NATO air campaign against the FRY, the recent abduction of three U.S. soldiers from within the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) by elements of the FRY armed forces and the increasingly active demonstrations of ethnic Serb anti-NATO/anti-U.S. sentiment accruing from the air campaign, additional and appropriate force protection measures were in effect throughout the MND(N) AOR.



29 April through 5 May 1999 On 29 April 1999, the CG MND(N), MG Kevin Byrnes, hosted a meeting of the Joint Military Commission (JMC), consisting of the commanders of the EAF in the MND(N) sector. The JMC met quarterly to discuss current military issues, such as the role of SFOR in NATO operations against the FRY (none); demining operations; restrictions on EAF movement and training; increased 'presence' patrolling; and the Commander's Hotline. The EAF were represented by the commanders or representatives of I Corps, VRS; II Corps, VF-B; 4th Guards Division, VF-H; III Corps, VRS; V Corps, VRS; I Corps, VF-B; 3rd Guards Division, VF-H; 7th 'Knights' Brigade, VF-B; and the Specialist Police Service, RS. Also present were representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the International Police Task Force (IPTF) and MND(N) staff and the Brigade Commanders of the Nordic-Polish (NORDPOL), Russian, Turkish, and U.S. Brigades. In preparation for the 10th Mountain Division's assumption of responsibility for the MND(N) mission in August 1999, MG Jim Campbell, CG 10th Mountain Division, spent three days in the MND(N) AOR, meeting and holding discussions with various civilian and military officials. The 10th Mountain Division [will conduct] its SFOR/MND(N) Mission Rehearsal Exercise during 6-18 May 1999 at the JRTC in Ft. Polk, Louisiana.

3 through 9 June 1999 The Srebrenica Municipal Assembly was successfully seated on 7 June 1999. MND(N) forces and elements of SFOR's Military Specialized Unit (MSU), composed of Argentine and Italian Military Police, ensured that a secure environment existed for the occasion.

17 through 23 June 1999 Tuzla International Airport, which shares the runway with MND(N)'s Eagle Base, resumed operation on 19 June 1999 for the first time since the beginning of Operation Allied Force.

1 through 7 July 1999 The Croatian farmers who had been blockading roads in Croatia because of a dispute with the Croatian government over farm subsidies lifted their blockade, returning Croatian/B-H cross-border traffic to normal. The road blockade had all but shut down B-H's road commerce through Croatia with the rest of Europe. The commercial cargo vessel *Delaware Bay* arrived at Rijeka Port, Croatia on
3 July 1999, and began to discharge 10th Mountain Division SFOR vehicles, cargo and materiel. Port Reception, Staging, Onward-Movement and Integration
(RSOI) operations were organized and conducted by elements of the 21st TSC's U.S. National Support Element (NSE), deployed from the Taszar Support Base (TSB), Hungary.

29 July through 4 August 1999 The European Union (EU) Presidency (President Ahitsaari of Finland) and the Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina hosted the Southeast Europe Stability Pact Summit in Sarajevo. USAREUR established and deployed Task Force Summit (TFS) to Sarajevo to provide command, control, coordination and security to COMSFOR to facilitate the conference. BG John T. D. Casey commanded TFS, Commander, 7th Army Training Command (7ATC) and USAREUR DCSOPS designate. TFS planned, organized, and executed event coordination and overall physical security. More than 100 United States Army Europe (USAREUR)
soldiers formed the TF command and control element for nearly 2,000 SFOR personnel from all three MNDs deployed to Sarajevo for the summit. In addition to the US personnel there were troops from Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, and United Kingdom. TFS redeployed all its personnel 1-2 August to home station.

14 through 20 October 1999 On 18 October 1999, CG USAREUR, General Montgomery Meigs, handed over command of SFOR to Lieutenant General Ronald Adams, DCG of NATO's Land Forces Central Europe (LANDCENT) at Sarajevo, ending a three-year period in which CG USAREUR had been stationed dual-hatted as COMSFOR. The situation in MND(N) remained calm. MG Jim Campbell, 10th Mountain Division CG and Commander of MND(N), hosted a Joint Military Commission meeting in Brcko with all commanders from MND(N) and the Entity Armed Forces (EAF) to discuss weapons harvesting, future joint projects, and rules governing military training. As part of SFOR's Operation Joint Resolve, the 10th Aviation Brigade and a company from the Nordic-Polish Brigade's Polish Battalion conducted air assault and live fire training at Glamoc and Manjaca ranges in the MND(SW) AOR. In the on-going Operation Cooperative Blast, as of 20 October 73,000 anti-personnel landmines (APLM) had been destroyed.

18 through 24 November 1999 Cold and snow decreased displaced persons and refugee (DPRE) returns. MND(N) continued its restructuring operations, and 280 Norwegian soldiers successfully redeployed on 23 November. U.S. 2d Brigade Task Force (10th Mountain Division) conducted "right seat ride" boundary transitions with the Swedish battalion of the Nordic-Polish Brigade. In a collective effort involving soldiers from 7 nations, the construction of the Selo Polje bridge in the Doboj area (Nordic-Polish Brigade) was completed on 20 November.

25 November through 1 December 1999 MND(N) main effort was now the demilitarization of the Brcko district. On 29 November the High Representative issued letters of dismissal to several mayors for non-compliance with the Dayton Peace Accords, including two mayors in MND(N) AOR. Although MND(N) prepared for possible disturbances, there were none. The month long surge in the Operation Harvest, a program to collect weapons, ammunition, and unexploded ordnance, ended on 1 December. The effort netted an 81 mm mortar, 10 rifles, 4 automatic weapons, and close to
2,000 rounds of small arms ammunition.

9 through 15 December 1999 MND(N) main effort remains the demilitarization of the Brcko District. DPREs resettlement activities increased [and] continue throughout MND(N) AOR due in part to the warmer weather. There were encouraging signs that return activity would continue throughout the winter season as regional cantonal governments worked to provide additional heating resources for returnees. On Sunday 12 December 150 protesters attempting to block scheduled evictions in Zenica.

After negoti-ations, police had to use force to remove the demonstrators and several arrests were made. MND(N) restructuring continued according to plan.

612 U.S. sol-diers redeployed, along with 308 Swedish troops in three aircraft. Their equip-ment began rail movement to the Slovenian port of Koper.

16 through 22 December 1999 MND(N) main effort remained the demilitarization of the Brcko district. Both Federation and Republika Srpska armed forces agreed to the timeline for demilitarization. All military forces and equipment are to be out of Brcko Opstina by the end of February 2000. Record-breaking snowfall in Bosnia-Herzegovina
over four feet in MND(N) AORresulted in the cancellation of the majority of MND(N) operations. The priority of work focused on snow and ice removal, opening critical routes, and repairing damage caused by the storm. Despite the snowy conditions, both entity armed forces conducted movements in support of demilitarization. From 6 to 20 December MND(N) provided security to an International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) team to facilitate unhindered collection, test firing, and return of selected weapons from the RS III and V Corps that were suspected of being used to commit war crimes. The mission was completed without incident.

23 through 29 December 1999 In the last week of December general warming and heavy rainfall has resulted in swollen rivers and the immediate danger of massive flooding in some areas of MND(N). A paratrooper from the Russian brigade was missing and presumed dead after he was swept away in the Gnijca River near Celic during an attempt to recover a stranded vehicle. Despite the milder weather, poor road conditions caused cancellation of some patrols. The armed forces of both the Federation and Republika Srpska continued to make progress in the demilitarization of the Brcko district.

30 December 1999 through 5 January 2000 In accordance with the 31 December suspense, the Entity Armed Forces completed all unit disbandments in the Brcko district, which completes the first step in the demilitarization process. During the Croatian Parliamentary elections no contentious activity was reported from the polling stations within MND(N), and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) field officers reported the election process went smoothly. The Bosnian-Croat 4th Guards Division requested MND(N) support in efforts to control flooding along the Sava River, and MND(N) provided several thousand sandbags from Camp Demi. The 4th Guards lacked the means to haul the sandbags, but General Delic of the Federation II Corps offered 10 trucks and 92 soldiers to load and transport the sandbags. Additionally, the local canton minister committed funds to provide fuel for the II Corps trucksanother example of cooperation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

6 through 13 January 2000 The remaining components of the Brcko district demilitarization (weapons destruction and VRS unit relocations) proceeded on schedule. Representatives from the three Entity armed forces attended the second round of weapons destruction on 12 January.

14 through 21 January 2000 Throughout the towns of Modrica and Derventa, MND(N) air and ground units conducted joint cross-boundary operations. The U.S. Task Force 2-87 Infantry and A Troop/Royal Regiment of Wales from MND(SW) conducted patrols of resettlement areas within the northern portion of MND(N)'s AOR, while U.S. B Company 1-16 Infantry and C Squadron, NordPol Battle Group, conducted joint surge operations. In the Brcko district, the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) III Corps conducted nine moves and destroyed a total of 2,500 weapons.

19 through 26 January 2000 In the Brcko district, the final relocations of some Republika Serbska military units were hampered by poor weather and bad road conditions. On a positive note, 20 January marked the establishment of Brcko's Multi-Ethnic Police Force. There have been no adverse reactions to the new force and local government officials are hopeful for its future. The NordPol BG hosted a meeting between the mayors of Teslic and Tesanj, two villages located on opposite sides of the Zone of Separation that have had no contact since the end of the war. The two mayors established informal relations in order to facilitate refugee returns between their villages. MND(N) hosted MG Walter Sharp, CG of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), and BGs Daniel Long and Joseph Goode from the staff of the 29th Infantry Division (Light), for initial reconnaissance and familiarization visits.

27 January through 2 February 2000 The relocation of Republika Serbska units remained on schedule, and the demilitarization of the Brcko district was expected to be complete by 25 February. Aircraft from the 10th Aviation Brigade participated in a mass casualty exercise with the British-led MND(SW). At the end of the week the U.S. 2nd Brigade Task Force headquarters was inactivated as part of the force restructuring plan for the transition from SFOR 6 to SFOR 7. The headquarters personnel, along with engineer and other staff elements from across TFE redeployed to Fort Drum, NY on 03 February.

3 through 9 February 2000 Aided by unusual spring-like weather, Bosnian Serb equipment relocation from the Brcko district proceeded smoothly. The good weather also allowed an increase in resettlement activity across the MND(N) area, to include many firsttime visits to some areas since the war. Approximately seventy-five Bosnian Serbs demonstrated in Brcko to protest scheduled housing evictions. Troops and equipment from the 49th Armored Division began arriving for the impending changeover from SFOR 6 to SFOR 7. The restructuring accompanying the changeover would bring TFE's strength down to approximately 3,900.

10 through 16 February 2000 Resettlement activity across the MND(N) AOR (including several first-time visits to some areas) continued to increase due to spring-like weather. Camp Demi was officially closed and the last U.S. personnel were withdrawn. Starting on 15 February, 2-87 Infantry conducted joint patrols with Bosnian Serb forces for a three-day period. The SFOR 6/7 Relief-in-Place continued and several flights with soldiers of 49th Armored Division and the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment arrived.

17 through 23 February 2000 Due to restructuring, strength in TFE declined to some 3,900 US soldiers and approximately 2,900 soldiers in the NordPolish Battle Group and the Russian and Turkish Brigades. MND(N) mounted two significant operations, Operation Freewave and Operation Mountain Seizure. In Freewave, the NordPol BG provided security at a communications relay site while SFOR specialists reconfigured the transmitting equipment. Mountain Seizure was an operation to conduct ballistic tests on weapons from storage sites in support of on-going investigations by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Teams from 1-16th Infantry and the Multinational Specialized Unit (a composite force of international police) took 472 weapons from six different sites. After testing, the weapons were returned without incident. The SFOR 6/7 Relief-in- Place continued as more flights with soldiers of 49th Armored Division and the
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment arrived. TFE units conducted transition training and AOR familiarization with the new arrivals.

24 February through 1 March 2000 Favorable weather facilitated increased resettlement activity across the MND(N)
AOR, including numerous house-cleanings and uncontested evictions. There was a disturbing increase in the number of grenade attacks against civilian targets. Due to their free availability and relative ease of use, hand grenades became the weapon of choice to settle disputes. None of the attacks were directed against SFOR soldiers. Local police discovered two large illegal arms caches near Bosanski Samac and Modrica. TFE confiscated and destroyed the caches. The SFOR 6/7 Relief-in-Place continued. All SFOR 7 equipment closed on the base camps, and TFE units continued to integrate the new arrivals, conducting transition training and AOR familiarization. On 1 March three 10th Mountain Division units10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Signal Battalion, and
110th Military Intelligence Battalionconducted Transfer of Authority ceremonies with their SFOR 7 counterparts.

2 through 8 March 2000 On 7 March 2000, MG Robert L. Halverson, CG of the 49th Armored Division (TXARNG), assumed command of MND(N) from MG James L. Campbell, CG 10th Mountain Division. This was the first time a National Guard division deployed on a contingency mission since the Korean War. TF EAGLE now included National Guard, Army Reserve, and Active Army personnel, including 2,500 active duty soldiers of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment from Fort Carson, CO, plus 2,900 soldiers of the NordPol BG and the Turkish and Russian brigades.

9 through 15 March 2000 The deployment of SFOR 7 assets was completed by 15 March 2000.

16 through 22 March 2000 On 18 March MND(N) conducted area orientation and mine awareness training in Tuzla for 35 field election advisors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) who would be monitoring the 8 April Bosnian municipal elections. On 20 March the demining season started when MND(N) engineers, in coordination with Entity armed forces engineers, resumed the dangerous task of removing mines still in place from the war. Engineers from the U.S. 43rd Combat Engineers Battalion and the NordPol BG recovered the Karenovic medium girder bridge after the completion in the same area of a permanent bridge donated by a Swedish non-governmental organization.

23 through 29 March 2000 The final transfer of authority from SFOR 6 to SFOR 7 units when the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) assumed control of the main operating bases in MND(N)'s sector2nd Squadron, 3ACR took over Camp McGovern and its area of responsibility (AOR) near Brcko, while the 3rd Squadron took control of Camp Dobol and its AOR near Zvornik. The 4th Squadron (Aviation) assumed responsibilities as the division's maneuver element, while the Support Squadron assumed its duties as MND(N)'s logistics task force. 3ACR units represented 75 percent of the US strength in MND(N). The only unit within MND(N) still awaiting restructuring was the Turkish Brigade based in Zenica, due to be reduced to a battalion task force of approximately 850 personnel in April.

30 March through 5 April 2000 MND(N) continued to increase the number of combined patrols to improve interoperability among MND(N) units. Under the tactical control of the 2nd Squadron, 3rd ACR, a Portuguese Marine platoon from the SFOR Ground Operational Reserve conducted numerous reconnaissance and surveillance patrols in the towns of Modrica and Gradacac. A platoon from Eagle Troop, 2nd Squadron, 3rd ACR conducted combined reconnaissance and surveillance patrols with the NordPol BG in the towns of Bocinja Donja and Maglaj.

6 through 12 April 2000 On 8 April, MND(N) maintained a safe and secure environment to enable voters to participate and the OSCE to supervise the municipal elections in Bosnia. Despite rhetoric by many of the hard-line parties, the municipal elections concluded without any major incidents. On 10 April 2nd Squadron, 3rd ACR and the NordPol BG exchanged one platoon each for combined operations that began on 11 April. At the request of the local government, U.S. engineers and engineers from the 1st Peacekeeping Russian Separate Airborne Brigade began the repair of over 800 meters of road leading from the town of Gornja Mahala to Ugljevik.

13 through 19 April 2000 MND(N) began an information campaign to promote the Spring Project Harvest, an Entity-led effort, in cooperation with SFOR, to encourage people of Bosnia to turn in illegal or unwanted weapons, mines, and ammunition. The multinational brigades and task forces of MND(N) continued to conduct combined crossboundary operations by exchanging platoons on a weekly basis. On 15 April a platoon from 2nd Squadron, 3rd ACR participated in the Danish contingent march in the NordPol BG area. This 30-kilometer foot march is a tradition of Danish soldiers and was attended by over 300 soldiers from throughout the division.

20 through 26 April 2000 Operation Harvest continued. A Civil Affairs team attached to 3rd Squadron, 3ACR visited a high school in Sekovici to speak to some 200 students about the weapons collection program in support of Operation Harvest. The team handed out booklets on Harvest prepared by the squadron's Tactical PSYOP Team. 27 April through 3 May 2000 US air assets assisted reconnaissance and surveillance patrols in the NordPol, Russian, and Turkish AOR's, while US engineers conducted joint route reconnaissance and other engineering projects with allies in MND(N). 3ACR and the NordPol BG exchanged platoons, and TFE medical personnel provided training and instruction to their NordPol counterparts. Another strategy to help focus the reduced MND(N) force was the establishment of Forward Operating Bases
(FOBs). Temporary bases set up outside the main base camps and manned by soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 3ACR, FOBs provided excellent sites for patrolling and demonstrated to the local populace MND(N)'s ability to project force quickly and effectively.

18 through 24 May 2000 MND(N) continued to strengthen cross-boundary and cross-training programs and conducted joint training with the Russian Brigade in NBC, maintenance, and field medical techniques. MND(N) continued to cross-attach platoons between the NordPol BG and 2/3 ACR and the NordPol BG conducted joint presence patrols with British units in MND(SW).

25 through 31 May 2000 Engineers from the U.S. 43rd Combat Engineer Company and the Russian brigade dismantled a temporary medium girder bridge at Celic to facilitate completion of a permanent structure. The Tuzla Canton provided the funds to purchase the materiel for the bridge, while the 2nd Bosnian Federation Corps assisted SFOR soldiers in the bridge removal.

8 through 14 June 2000 Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 3ACR conducted small arms training and weapons familiarization this week with Russian brigade soldiers.

29 June through 5 July 2000 MND(N) hosted a group of civilian employers from seven different states who have Guard and Reserve soldiers currently serving in MND(N). This enabled the employers to see the importance of the work being done in Bosnia and strengthened ties between the Reserve Command and employers of Reserve soldiers. GEN Joseph W. Ralston, SACEUR/CINCEUR, spoke to the group on the 4th of July by video teleconference and fielded questions from the employers.

6 through 12 July 2000 The divisional Quick Reaction Force (QRF) and 3rd Squadron, 3ACR raided two suspected illegal weapons caches on 9 July, discovering a substantial number of items at one of the sites. The multi-national aspect of the TFE mission was highlighted at Besici on 7 July when SFOR completed construction of a bridge. The project was coordinated through a Spanish engineer officer at SFOR headquarters, with Greek soldiers picking up the British "Donor Bridge" in Croatia and transporting it to the NordPol AOR at Besici. The bridge was actually installed by Danish and US Army engineers in cooperation with III Bosnian Federation Corps engineers, all under the supervision of a Polish engineer captain.

31 August through 6 September 2000 The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia continued its exhumation work at multiple sites throughout the AOR. MND(N) supported the Tribunal's work with site preparation, mine clearance (flailing) and security. Relief-in-place operations began with the arrival of SFOR 8 personnel into the AOR.

7 through 13 September 2000 Relief-in-Place operations continued with the arrival of over 1,200 SFOR 8 personnel from the 3rd Infantry Division and the start of Right Seat Rides for various units/staff sections.

14 through 20 September 2000 A company from the Portuguese Operational Reserve (OPRESCOMSFOR's immediate reserve force) had been operating in the 3rd Squadron, 3ACR AOR for two weeks. During this time they established and operated a Forward Operating Base in the vicinity of Nova Kasaba from which they conducted patrols in Srebrenica, Bratunac, Vlasenica and other areas throughout the contentious southern portion of the MND(N) sector. The presence of OPRES allowed Ironhawk Troop (I Troop, 3/3 ACR) to focus on the Right-Seat-Ride process with its SFOR8 replacements from the 3rd Infantry Division. Relief-in-Place operations continued with the arrival of over 2,400 SFOR8 personnel into the AOR. All SFOR8 equipment and aircraft were in country.

21 through 27 September 2000 The 1st Peacekeeping Russian Separate Airborne Brigade (1PRSAB) and 3-15
IN conducted joint patrols in the 1PRSAB AOR. There had been no such operation for over a year. Relief-in-Place operations continued with the completion of the arrival of SFOR 8 personnel in the AOR. SFOR 7 equipment and aircraft retrogrades began.

5 through 11 October 2000 MND(N) Transfer of Authority from the 49th Armored Division (49AD) to the
3rd Infantry Division (3ID) occurred on 5 October.

12 through 18 October 2000 Elements from the Portuguese Operational Reserve arrived in MND(N) to assist Task Force 1-64 (1st Battalion, 64th Infantry) conduct framework operations. Division engineers, together with the 1st PRSAB, began a joint project to repair a badly damaged road in the town of Rastosnica, in the 1st PRSAB sector.

19 through 25 October 2000 Bosnian Serb students demonstrated in Brcko in the TF 3-15 MECH sector, protesting against the integration of Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) students into their school. The demonstration grew from around 200 to approximately 1,500 students and adults. TF 3-15 MECH, as well as elements from the SFOR Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU), responded immediately to support the Brcko local police and the International Police Task Force (IPTF) and helped to control the crowds and establish traffic control points outside Brcko to ensure that outside agitators did not further inflame the situation. The MSU, under the tactical control of TF 3-15 MECH, were employed in the center of the city to bolster the local police force. Elements from the Portuguese Operational Reserve continued to assist in the TF 1-64 AR (1st Battalion, 64th Armor) sector by conducting reconnaissance and surveillance patrols, weapon storage site inspections, and monitoring the training and movements of the Entity Armed Forces (EAFs). TF 3-15 MECH conducted a combined presence patrol with 1st PRSAB in Celic (in the Russian sector), culminating in a joint small arms live fire exercise. Elements from the 3rd ID Aviation Brigade and the NordPol BG participated in Baltic Resolve, a live fire exercise at Glamoc range in the MND(SW) sector.

AH-64 Apache and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters from the Aviation Brigade, as well as tanks from the NordPol BG conducted training with elements from the Canadian BG.

25 October through 1 November 2000 On 27 October elements from the 3rd ID Aviation Brigade and the NordPol BG successfully completed a live fire exercise (Baltic Resolve) with the Canadian BG at Glamoc Range in the MND(SW) sector.

2 through 8 November 2000 The Horizontal Platoon from the Division Engineers repaired nine bridges along a key route between the towns of Kladanj and Majdan (both in TF 1-64 [1st Battalion, 64th Armor] sector). On 3 November the NordPol BG and TF 3-15 MECH conducted combined patrols in the NordPol sector.

9 through 15 November 2000 The Horizontal Platoon from the Division Engineers finished repairing the last two of nine bridges along a key route that connects the towns of Kladanj and Majdan (both in TF 1-64 AR [1st Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment] sector), which significantly improved freedom of movement for SFOR patrols. 6 through 13 December 2000 The Division concluded Exercise Joint Resolve XXI at Camp Comanche on 7 December. Participants included units representing the Multinational Specialized Units (MSU), the Portuguese Operational Reserve, the Ready Reserve Force Companies from the Southwest and Southeast MND's, the NordPol BG, 1PRSAB, task forces from 1st Battalion, 64th Armor and 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry, and the 3rd ID Staff. The exercise brought together soldiers from Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States; twelve nations in all, and tested the ability of SFOR's Reserves to deploy quickly and conduct operations anywhere in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The same day a 3rd ID Civil Affairs team gave a mine awareness class and an overview of Operation Harvest to an elementary school in the TF 1-64 AR sector. The school's principal showed keen interest in the "train the trainer" technique designed to familiarize and train his teaching staff. Nearly 600 children, ranging from grades 2 through 8, proved very attentive to the instruction.

21 through 27 December 2000 On 22 December two dog teams from the Division Military Police met with five members of the International Police Task Force (IPTF) in Tuzla along with seven policemen and two dog teams from the local area. The Division MPs demonstrated the capabilities of U.S. Army working dogs, providing a powerful visual aid to reinforce the IPTF training.

28 December 2000 through 3 January 2001 On 3 January the Division Engineers began construction of a new bridge along with elements of the Danish Battalion in the NordPol BG AOR.

4 through 10 January 2001 At the beginning of the year USAREUR had some 5,500 soldiers and civilians deployed operationally in 12 countries throughout the Theater, while providing Title X support for 4,500 CONUS-based soldiers serving in the Balkans. Additionally, the Army task forces in the Balkans had 5,125 troops from 17 different countries under their operational control.


On 4 January, the Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Battalion's General Support Tactical Support Team (GS TST) supervised the delivery of stoves to the school in Bokovici. Men of the village accomplished the installation soon afterwards. The mayor expressed his gratitude to SFOR and the CIMIC Battalion for their assistance to his community. The Battalion assists in choosing and submitting City Infrastructure Rehabilitation Projects (CIRP), which must meet the criteria of reinforcing success in areas where minority Displaced Persons and Refugees (DPREs) show an interest in returning. The GS TST mentioned above has been utilized for conducting winter assessments, monitoring national elections, performing CIRP work, and collecting DPRE information.

On 4 January, the Danish Engineer unit and the 3rd ID Engineers began construction of a bridge project that was expected to require approximately one week to complete. On 9 January, the Turkish Battalion Task Force hosted a 3rd ID Commanders' Conference.

11 through 17 January 2001 During this past week, small groups of Bosnian Serbs visited Bocinja Donja to assess their circumstances with respect to returning to the area. Local police and officials continually monitored the situation under the guidance of the IC without any involvement of MND(N) representatives. The area remained quiet throughout the visits and while B-Serbs engaged in house cleaning and reconstruction. Soldiers of the 3-15 Battalion Task Force (BN TF) and of the 1-64 BN TF of the 3rd ID provided support to a Multinational Specialized Unit, which conducted operations in both TF AOs. After conducting a series of interviews, the General Support Tactical Support Team (GS TST) of the CIMIC Battalion selected four local high school aged students for a two-month computer course. The students, who were selected based on their demonstrated aptitude and academic standing, are excited to take advantage of this rare opportunity to acquire fundamental computer skills. The course was taught in Tuzla and was funded through a donation from Catholic Charities. On 13 January the 3rd ID Engineers and the Danish engineer contingent from the NORDPOL BG formally opened a bridge at Miricina/Porjecina in the NORDPOL AO. The primary purpose for this newly constructed bridge was to assist DPREs in returning to their former homes.

18 through 24 January 2001 The MND(N) Information Operations (IO) section coordinated a proactive campaign via television, radio, and the press to facilitate and expedite the returns process and promote conditions for a safe and secure environment in Bocinja Donja. In Brcko, the schools reopened without incident. On 18 January, elements from the NORDPOL BG conducted joint patrols with Task Force (TF) 3-15. Also on 18 January, TF 1-64 provided support to Multinational Specialized Units (MSU), as they performed framework operations in the TF 1-64 Area of Operations (AO). On 19 January, units from TF 3-15 conducted patrol exchanges with elements from both UK and NORDPOL BG units. On 23 January, the 1st Peacekeeping Russian Separate Airborne Brigade (1PRSAB) participated with the PSYOPS unit from MND(N) in a radio program. During this week the Division Engineers provided support to Danish Flail missions on Eagle Base.

1 through 7 February 2001 The constant presence of local police has received a positive augmentation with the recent arrival of two B-Serb officers. This welcome development should help potential returnees feel more secure. On 1 February the 3 ID Engineers successfully conducted a Flail Mission with their Danish counterparts at Camp Danneverck. The 3ID Information Operations (IO) section facilitated construction of a new Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the vicinity of Bratunac by informing local leaders, Entity Armed Forces (EAF) commanders, and the International Community. On 3 February the 3 ID Joint Military Commission (JMC) section hosted its monthly JMC/MSC (Major Subordinate Command) conference at Eagle Base. Attendees included representatives from the Turkish Battalion Task Force (TU BN TF), First Peacekeeping Russian Separate Airborne Brigade (1PRSAB), NORDPOL BG, 1-64 Battalion Task Force (BN TF), and 3-15 BN TF. Topics of concern were the continued consolidation of Weapons Storage Sites (WSS) and monitoring of the scheduled 15% troop reduction of the EAF. On 6 February, Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU) platoons conducted framework operations in the 1-64 BN TF Area of Operations (AO).

8 through 14 February 2001 Elements of MND(N) conducted training at the Glamoc Range, located in the MND(SW) (Canadian) Area of Operations (AO). The Aviation Task Force (TF)
2-3 had 53 crewmen fire 2.75mm rockets and .50 caliber machine guns at a variety of targets during both daylight and nighttime conditions. The purpose of the training was to qualify crews on aerial weapon systems prior to redeployment to their home station. TF 1-64 employed 178 of its personnel during its mission of live fire training at Glamoc. In their performance of crew/leader tasks, the soldiers fired the main gun and both machine guns of their M1A1 Abrams tanks. The M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle crews engaged targets with their 25mm guns and TOW missiles. The mortar platoon of TF 1-64 also successfully conducted tactical movement and firing. The exercise provided a welcome opportunity for the troops to hone their warfighting skills. Construction of the southern Forward Operating Base (FOB) near Srebrenica commenced on 9 February. The Division Information Operations (IO) section ameliorated the effect on the local populace by informing leaders, Entity Armed Forces (EAF) commanders, and the International Community of our plans for the base. Representatives from TF 1-64 held a meeting with local officials two days later to discuss and mitigate some concerns over the location of the access road to the FOB. Once completed and occupied, the FOB enabled MND(N) to focus support in specific areas in the eastern Republika Srpska, especially with respect to returns of Displaced Persons and Refugees (DPREs). On Eagle Base, the construction of a fence and of an electronically operated gate for the Tuzla International Airport (TIA) was completed.

22 through 28 February 2001 The heaviest snowstorm of the winter significantly slowed activity in the region. Prior to the onset of the storm, the 3 ID Aviation Brigade (AVN BDE) performed UH-60 Aerial Door Gunnery qualification at the Glamoc Range in the MND(SW) Area of Operations (AO), with four day-firers and five night-firers successfully qualifying with the M-60 machinegun.

1 through 7 March 2001 On 2 March local police in seven cities in the MND(N) Area of Operations (AO) participated in a nationwide crackdown on human trafficking as they raided brothels and detained those suspected of engaging in this activity. Although International Police Task Force (IPTF) assets were made available to them, the local police were responsible for conducting this significant, coordinated police action. Designated MND(N) personnel and facilities were prepared to provide temporary support for the women but the need for lodging and care at these locations proved to be unnecessary. Throughout the week a Multi-National Specialized Unit (MSU) platoon conducted presence patrols in the MND(N) AO and was supported by the units of the respective areas. The situation in Bocinja Donja continued to be calm. Construction of the Southern Forward Operating Base (SFOB) proceeded on schedule. The base, recently named FOB Connor, serves to project SFOR presence in the Eastern Republika Srpska and reinforce the focus of assisting the returns of Displaced Persons and Refugees (DPREs).

8 through 14 March 2001 In addition to its daily efforts in implementing the military aspects of the Dayton Peace Accords, MND(N) began the transition of the force to SFOR 9. 3 ID hosted a Liaison Officer (LNO) Conference at Eagle Base on 8 March, attendees at which included representatives from the NORDPOL BG, 1PRSAB, TU BN
TF, Task Force (TF) 3-15, TF 1-64, MND(SE), and MND(SW). The conference provided a forum whereby the new LNOs could exchange ideas with the outgoing LNOs, voice concerns, and solicit information pertinent to their assignments. On 12 March the 3 ID Information Operations (IO) section coordinated a visit by the Assistant Division CommanderSupport to the city of Janja in the 1PRSAB Area of Operations (AO). The purpose of this visit was to increase cooperation and mutual support between SFOR and the International Community (IC) within the 1PRSAB sector. The primary focus was to facilitate and expedite the returns process for Displaced Persons and Refugees (DPREs), especially in Bijeljina and Janja. Bocinja Donja remained calm and peaceful, as the reconstruction and occupation of Bosnian-Serb homes continued. Construction of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Connor neared completion, assisted by the unusually favorable weather. This base reinforces the MND(N) commitment to assist the returns process of DPREs in the eastern Republika Srpska.

15 through 21 March 2001 The Division maintains its daily efforts of implementing the military aspects of the Dayton Peace Accords as it continues to transition the force to SFOR 9. On 15 March members of the TU BN TF participated in a joint maintenance exercise with units in the MND(SE) area of operations (AO). The purpose was to share maintenance methods and to benefit from observing the techniques used by forces of other nations. Also on the 15th, representatives from MND(N), the International Community (IC), and local leaders attended the official hand-over ceremony of eighteen reconstructed houses in Bocinja Donja to Bosnian Serb returnee families. Through its Information Operations (IO) section, MND(N)
accomplished two important objectives during this ceremony. First, the B-Serb population was given a clear example of IC support for their return to their homes. Second, SFOR neutrality was emphasized through the highlighting of the role of local leaders and IC leadership in supporting returns to Bocinja Donja. During the week, the TU BN TF welcomed a platoon from the Portuguese. On 17 March 3ID held a dining-in at Eagle Base. Approximately 400 senior officers, warrant officers, and NCOs attended the ceremonies, dinner, and post-dinner festivities.

22 through 28 March 2001 Three Transfer of Authority (TOA) ceremonies took place in MND(N). On 25 March, the mission of Task Force Medical Eagle (TFME) was transferred from the 56th EVAC to the 28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH). The 28th CSH was supplemented by air and ground ambulance crews from reserve units in Colorado, Wyoming, and Connecticut. On 26 March, TF 2-121 of the 48th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized), Georgia Army National Guard, assumed the mission of TF 1-64 as the latter prepared to redeploy to Ft. Stewart, Georgia. TF 2-121 will continue its mission at Camp Connor, the new Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the eastern Republika Srpska (RS) and at Camp Comanche. On 27 March, TF 3-7, the 3rd ID Cavalry Squadron, assumed control of Camp McGovern from TF 3-15, which also redeployed to Ft. Stewart.


This week also saw Russian Engineers from the First Peacekeeping Russian Separate Airborne Brigade (1PRSAB) join with their American counterparts of the 3ID Engineers and commence preliminary work on the rebuilding of a bridge at the entrance to the town of Janja in the 1PRSAB area of operations
(AO). This preparation work had to be accomplished before the actual reconstruction could begin. The 1PRSAB Commander had previously confirmed that the advanced state of deterioration of this bridge severely limits the freedom of movement of Russian patrols in the area. The Division's Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) battalion ensured all necessary coordination with local civilians.


Also on the 26 March, a Multinational Specialized Platoon (MSU) participated in orientation training conducted by the TU BN TF. As part of this training, the platoon members met with chiefs of both the International Police Task Force (IPTF) as well as the local police.


On 28 March, the 3ID Provost Marshal's Office (PMO) hosted a conference for IPTF commanders within the AO. Attendees included IPTF commanders from the municipalities of Brcko, Doboj, and Tuzla as well as the Provost Marshals from the NORDPOL BG, TU BN TF, and 1PRSAB. The conference provided a forum for the discussion of issues and concerns, as well as the methods to enhance the support the agencies provide to one another. The situation in Bocinja Donja remains calm, as small groups of Bosnian Serbs continue work on their houses.

29 March through 4 April 2001 Due to the crisis in the VF-H, MND(N) increased its attention to Weapons Storage Site (WSS) inspections. On 31 March, a WSS near Zepce was inspected and reported no military guards on site, despite being located next to a local police station and VF-H Military Police Platoon. NORDPOL BG reported launching a QRF to secure the site. JMC is working with VF-H forces to get the site secured in accordance with recognized requirements. TF 3-7 CAV and NORDPOL BG began conducting security checks 4 times daily at VF-H Weapons Storage Sites. Treaty Limiting Equipment (TLE) at all sites was secure with no discrepancies.

5 through 11 April 2001 As of 5 April, the SFOR 9 Transfer of Authority was complete within MND(N).

On 5 April, MND(N) hosted the official opening ceremony at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Connor, The dedication ceremony of FOB Connor symbolized the long-term commitment of the IC and SFOR to the people of the eastern RS
and thereby encouraging international assistance and investment in the region. The presence of the IC and local, regional and national officials, as well as SFOR, at the FOB Connor ceremony, represented the synchronized commitment to the eastern RS. The construction of Camp Connor indirectly supported economic growth since its very existence helped to facilitate minority returns. The international community made it clear that the support of minority returns was key to continued financial assistance and investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. TF 2-121 will operate from Camp Connor to augment the efforts of Camp Comanche to provide a safe and secure environment in the eastern RS. TF 3-7 continued to conduct framework operations from Camp McGovern, with its focus on the 24-hour security of weapon storage sites (WSS) and GFAP compliance by 4th Guards Brigade Headquarters. Russian engineers from the 1st Peacekeeping Russian Separate Airborne Brigade (1PRSAB) and American engineers from the 3rd Infantry Division jointly completed 75% of the bridge reconstruction at the entrance to the town of Janja in the 1PRSAB area of operations.


Two platoons from the Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU) participated in orientation training conducted by the TF 3-7, TF 2-121 and TU BN TF. This action familiarizes the MSU with TF operations in case the need arises for the MSU to operate in one of the TF sectors. The Portuguese Operational Reserve conducted combined framework operations in the NORDPOL BG area of operations. The deployment assisted the NORDPOL BG in sending its Danish Tank Squadron to conduct live fire training at the Glamoc Range.

12 through 18 April 2001 During the reporting period, MND(N) hosted a Major Subordinate Command (MSC) conference at Eagle Base. The primary topic of discussion was the consolidation and closure of Weapon Storage Sites (WSS). The Division made considerable progress in this area and continued to focus the required attention until the number of WSS was reduced to an appropriate level. The Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina (AFBiH) requested logistical support from SFOR for this consolidation. Once complete, the citizens of BiH benefited from the ensuing financial savings available for investment in programs such as demining and the return of Displaced Persons and Refugees (DPREs) to their pre-war homes. CG MND(N) also hosted a Joint Military Commission (JMC) conference whose attendees included AFBiH Corps and Division Commanders. The purpose of the conference was to foster a closer working relationship between the AFBiH and SFOR. The subjects discussed centered on DPRE returns, the spring weapons collection operation, and the World Bank program.

26 April through 2 May 2001 1,559 Displaced Persons and Refugees (DPREs) have returned to their pre-war homes since 1 January 2001. Owing to the presence of recently opened Forward Operating Base (FOB) Connor in the eastern Republika Srpska, the rate of DPRE returns in that area continued to grow. On 27 April members of the NORDPOL BG concluded several days of training at Camp Comanche. The training included viewing the layout of the armor assets of the camp and going on joint patrols with their American counterparts. MND(N) provided general support to both the Romanian and the Dutch Strategic Reserve Forces (SRF) as they converged via rail transport in Zenica. These units participated in Exercise Dynamic Response, a multinational training exercise specifically designed to test the ability of the SFOR SRF to deploy quickly and conduct operations anywhere in the country. The Division ensured the security of the site as the forces arrived and later departed for their mission in the AOs of MND(SW) and of MND(SE). The 3ID continued to monitor the Weapons Storage Sites (WSS) that remained after the recent consolidation. Division troops provided a safe and secure environment for the loyal soldiers of the VF-H (Croat units of the VF, the Army of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina) by escorting the vehicles that deliver the soldiers' pay. The 3ID engineers worked with engineers from the TU BN TF completing repairs to the Maoca Bridge in the latter unit's AO. This 160- foot-long structure was integral to the freedom of movement of SFOR military vehicles and is important to the civilian population as well.

10 through 16 May 2001 On 15 May US TF 2-121 exchanged a platoon with the TU BN TF for several days of training and joint operations. The following day, the NORDPOL BG sent troops to the TU BN TF to participate in joint patrol operations. By conducting these unit exchanges and joint training and patrolling operations, the units of MND(N) took advantage of the opportunity to learn from each other and strengthen the bonds among both the NATO and Non-NATO Troop Contributing Nations. On 16 May 3ID engineers began extensive repairs to two bridges in the Eastern Republika Srpska (ERS) with the support of TF 2-121. Both bridges improved freedom of movement for SFOR and are on routes that will be used by Displaced Persons and Refugees (DPREs) returning in the summer to their pre-war homes. In both projects, the Division Engineers were working with ten soldiers from the V Corps of the Vojska Republika Srpska (VRS), the Bosnian Serb Armed Forces.

17 through 23 May 2001 The Armed Forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina (AF in BiH) and SFOR launched the month-long Spring Cleaning campaign. This Bosnian-led effort encouraged the constituent people of BiH to turn in any illegal or unwanted weapons and ammunition, and to report ordnance. Units of the NORDPOL BG and TF 3-7 continue to provide overwatch on Weapons Storage Sites (WSS) in their respective AOs to protect the interests of the legitimate elements of the VF-H (Croat units in the VF, the Army of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina). Officials of the Tuzla International Airport (TIA) reached agreement with an Austrian airline to commence flights three times a week connecting with Vienna.

7 through 13 June 2001 As part of the Project Harvest 2001 Program, MND(N) collected: 563 weapons;
222,705 rounds of ammunition, 126 land mines, 2247 hand and rifle grenades, 2480 kg of explosives, 135 fuses, and 204 rocket engines. On 8 June 2001 in the TF 3-7 area of operations, local officials joined the International Community and SFOR to help celebrate the return of Bosnian-Serbs to the Milino Selo community. Chief of Police, Safet Begic, Deputy Mayor Seuidin Hodeic of Lukavac, and MND(N) Assistant Division Commander, Brig. Gen. Rigdon, spoke at the ceremony of the most successful Bosnian-Serb return site in the Federation. All were very pleased with the excellent cooperation, between the local leaders, SFOR, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the International Community. TF 2-121's area of operations was extremely quiet, as was the Turkish Bn's sector. Platoons from the Multi-National Special Unit were operating throughout the MND(N) sector.

28 June through 4 July 2001 648th Engineer Battalion completed bridge and water main repairs in Bratunac. MND(N) units provided security for leading officials from the Office of the High Representative (OHR), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and several embassies during their visits to two contentious areas of return, Bijeljina and Bosanski Brod. Task Force 2-121 Infantry continued to provide security for exhumations of bodies by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in Liplje. TU BN TF monitored the evictions of three Bosnia families from Bosnian-Serb homes in Vozuca. The three families moved to other houses in the neighborhood. No protests or resistance were observed.

12 through 18 July 2001 The Srebrenica Observance, supported by TF 2-121 IN, the Turkish Battle Group, elements from MND(SW), and the Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU), took place 11 July without incident as did the following day's ceremony for Serb war victims at Kravica. Soldiers from the SFOR Operational Reserve, made up of elements of the Portuguese military temporarily joined Task Force Eagle soldiers throughout portions of MND(N) through 15 July. Elements of TF
3/7 CAV continued preparations for gunnery in addition to conducting normal framework operations. The 22nd Separate Peacekeeping Russian Regiment (22 SPARR), the Russian contingent of MND(N), continued their announced reduction in forces and change of equipment.

26 July through 1 August 2001 MND(N) engineers completed the thirteenth bridge construction project this rotation, a 30' timber trestle bridge in the Turkish Sector. Turkish infantry provided security for the project. This project supported SFOR CIMIC movement and local DPRE returns. In addition, U.S. and Russian engineers cut away the failed portion of Route Georgia and rebuilt the roadway to grade, after a period of heavy rains.

2 through 8 August 2001 MND(N) continued to support the return of displaced persons. MND(N) hosted an International Police Task Force (IPTF) Conference on Eagle Base. The purpose of the conference was to foster a closer working relationship between the IPTF, SFOR, and local police authorities. On 2 August USAREUR activated the Area Support Group (ASG) Eagle.

16 through 22 August 2001 Multi-National Division (North), worked with the Armed Forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH), to monitor, remove and destroy land mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the MND(N) area. To date the AFBiH have cleared 194,641 square meters of land containing 77 anti-personnel mines, 4 anti-tank mines and 65 UXO's. The Nordic-Polish Battle Group (NPBG) within MND(N) began 10 projects aimed at assisting the local community. The Swedish government through the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) funded the projects. These projects include complete road reconstructions in Foca, Susnjari-Poljari, Custo Brdo and Todorovici, along with road repairs in Korace, Skipovac and Barice. Local contractors were hired to complete these projects in the NPBG area. TF 2-121, 22nd SPARR and TF 2-3 AVN continued framework operations this past week. The C/648th engineers continued work on the Lazici bridge and monitoring de-mining.

23 through 29 August 2001 On 27 August MND(N) hosted the March and Shoot competition which included units of MND(N) and the Armed Forces in Bosnia Herzegovina (AFBiH.) The teams were evaluated on four events including a 12KM road march, equipment carry, medical stretcher carry, and rifle marksmanship. The competition was designed to build goodwill and a cooperative spirit among all armed forces within the MND(N) area. Teams were awarded prizes for each event, which led to an overall team standing. The event was a first for gathering the different armies together for a joint competition. Soldiers of the 372d MP
Company, 220th MP Brigade (USAR) conducted transition activities with the 223d MP Company (KY ARNG). The 372d MP Company arrived on 24 August. The initial operational capability (IOC) date for the 372d MP Company was 6 September 2001. The Land Information Warfare Agency (LIWA), Vulnerability Assessment Team (VAT) arrived 8 August 2001 to conduct a Phase 2 Assessment concentrating on Information System and Operational Security. The LIWA VAT departed on 22 August 2001, providing a preliminary report of findings and recommendations before departure. Elements of TF 3-7 CAV continued to conduct framework operations and prepared for the start of this school year focusing on the Brcko school integration. The Brcko school system was a model of progress for other schools in Bosnia Herzegovina. TF 2-121 and TF 2-3 AVN continued framework operations in the southern portion of the MND(N) area.

30 August through 5 September 2001 SFOR sponsored the Children's Film Festival portion of the 7th Annual Sarajevo Film Festival. The Children's Film Festival was introduced in 1997 and provided films free of charge to youths wishing to attend. This year approximately 500 eligible children of all ethnic backgrounds from across MND(N)
participated. TF 2-121 Infantry discovered a cache weapons near Banovici. TF
2-3 AVN continued to support framework operations and assist the TFE Area Support Group in receiving SFOR 10 cargo at the port of Koper, in Slovenia. TF 3-7 CAV assisted the local Brcko government in maintaining a safe and secure environment during the opening of schools, which implemented a new multiethnic curriculum. TF 1-121 assisted the school in Dubrave Gornje by delivering donated school supplies from schools in Dacula, GA. The transition of SFOR 9 and 10 began with 190 soldiers from TF 1-121, 148th LTF and TF 3-7 CAV redeploying this week. 29ID's relief of 3ID continued.

6 through 12 September 2001 The Finnish Civil Military Affairs Company (CIMIC) conducted its first mission in Celic so that local citizens could raise issues and concerns with SFOR. The Nordic Polish Battle Group and TF 3-7 CAV conducted a two-day platoon exchange. The transition from SFOR 9 to SFOR 10 continued with the arrival of the SFOR 10 train cargo and 324 soldiers from the 29th Infantry Division.

13 through 19 September 2001 Force Protection (FP) level increased to Delta, but was reduced to Charlie on 13 September. Accountability of all personnel continued on a daily basis. MND(N) hosted a senior leader dining-in with representatives from all the participating nation forces in MND(N) attending. The MND(N) Joint Military Commission
(JMC) assisted in closing two weapon storage sites (WSSs). The closure and consolidation of WSSs is a critical element in helping the Armed Forces in BiH to transform. TF 3-7 CAV also assisted the local Brcko government in maintaining a safe and secure environment during the opening of schools.

20 through 26 September 2001 In three weeks, MND(N) received over 1,343 soldiers from the 29th Infantry Division. TF 2-3 AVN conducted transition operations with elements of the
224th AVN, the Virginia Army National Guard and the New Jersey Army National Guard. TF 3-7 CAV conducted transition operations with 2-22 IN (10 MTN DIV) in the northern sector. TF 2-121 IN conducted transition operations with elements of 1-155 IN battalion (MS ARNG) in the southern sector. Additionally, exhumations continue in the southern sector under the supervision of the International Missing Persons Commission (ICMP) with security provided by elements of TF 2-121.

27 September through 3 October 2001 Elements of SFOR 9 continued to redeploy. 806 soldiers returned to their home stations. MND(N) conducted the Transfer of Authority (TOA) ceremony on Friday, October 5th at Eagle Base. During the ceremony, authority over MND(N) and Task Force Eagle passed from MG Walter L. Sharp and the 3rd Infantry Division to MG H. Steven Blum and the 29th Infantry Division.

4 through 10 October 2001 The last soldiers of SFOR 9 returned to home stations. TF 2-22 IN (10 MTN DIV) and TF 1-155 IN (MS ARNG) continued framework operations.

11 through 17 October 2001 The Finnish CIMIC supported the reconstruction of 29 houses in Borice by donating equipment. TF 1-155 IN (MS ARNG) and TF 2-224 AVN assisted local police searching for a missing mother and daughter along the Drina River. 18 through 25 October 2001 TF RIFLES (1-155 IN, MS ARNG) continued framework operations in the southern sector. Additionally, soldiers from TF RIFLES and the TU BN conducted joint patrols in the Olovo opstina. TF COURAGE (2-22 IN, 10th Mountain Division) continued framework operations in the northern sector, while the NPBG did the same in the Doboj area. The NPBG also assisted the International Commission for Missing Persons in the vicinity of Kulina. The 1st PRSAB will continue to operate in the northeast section of MND(N), focusing on framework operations in the Bijelina and Janja areas.

26 through 31 October 2001 Operations began to seize illegal caches of arms and ammunition in the Area of Operations (AO). Non-Lethal Weapons training was conducted in MND(N) to prepare one platoon as a Quick Reaction Force for each TF and BG for deployment in future operational missions. Planning continued in support of Operation Joint Resolve/Taurus intended to prepare for civil disturbances and the evacuation of Persons Designated Special Status. The MND(N) Finnish CIMIC office conducted the official opening of the Vucilovac road on 27 OCT 01. The improved road facilitated the return of displaced persons and increase freedom of movement in the area. TF RIFLES conducted joint patrols with the TU BN TF. 18th Explosive Ordnance Detachment (EOD) conducted combined range operations with the Danish EOD. An increase in vehicular accidents in MND(N) resulted in increased command emphasis on safe driving practices in the AO.

1 through 6 November 2001 TF RIFLES (1-155 IN, MS ARNG) continued operations to seize illegal caches of arms and ammunition in the Area of Operations (AO). MND(N) announced the start of Fall Harvest 2001, an entity-led weapons, ammunition, and ordnance collection program intended to build trust and confidence in the peace process and to provide a safe and secure environment for all those living in BiH. TF COURAGE (2-22 IN, 10th Mountain Division) conducted a rehearsal of PDSS extraction and hasty checkpoint drills. TF RIFLES conducted joint patrols with the TU BN TF and the 1st PRSAB. The Turkish Battalion Task Force began its troop rotation and conducted replacement training. TF COURAGE and TU BN TF conducted recons to confirm the existence of possible extremist training camps, but nothing significant was found.

8 through 14 November 2001 Operation OMAHA ROUNDUP, to seize illegal caches of arms and ammunition in the area of operations, was successfully completed on 12 November. No additional weapons or munitions were located. Operation HAYTER II continued with daily visual inspection of Weapon Storage Site (WSS) to ensure compliance and security. WSS inspections resulted in no compliance issues. Planning continued for Operation JOINT RESOLVE/TAURUS for the cessation of civil disturbances and the evacuation of Persons Designated Special Status (PDSS). MND(N) announced the Fall Harvest 2001, which will last from November 15 to December 15. Fall Harvest was an entity-led weapons, ammunition, and ordnance collection program to build trust and confidence in the peace process and to provide a safe and secure environment. TF COURAGE (2-22 IN, 10th Mountain Division) continued framework operations in the northern sector. The TU BN TF continues framework operations with focus on monitoring the ZEPCE border issues. The 1st PRSAB conducted joint range operations with the U.S. Special Forces.

15 through 21 November 2001 TF RIFLES (1-155 IN, MS ARNG) continued framework operations in the southern US sector of MND(N). TF Rifles conducted radio shows in three towns and met with officials from a local high school to discuss issues. TF Med Eagle (TFME) hosted a Combat Medic Challenge, a competition for medics designed along the lines of the Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) contest. Teams from TF Rifles, 1st PRSAB, NPBG, and TFME participated. 22 through 28 November 2001 The issue of persons living in sub-standard housing through the winter generated international attention and some level of unrest in the local population. The allocation of housing between Christian Bosnian Serbs and Muslim Bosniacs was also an issue. Operation JOINT RESOLVE XXIV exercising the cessation of civil disturbances was underway. LTC Glasgow (TF Rifles CDR) met with Mr. Golijan (municipality of Han Pijesak representative) regarding the replacement of the local police chief. It was determined that recent replacements were made by the RS in an attempt to reinstall obstructionists into positions in order to disrupt the return process. Police chief changes and the VASIC housing project were indicators that obstructionist elements in the Zvornik area attempted to disrupt the two-way return process and to keep B-Serbs from returning to the Federation sector. A local resident of Han Pijesak threatened SFOR soldiers. He was detained and questioned by the local courts. When interviewed by SFOR, the suspect claimed the threat was just a joke. TF 229 ENGR conducted Mine Awareness Classes at the Tinja Intermediate School and in Kiseljak.

20 through 26 December 2001 Fall Harvest 2001 concluded on December 15. Russian engineers and the US Coalition Support Team (CST) destroyed weapons and ammunition, which were collected during the Operation Fall Harvest 2001. This was the first time the current CST team participated in a Fall Harvest destruction. TFE continued planning for various contingency missions. A new health clinic (*ambulanta*) was dedicated in Sevarliji, Doboj. The rebuilding of the *ambulanta* was coordinated by the NPBG and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (US AID). TF Pegasus flew limited operations due to heavy snowfall.

27 December 2001 through 2 January 2002 Assisting Bosnian-Croat returnees, an electric project was completed this week in Srnava/Vukosavlje sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented through the CIMIC teams. This project provided 2.5 km of low voltage lines and electricity to 41 newly reconstructed homes. Reconstruction of houses outpaced the reconstruction of the electrical network. Nearly 100 Bosnian-Croat families returned to their reconstructed homes. The Croatian Government donated materials for rebuilding 30 houses; the German Government donated funding for 21 house reconstructions, and the NGO donated materials for rebuilding 12 homes. In times when electricity is critical for heat, cooperation between local leaders, citizens of BiH, and SFOR is helping to make it practical for the return process to continue through the winter. While on an air reconnaissance of the southern sector, TFE delivered humanitarian food packets to snow-locked families.

3 through 9 January 2002 TF EAGLE strength was 2,812 U.S. personnel, with the remainder of MND(N) comprised of 2,178 soldiers from the 1st Peacekeeping Russian Separate Airborne Brigade (1PRSAB), the Turkish Battalion Task Force (TU BN TF), and the Nordic-Polish (NordPol) Battle Group (NPBG), consisting of soldiers from Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden. Additionally, the Finnish Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) battalion, augmented by soldiers from the Slovak Republic, served in MND(N). The 1PRSAB conducted joint patrols with the IPTF and also with U.S. Military Police. The TU BN TF
conducted joint patrols and training with the NPBG. CIMIC visited settlements to hand out food packets. TU BN TF EOD conducted Mine Awareness Classes (MAC) at local schools. 10 through 16 January 2002 TF Rifles (1-155 IN, MS ARNG) conducted a joint patrol with the TU BN TF in the TF Rifles AOR. The NPBG conducted a joint patrol with the TU BN TF in the NPBG AOR. The 1PRSAB conducted joint patrols with the IPTF, U.S. Military Police, and TF Rifles in the 1PRSAB AOR. The 1PRSAB also conducted joint range operations with TF 229 Engineers (B Co, 229 Engr Bn) to destroy items from Operation FALL HARVEST XXIV. The TU BN TF CIMIC unit began joint activities with the Finnish CIMIC company in the TU BN TF AOR. The Multi-National Security Unit (MSU) continued to support MND(N) by conducting framework operations.

17 through 23 January 2002 The 1PRSAB conducted joint patrols with the IPTF and TF Rifles in the 1PRSAB AOR. The NPBG CIMIC unit began joint activities with the Finnish CIMIC company in the NPBG AOR while the TU BN TF CIMIC unit continued joint activities with the Finnish CIMIC company in the TU BN TF AOR. The MSU continued to support MND(N) by conducting framework operations.

24 through 30 January 2002 Elements of the Federation Army II Corps joined the 229th Engineer Task Force to repair extensive damage to the Maletici Bridge in the municipality of Lukovac. Completion of the bridge would facilitate access to the village for some 400 Bosnian Serb refugees and allow them to rebuild homes destroyed in the war. The TU BN TF medical group conducted free medical examinations for camp residents in the local Universal Collective Camp. In the TU BN TF AOR, 300 prisoners conducted a hunger strike to protest overcrowding, with nearly 600 prisoners in a 300 person prison. The 1PRSAB conducted joint patrols with the IPTF in the 1PRSAB AOR. TF 229 ENGR conducted mine awareness training.

31 January through 6 February 2002 The 1PRSAB conducted joint patrols with the IPTF in the 1PRSAB AOR. The TU BN TF and NPBG conducted a platoon exchange. TF Pegasus conducted humanitarian assistance missions, delivering food to villages isolated by winter weather conditions. TF 229 ENGR conducted mine awareness training at local schools.

7 through 13 February 2002 MND(N) conducted a number of joint patrols with units inside the AOR and with elements of two battalions from MND(SW). The TU BN TF platoon exchange with NPBG was completed. The NPBG hosted the 2nd Bn Royal Ghurkas (UK) from MND(SW), while the TU BN TF conducted joint patrols in Zenica with an element from the Netherlands Battalion MND(SW). The NPBG also conducted a tactical vehicle movement through parts of the U.S. Northern Task Force (2-22 IN, TF Courage) area. The U.S. Southern Task Force (1-155 IN (M), TF Rifles) conducted a joint patrol with the 1PRSAB. The 1PRSAB also conducted joint night patrols with the IPTF in Janja and Brezovo Polje. MND(N) also conducted an administrative non-tactical combined airborne operation with the 1PRSAB, NPBG (Polish Abn Co), Task Force Med Eagle (TFME), Task Force Thunder, TF 229 Engineers, 50th Finance, Task Force Pegasus, and the Coalition Support Team (SF) parachutists using two UH-60 (Blackhawk) aircraft on the Comanche Base drop zone at Tuzla. The TU BN TF brought students from collective camps in Zenica to their base camp to hold a mine awareness course and a free dental checkup. Several weapon caches were found by both the IPTF and the RS army. TF Rifles reported that the Sultanovici Municipality had begun moving trash from a local garbage dump, which is suspected of covering a mass gravesite. TFE assisted the U.S. State Department by placing Bosnian war criminal reward posters within the Republika Srpska (Bosnian Serb) area. The reward posters were immediately removed without TFE authority.

14 through 20 February 2002 Polish Colonel Francishek Kochanovski relinquished command of the NPBG to Danish Colonel Agner Rokos. 1PRSAB and Finnish CIMIC supported returnees to Djulici by constructing a bridge over the Sapna River. The US Southern Task Force (1-155 IN (M), TF Rifles) conducted a joint patrol with the 1PRSAB. The 1PRSAB also conducted joint patrols with the IPTF in Janja and Brezovo Polje. TFE continued placing Bosnian war criminal reward posters within the Republika Srpska (Bosnian Serb) area. The first group of reward posters had been removed without TFE authority.

21 through 27 February 2002 The Luka Port on the Sava River in Brcko reopened this week after being closed for ten years. The US Southern Task Force (1-155 IN (M), TF Rifles) conducted a joint patrol with the 1PRSAB. The 1PRSAB also conducted joint patrols with the IPTF in Janja and Brezovo Polje. SFOR provided support in the capture of escaped criminal Tahir Cokic on 21 February near Lukavac in coordination with local police authorities, the IPTF, and the Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU). TF Rifles continued to monitor trash removal by the Sultanovici Municipality from a local garbage dump suspected of covering a mass gravesite. TFE assisted the U.S. State Department by placing Bosnian war criminal reward posters within the Republika Srpska. The reward posters continued to be removed without TFE authority. The MSU continued to support MND(N) by conducting framework operations.

28 February through 6 March 2002 TF EAGLE current strength was 2,760 U.S. personnel, with the remainder of MND(N) comprised of 2,178 soldiers from the 1PRSAB, the TU BN TF, and the NPBG, consisting of soldiers from Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden. Additionally, the Finnish CIMIC battalion, augmented by soldiers from the Slovak Republic, served in MND(N). The U.S. transition began in preparation for the 5 April transfer to SFOR 11. Troops moved into temporary housing in preparation for their replacements, and new units began to arrive. TF Courage discovered an ordnance cache after being tipped off by a local citizen. A large quantity of ammunition, landmines, grenades, mortar rounds, and 11 chemical protective masks were found inside a building, although there were no weapons. The cache was inspected by an EOD team and moved to the Eagle Base munitions storage. War veterans staged protests in Orasje and Zepce. In Zepce, a crowd of 150 people blocked traffic briefly. Local police and an element from NPBG were on the scene. Meanwhile, a crowd of about 100 people formed near the Sava river bridge in Orasje. The event was controlled by local police and monitored by elements of TF Courage and TF Pegasus. Both demonstrations dispersed peacefully by around 1200 hours. Demonstrations also occurred in Modrica and Bratunacthese involved B-Serb displaced persons who did not want to be evicted from their current homes. Both demonstrations were peaceful and were monitored by the local police and SFOR
soldiers.

7 through 13 March 2002 Task Force Med-Eagle conducted two "Med-Cap" missions to provide basic medical and dental care to people in a cooperative effort by the U.S. Medical staffs and the MND(N) CIMIC company. The Community Infrastructure Reconstruction Program (CIRP) completed a $150,000 project to provide an electrical network in the Odzak municipality. The 1PRSAB conducted joint patrols with the IPTF in Janja and Brezovo Polje. The Turkish Battalion familiarized the Portuguese Operational Reserve (OPRES) company from MND(SW) to their area in MND(N). The OPRES conducted standard framework patrols throughout the Turkish area. The US Southern Task Force (1-155 IN (M), TF Rifles)
continued to monitor trash removal by the Sultanovici municipality from a local garbage dump. The majority of the dumpsite was cleared, with a central road being the only remaining section not inspected. The fact that no bodies were found may give the Zvornik Government an excuse to stall the remaining road excavation.

14 through 20 March 2002 Displaced persons returning to their pre-war homes generated international attention and some level of unrest in the local population. MG H. Steven Blum, MND(N) Commander, and BG Reflik Lendo, Commander, II Corps VF-B [*Vojske Feracije*Bosniac (Muslim units of the Bosnian Federation Army)], jointly organized a "Friendship Concert" at the Domu Boraca Concert Hall in Tuzla. An electric project was completed in Ulovic, a Bosniac and Bosnian- Croat "returns" village in the Brcko District. The 1PRSAB conducted joint patrols with the IPTF and, for the first time, with local police. The TU BN TF continued their mine awareness courses presented at local schools. The MSU continued to support MND(N) by conducting framework operations. The US Southern Task Force (1-155 IN (M), TF Rifles) continued to monitor the search for a mass gravesite at a former trash dump in the Sultanovici municipality.

21 through 27 March 2002 The NPBG hosted the first Danish Contingent (DANCON) road march of 2002. Approximately 200 soldiers from SFOR marched 30 kilometers through the hills of Doboj. Task Force Med-Eagle conducted a Med-Cap mission to provide basic medical and dental care. A new support center in Tuzla was established jointly by U.S. forces and the Finnish CIMIC Company of MND(N) to assists local civilians with returnee problems. The mine clearance program officially resumed and was to last until November. The 1PRSAB conducted joint patrols with the IPTF. The 1PRSAB conducted joint patrols with the TU BN TF for the first time in the TU BN TF AOR. TU BN TF continued mine awareness courses at local schools. The US Southern Task Force (now 1-14 IN (L), TF Dragon) continued to monitor the search for a mass gravesite at a trash dump in Sultanovici.

28 March through 3 April 2002 Task Force Eagle (TFE) was now based on the 25th Infantry Division (Light) (Schofield Barracks, Hawaii), and Reserve and Army National Guard units from 11 states with a strength of 2,074 U.S. personnel. The remainder of MND(N) consisted of 2,169 soldiers from the 1PRSAB, the TU BN TF, and the NP BG, which included soldiers from Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden, plus a Finnish Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) company augmented by soldiers from the Slovak Republic.


In support of UNHCR, soldiers from the 1PRSAB assisted returnees in moving household goods from Divic to Zeljova. In Tadici, TF Warhawk (1-54 IN) and IPTF-Brcko monitored a suspected mass gravesite excavated by the International Committee for Missing Persons (ICMP). In Bratunac, a Finnish CIMIC team reported that 293 returnee homes were without electricity. An NP BG element reported that local Bosnian-Serbs living in Kotorsko were afraid to return to their homes in Vuzuca. The 1PRSAB conducted joint patrols with the IPTF. TU BN TF continued mine awareness classes in local schools. The mine clearance program continued.

4 through 10 April 2002 In a formal Transfer of Authority (TOA) ceremony at Eagle Base on 5 April, MG Charles H. Swannack, Jr., succeeded MG H. Steven Blum as commander of MND(N). The Division main effort is the active harvest of illegal weapons.

Supporting efforts remain displaced persons and refugee returns and monitoring AFBiH de-mining operations. The 1PRSAB assisted 34 families in relocating from Divici to Zelevo. The de-mining program continued.

11 through 17 April 2002 A top priority was preparation for the closure of Camp Comanche and the consolidation and transfer of equipment. The de-mining program continued.

18 through 24 April 2002 MND(N) main effort remained the active harvest of illegal weapons and displaced persons and refugee (DPRE) returns. TF 1-14 continued to provide assistance to DPRE's in the returns process. TF 1-151 also monitored a bridge opening ceremony in Samac. NP BG harvested a large cache of weapons, which included 660kg of TNT, 120 anti-tank mines, and a small number of mortar and RPG systems. 1PRSAB continued framework operations and joint patrols with the IPTF in their AOR. TU BN TF continued with general framework operations, CIMIC patrols, and conducted mine awareness courses for students. The de-mining program continued.

25 April through 1 May 2002 MND(N) main effort remained to facilitate DPRE returns by local and international agencies. Unit activities supporting the main effort include NP BG initiation of Operation "ACTIVE HARVEST" to remove illegal weapons/ ordnance from the populace. The NP BG and TF 1-25 AVN participated in Operation Joint Resolve XXVI from 24-26 APR. The exercise, hosted by MND(SE), demonstrated SFOR's ability to conduct cross-boundary operations and reinforce an adjacent division. TF 1-151 conducted a joint patrol in Republika Srpska with 1PRSAB to commemorate the historical link-up between the Russian and US forces on the Elbe River in 1945. MND(N) continued to support the de-mining program of the BiH Armed Forces.

2 through 8 May 2002 MND(N) strength increased slightly, with TF EAGLE having 2,179 U.S. soldiers and the remainder of MND(N) totaling 2,183 non-US personnel. Unit activities included NP BG continuation of the ACTIVE HARVEST operation to remove illegal weapons and ordnance from the populace. The TBTF led a joint effort with the MSU and TF 1-25 to contribute to security for the Israeli/BiH
World Cup rugby match in Zenica on 4 May. The NPBG hosted the Danish Contingent's 30 km road march on 5 May; more than 400 civilian and military personnel participated. Additionally, NPBG monitored the potentially contentious Orthodox Easter services in Bocinja Donja without incident. TF 1-151 conducted joint framework operations (29 April-5 May) with the Portuguese Operational Reserves. 1PRSAB and TF 1-14 conducted joint patrols in Sekovici. The de-mining program continued.

9 through 15 May 2002 The NP BG continued ACTIVE HARVEST operations to remove illegal weapons/ordnance from the populace. During the week NP BG completed companylevel HARVEST operations and on 13 May transitioned to battle group-focused operations. TF 1-14, TF 1-25, the MSU, and other divisional assets facilitated local and regional police security efforts in Bratunac for the Vuk Karadzic School Memorial Ceremony on 11 May. This potentially contentious ceremony, which commemorated the massacre of nearly 850 men and boys ten years ago, was carried out without incident. MG Charles Swannack and soldiers from TF 1-151 attended 1PRSAB's Victory Day celebration at Camp Uglevik on 9 May commemorating Russia's defeat of German forces during WWII. The TU BN TF conducted live-fire exercises at the Mosanica Range. The de-mining program continued.

16 through 22 May 2002 Unit activities supporting the main effort include day and night patrols in DPRE areas. During the past week, NPBG completed battle group-focused ACTIVE
HARVEST operations and transitioned to division-level operations on 20 May. TF 1-151 continued its ACTIVE HARVEST Information Operations campaign in preparation for operations next week. TF 1-14 conducted non-lethal weapons training with the 549th MP Company at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Connor. The BiH Armed Forces-led de-mining program continued.

23 through 29 May 2002 Unit framework operations included day and night patrols in DPRE areas, demining monitoring, and weapon storage site inspections. The NPBG successfully completed division-level ACTIVE HARVEST operations to remove illegal weapons/ordnance from the populace and monitored the Komusina Youth March by nearly 2,000 children on 25 May. TF 1-151 initiated focused patrols on 27 May to determine areas suitable for subsequent HARVEST operations. TF 1-14 and TF 1-25 conducted air-ground operations in concert with State Border Service personnel to disrupt smuggling activities along the eastern Republika Srpska border with the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). 1PRSAB continued force reduction while at the same time transitioning new soldiers into MND(N). TF EAGLE conducted a Memorial Day ceremony on 26 May highlighted by a wreath laying ceremony at facilities on Eagle Base named in honor of Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.

30 May through 5 June 2002 While US strength in TF EAGLE remained relatively constant at 2,169 personnel, restructuring caused non-US strength in MND(N) to decline to 1,993. During the week TF 1-151 continued focused patrols as part of operation ACTIVE HARVEST, collecting weapons and ordnance from previously unharvested areas. TF 1-14 monitored a locally led weapons harvest in Vlasenica on 31 May that was conducted in response to a school shooting that occurred in late April when a student shot two professors before turning the weapon on himself. 1PRSAB and the MSU monitored a mosque cornerstone-laying ceremony in Dulici on 31 May. Lance Corporal Jakob Lyndbol, a NP BG soldier injured in an armored vehicle accident this week, died in Denmark after being flown home with family members. The de-mining program continued.

6 through 12 June 2002 Non-US strength in MND(N) continued to decline, reaching 1,795 personnel. During the week TF 1-151 continued to collect weapons and ordnance as part of Operation ACTIVE HARVEST. TF 1-25 AVN conducted aerial gunnery for OH-58D and UH-60L crews at Glamoc from 7-15 June. TF 1-14 conducted joint patrols 8-18 June with a Portuguese Company that acts as the SFOR Operational Reserve in order to familiarize this unit with the AOR. From 8 to 14 June TU
BN reduced their force by 70 heavy vehicles and 180 personnel. 1PRSAB also continued force reductions and preparations for closure of Camp Priboj. The demining program continued.

13 through 19 June 2002 Unit framework operations in MND(N) included day and night patrols in DPRE areas and weapon storage site inspections. The de-mining program continued. TF 1-151 continued Operation ACTIVE HARVEST and collected weapons and ordnance in substantial amounts. On 17 June TF 1-151 transitioned to major HARVEST operations in Brcko, Tuzla, Orasje, and Samac. On 14 June TF
1-25's OH-58D and UH-60L aircrews completed aerial gunnery live fire tables VII and VIII at Glamoc Range. TU BN TF completed personnel and equipment reductions on 14 June when their equipment departed Split, Croatia; the TU BN TF end-strength was now 520. On 16 June the Deputy Commanding General (DCG) MND(N) presided over a transfer of authority ceremony between the outgoing Special Forces Coalition Support Team (SFCST) and the incoming Conventional Coalition Support Team (CCST). On 18 June, TF 1-14 and a Portuguese company from the SFOR ground Operational Reserve (OPRES) completed AOR familiarization. Also on 18 June CAPT Heikki Mahlamaki transferred authority for the Finnish Contingent, CIMIC, and G5, to COL Kari Pohjala.

27 June through 3 July 2002 In MND(N) the Russian Military Contingent (RMC) replaced the 1PRSAB, which together with the reductions in the TU BN TF brought non-US strength down to 1,718. Unit operations included day and night patrols in displaced person, refugee, and evacuee (DPRE) areas, de-mining monitoring, and weapon storage site inspections. Command emphasis remained on force protection and counter-terrorism activities. During the week TU BN TF initiated ACTIVE
HARVEST patrols in rural areas throughout their AOR. TF 1-151 conducted their final AAR for their ACTIVE HARVEST operations, and continued destruction of collected weapons. In the Russian Military Contingent (RMC) sector, personnel and equipment continued to move to Camp Ugljevik to facilitate closure of Camp Priboj.

4 through 10 July 2002 In MND(N) unit included day and night patrols in DPRE areas, de-mining monitoring, and weapon storage site inspections. TU BN TF conducted ACTIVE HARVEST patrols and collected weapons/ordnance from rural areas within their AOR. Task Force Med Eagle (TFME) conducted a mass casualty (MASCAL) exercise at Eagle Base on 3 July. On 4 July TF 1-151 monitored a general workers strike in the Tuzla canton. TF 1-14 monitored the White Mosque Ceremony in Srebrenica on 5 July.

11 through 17 July 2002 On 12 July the RMC met with local government officials and signed over ten buildings on Camp Priboj. Negotiations continued for the transfer of the three remaining buildings in order to close this camp. On 13 July TF 1-151 Infantry conducted a mass casualty (MASCAL) exercise at Camp McGovern. The NPBG monitored Saint Peter's Day ceremonies in Pribinic on 13-14 July. TF 1-25 Aviation conducted an aerial gunnery exercise including live fire of hellfire missiles at Glamoc Range on 16-20 July. The TU BN TF continued to conduct ACTIVE HARVEST operations to remove illegal weapons/ordnance from the populace in rural areas and commenced similar activities in urban areas on 15 July. TF 1-14 Infantry initiated an ACTIVE HARVEST Information Operations campaign throughout their AOR in preparation for weapons/ordnance collection efforts scheduled to begin on 29 July. 18 through 24 July 2002 During the week, TU BN TF completed battle group-focused "harvest operations" (confiscation of illegal weapons) and transitioned to division-level harvest operations in rural and urban areas. TF 1-14 Infantry continued an Information Operations campaign throughout its AOR in preparation for its ACTIVE HARVEST operation on 29 July. Additionally, TF MedEagle conducted a MEDCAP on 17 July in Vlasenica to provide medical care to local citizens and assist local officials in establishing treatment facilities within their community. On 20 July NPBG monitored two small ceremonies and a large Catholic ceremony in Novi Seher with nearly 3,000 attendees. All three were peaceful.

TF 1-25 Aviation completed advanced platoon live-firing Tables 9 and 10 at the Glamoc range in MND(SW) on 20 July.

25 through 31 July 2002 During the week TU BN TF completed division-level operations to confiscate illegal weapons/ordnance, while TF 1-14 Infantry initiated focused patrol ACTIVE HARVEST operations in the rural areas of their AOR. TF 1-25
Aviation and TF 1-151 Infantry conducted integrated air-ground operations with the Bosnian State Border Service 25-26 July to monitor smuggling activities along the Sava River near Brcko.

1 through 7 August 2002 During the week TF 1-14 IN continued ACTIVE HARVEST operations to remove illegal weapons/ordnance from the populace. On 4 August, 245 International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) contracted security guards arrived at Eagle Base and began training to take over security responsibilities at all TFE base camps. On 15 August MND(N) hosted Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) representatives who visited soldiers throughout the MND(N) AOR. MND(N) hosted an NCO Professional Development Course at Eagle Base from 5-8 August for 22 noncommissioned officers from the Bosnian Federation (VF) and Serbian Republic (VRS) Armed Forces. The four-day program covered leadership, NCO duties and responsibilities, training management, and culminated in a Sergeant's Time Training practical exercise.

8 through 14 August 2002 TF 1-14 achieved excellent success conducting active harvest operations in rural areas to remove illegal weapons/ordnance from the populace. The RMC initiated information operations for MND(N)'s next ACTIVE HARVEST campaign. Local police and TF 1-151 monitored a peaceful Serb Orthodox ceremony in Jasenica on 9 August, and TF 1-151 also monitored a motorcycle rally in Odzak, 9-11 August. TF 1-14 monitored a Mosque opening ceremony in Hajvazi on 11 August.

15 through 21 August 2002 The main event in MND(N) during the past week was a very successful Junior Officer Familiarization Course conducted for thirty-six VF and VRS commissioned officers. Three civilian students and three HQ SFOR representatives were also present. The program provided the officers with an overview of peacekeeping operations throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina. TF 1-14 completed Active Harvest operations in rural areas to confiscate illegal weapons/ordnance. The RMC continued to conduct information operations for an ACTIVE HARVEST campaign in their AOR. NPBG conducted a Transfer of Authority ceremony on 18 August to welcome the incoming commander, Colonel Tadeusz Sapierzynski. The ITT contract guard force assumed security duties on 15
August at their respective satellite locations throughout TFE AOR. On 15 August TFE began redeployment of 98 soldiers to Fort Stewart, GA, and 65 soldiers to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in preparation for TOA activities with SFOR 12. On 17-18 August, Task Force Eagle provided a current operations overview to Staff Delegation members from the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). The TFE Area Support Team (AST) in Taszar provided the Hungarian military with 10 light sets to enable them to observe water levels along the Danube River, during flooding that occurred throughout Europe during the past week.

22 through 28 August 2002 The MND(N) reception of SFOR 12 soldiers from the 28th Infantry Division (PA ARNG) began with the arrival of 1,581 soldiers. As of 27 August SFOR 11 had redeployed 274 soldiers to their respective home stations. On 24 August, local police and the NPBG monitored the Kosava Mosque opening ceremony. On 25 August local police and TF 1-14 IN monitored a religious ceremony in Kladanj. Additionally, a TF 1-14 IN EOD team destroyed 2,184 pieces of unexploded ordnance collected during Operation ACTIVE HARVEST.

29 August through 4 September 2002 The main event in MND(N) during the past week was the arrival of the main body of the 28th Infantry Division (M), PA ARNG (SFOR 12). The soldiers continued with inprocessing and their left seat-right seat rides with SFOR 11 counterparts. From 26 August to 1 September, the Portuguese Operational Reserve Ground (OPRES (GRD)) conducted training in the TU BN TF AOR. Training included joint patrols, AOR familiarization, and equipment and weapon familiarization. Local Police and NPBG monitored the Ozren Monastery Celebration in Petrovo (27-29 August). The NPBG also monitored with local police the 151st Traditional Fair in Derventa on 27-29 August. On 28 August TF 1-14 IN destroyed weapons and munitions collected during Operation ACTIVE HARVEST at the Zenica Steel Mill in the TU BN TF AOR. The weapons included 218 rifles, 37 machine guns, 9 handguns, 11 shotguns, and 28 anti-tank mines. The RMC and the CCST monitored a Mosque dedication ceremony in Glinje on 31 August-1 September. On 1 September the NPBG and local police monitored a Mosque opening ceremony in Grapska Gornja. Approximately 60 workers protested at the Polihem Chemical Factory on 2 September. Task Force 1-151 IN, IPTF, and local police were present to monitor the situation.

5 through 11 September 2002 The main activities in MND(N) during the week were the left seat-right seat transition rides between incoming SFOR 12 soldiers and their departing SFOR 11 counterparts. In operations, TF 1-14 monitored the exhumation of a mass gravesite in Kamenica. Digging at the gravesite was expected to continue for at least another week. To date, it is estimated that 50 bodies and 152 body parts have been exhumed. On 5 September the U.S. State Department transferred ownership of Camp Comanche to the Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina. U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina Clifford Bond and MG Charles H. Swannack Jr., MND(N) CDR, took part in the ceremony. Also, on 5 September TF Med Eagle conducted an Immunization Project in the village of Maoca. A contingent of five nurses and three doctors from the Public Health Center in Maoca assisted in the project, which immunized 314 school age children. During the week the RMC concluded the training phase of Operation ACTIVE HARVEST and on 9 September began the collection phase. Highlights of this operation thus far include the collection of 21 rifles, 26 machine guns, 207 antipersonnel hand grenades, 39 100mm artillery rounds, 20,828 rounds of various small-arms ammunition, 2,000 grams of TNT, and 500 grams of plastic explosives.

12 through 18 September 2002 The main event in MND(N) was the Transfer Of Authority (TOA) ceremony conducted between the 25th ID (L) and the 28th ID (M) on 16 September. On 11 September TF 1-109 conducted a patrol in Hans Pijesak in search of a reported weapons cache. The patrol uncovered one M80 rocket launcher and several bags of 7.62mm ammunition in a garbage dump. The 28th ID (M) Ground and Air Quick Reaction Force (QRF) conducted successful certification training on 11
September. On 13 September 31 officers from the 10th Mechanized Battalion headquarters arrived from Poland in the NordPol AOR. The 10th Mechanized Battalion has operational control (OPCON) of the NordPol BG and operates as a subordinate unit during Operation DYNAMIC RESOLVE. The Turkish Battalion monitored an Independence celebration in Rujnica from 13 - 15 September. During the week the RMC conducted ACTIVE HARVEST activities, setting up fixed collection points and conducting door-to-door operations. The RMC collected 34 sub-machineguns; 19,935 rounds of small arms ammunition; 26 artillery rounds; 100 mortar rounds; 288 antipersonnel hand grenades; and 1,750 grams of TNT.

19 through 25 September 2002 With the completion of the TOA, TF EAGLE was now based on the 28th Infantry Division (Mechanized) (28ID), Pennsylvania Army National Guard. MND(N) strength included 1,548 US soldiers of TF EAGLE, plus 1,450 soldiers from the Russian Military Contingent (RMC), the Turkish Battalion Task Force (TU BN TF), and the Nordic-Polish (Nord-Pol) Battle Group (NPBG), which consisted of soldiers from Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden. The Finnish Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) unit, augmented by seven Slovak soldiers, also served in MND(N). During the week TF 1-109 observed mass grave exhumations. The International Commission for Missing Persons conducted the exhumations, and 400 bodies were expected to be uncovered. On 18 September a crowd surrounded local authorities who were attempting to close down two parking lots in the Arizona Market. Local police sent a SWAT team into the market to disperse the crowd and a fight broke out between the police and citizens. Ten people were arrested and four people were reportedly injured. TF 1-104 stepped up routine patrols throughout the Brcko District as a result. The next day 50 people peacefully demonstrated in front of the Brcko municipal building to protest the use of force by local police. Four AH-64s and three UH-60s from TF 1-183 Aviation conducted a combined arms live-fire exercise on 19 September as part of Operation DYNAMIC RE- SPONSE. The 10th Polish Mechanized Battalion remained under the operational control of the NPBG and was fully integrated into framework operations. From 19 to 23 September the RMC destroyed weapons and ammunition collected in Operation ACTIVE HARVEST. TF 1-104 and TF 1-109 conducted non-lethal weapons training from 18 to 25 September, which resulted in two platoons from each TF being qualified. On 24 September one platoon from TF 1-14, MND(N) Strategic Reserve Force, conducted Persons Designated with Special Status
(PDSS) extraction training with the MSU in Butmir. The NPBG conducted company-level ACTIVE HARVEST operations throughout its AOR; collections totaled two mortars, 5,612 rounds of small arms ammunition, 36 hand grenades, and 10,000 grams of TNT.

26 September through 2 October 2002 On 25 September the Polish 10th Mechanized Bn concluded its DYNAMIC RESPONSE mission and began redeployment. From 26 to 29 September TF 1-183 AVN conducted a combined arms live fire exercise (CALFEX) at Glamoc Range in the MND(SE) AOR, in conjunction with Operation DYNAMIC RESPONSE. TF 1-183 AVN supported this operation with two AH-64s and one UH-60, which provided lift capability for the Dutch Marines who served as the Strategic Reserve Force. The TU BN TF and TF MEDEAGLE conducted a joint Medical Civilian Assistance Program (MEDCAP) exercise on 26 September in the town of Vares. Thirty-five local civilians were diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic diseases. On 27 September, 24 soldiers from the 7th Army Reserve Command (ARCOM) arrived in the MND(N) AOR to conduct a left seat/right seat ride with the ASG. TF 1-109 continued to observe the ICMP exhumations of the mass grave in Kamenica.

3 through 9 October 2002 The MND(N) task forces (TFs) conducted increased presence patrols prior to and during the BiH elections held on 5 October. MND(N) provided liaison officers OSCE offices in the MND(N) AOR to provide direct communication/
coordination between SFOR and the OSCE. TF 1-109 continued to observe the ICMP exhumations of the mass grave in Kamenica.

17 through 23 October 2002 The main event in the MND(N) AOR this week was the Armed Forces BiH
Commander's Conference, 17 OCT 02. Attendees included BG John T. von Trott, CG MND(N), and Commanders from the AF BiH. The conference focused on opening lines of communication to enable a better understanding of AF BiH issues and enhance rapport between the MND(N) and AF BiH Commanders. On 16 October 20 SFOR 13 personnel arrived on a reconnaissance and were hosted by G5, TF 1-109, and TF 1-104; they departed on 20 October. From 15 to 19 October the NordPol BG destroyed weapons, ammunition, and ordinance collected in Operation ACTIVE HARVEST. The NordPol BG also conducted an information operations campaign for the upcoming fall ACTIVE HARVEST operation. On 18 October the division Quick Reaction Force (QRF) conducted joint training with TF 1-183 AVN. From 18 to 19 October the UN Environmental Program (UNEP) conducted investigations in Hans Pijesak, in the TF 1-109 AOR, to determine the environmental effects of depleted uranium (DU) munitions expended during the war in BiH. The investigation was not under SFOR control, but an EOD team was on-call to provide emergency support should the need have arisen. The Red Cross ceased operations within the MND(N) AOR on 18 October, and G1 and G3 offices assumed the duties performed by that non-governmental organization (NGO). On 21 October the Turkish Battalion TF held a bridge opening ceremony in Zavidovici. The bridge, which was damaged as a result of heavy flooding, was repaired in a joint effort between the TU BN TF and US. The US provided the material for the bridge repair while the TU BN TF carried out the repairs.

24 through 30 October 2002 A weapons sweep conducted on 28 October in the TF 1-109 area of responsibility uncovered a possible improved observation post along with the following weapons, ammunition, and ordnance3 rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), 2 light anti-tank weapons, 1 90mm rocket, 2 Russian antipersonnel landmines, 6 hand grenades, and 100 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. The Portuguese Operational Reserve (OPRES) began familiarization operations within the NPBG AOR on 25 October. A large quantity of ammunition and ordnance was discovered by local police and turned over to the Civilian Protection Unit of Gradacac on 25 October. The items uncovered included 225 mortar rounds of various size, 49 hand grenades, and 2,250 rounds of various caliber ammunition. On 26 October TF 1-104 detained a local national in reference to alleged surveillance of SFOR activities. Upon searching the individual's house an RPG was found. The individual was detained for questioning.

31 October through 6 November 2002 On 1 November four Bosnian Serb houses were partially dismantled in Kotorsko due to violation of the construction ban put in place by the municipal government. Local police provided security, and the NPBG monitored the situation. Portuguese Operational Reserve (OPRES) ground familiarization in the NPBG AOR concluded on 3 November. The SFOR 13/14 Flow and Structure Planning Conference began at Eagle Base on 4 November. The NPBG conducted ACTIVE HARVEST operations throughout its AOR. Some highlights from the NPBG operation included the seizure of 7,785 rounds of small arms ammunition of various caliber, 8 anti-tank rockets, and 90 grenades.

7 through 13 November 2002 Command emphasis remained on force protection and counterterrorism activities. Typically, the division conducted over 100 presence and reconnaissance patrols daily. The SFOR 13/14 Flow Structure Conference at Eagle Base ended. Two trucks loaded with over 30 tons of illicit explosives were intercepted while attempting to cross into Yugoslavia from MND(N). The NPBG initiated a WEAPONS HARVEST program, while TF 1-104 conducted reconnaissance efforts and launched the information operations phase of its upcoming HAR- VEST operation. Command of the RMC changed, with COL Sergey Shakurin replacing COL Sergey Prokoshev, who rotated back to Russia after almost a year in command.

14 through 20 November 2002 Assigned strength in MND(N) declined, with TFE dropping to 1,434 US personnel and the non-US elements falling to 1,261. The Danish Contingent (DANCON) conducted an AOR reconnaissance of the regions it will be taking over from the US TF 1-104 CAV and TF 1-109 IN. The European Union Police Mission (EUPM) provided a familiarization brief on 13 November to the MND(N) command and staff. The Ready Reaction Forces (RRF) from MND(SW) and MND(SE) also conducted reconnaissance for the upcoming JOINT RESOLVE XXVII training operation to be held in MND(N) from 1 to 5 December. TF 1-104 CAV continued information operations associated with its upcoming ACTIVE HARVEST operation. The NPBG continued its ACTIVE HARVEST operations, gathering 22,364 rounds of small arms ammunition, 514 hand grenades, 27 landmines, 14 rockets, and 17.7kg of explosives.

21 through 27 November 2002 TF 1-104 CAV provided security at the Lukavac Railhead from 21 to 23 November to support the shipment of US equipment to the Central Region. TF 1-104 CAV also continued ACTIVE HARVEST operations, with collection to date including 24,717 rounds of small arms ammunition, 195 hand grenades, 127 anti-personnel mines, and 37 anti-tank mines. On 24 November the NordPol BG concluded its ACTIVE HARVEST operations, which collected a total of 57,388 rounds of small arms ammunition, 878 hand grenades, 148 rifle grenades, 36 land mines, 21 rockets, and 26.2kg of explosives.

28 November through 4 December 2002 MND(N) strength increased slightly, TFE to 1,493, and the non-US elements to
1,497 personnel. Both the MND(SE) and MND(SW) Ready Reaction Forces (RRFs), along with the Operational Reserve Force (ORF) from Kosovo, and the Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU) arrived at Eagle Base between 29 November and 2 December to begin AFSOUTH's JOINT RESOLVE XXVII exercise. TF 1-104 CAV continued ACTIVE HARVEST operations throughout its AOR, collecting 54,553 rounds of small arms ammunition, 137 landmines, 492 grenades, 46 light machine guns, 8 rocket launchers, and 10kg of explosives. TF 1-183 AVN provided UH-60s for Air Assault training on 26 November and AH-64s for a live fire exercise on 29-30 November in support of MND(SW) exercise STRONG GUARDIAN. A mass gravesite was identified by the International Criminal Tribunal of the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), near the city of Zvornik within the TF 1-109 IN AOR. Officials expected to unearth 600 bodies from the gravesite, and MND(N) was to provide security at the site until exhumations begin.

5 through 11 December 2002 Exercise JOINT RESOLVE XXVII was conducted in MND(N) AOR from 29 November to 09 December. Participating were TF 1-104 CAV, TF 1-109 IN, TF 1-183 AVN, both the MND(SE) and MND(SW) Ready Reaction Forces (RRFs), the Operational Reserve Force (ORF) from Kosovo, and the Multinational Specialized Unit (MSU). TF 1-104 CAV conducted Crowd and Riot Control (CRC) training with the MSU company at Camp McGovern from 02 to 04
December. The MSU SWAT Team also conducted Static Load and Fast Rope training with TF 1-183 AVN, and executed a forced entry utilizing fast rope from a UH-60, as part of the CRC Combined Training Exercise. TF 1-104 CAV also conducted joint patrols with MND(SW) RRF and the ORF, while TF 1-109 IN conducted joint patrols with MND(SE) RRF from 02 to 04 December. TF 1-104 CAV continued ACTIVE HARVEST operations, confiscations to date including 68,335 rounds of small arms ammunition, 176 landmines, 587 hand grenades, 51 light machine guns, 10 rocket launchers, and 11kg of explosives.

20 through 26 December 2002 TF 1-109 IN continued to conduct robust deterrence patrols within its AOR and to plan for ACTIVE HARVEST operations to be conducted in January and February 2003. TF 1-104 CAV continued deterrence patrolling and conducted joint patrols with the RMC. TF 1-104 CAV ACTIVE HARVEST seizures to date included 134,348 rounds of small arms ammunition, 242 landmines, 1,812 hand grenades, 28 rocket launchers, and 76kg of explosives. The U.S. Coalition Support Team and the Multinational Specialized Unit conducted joint airborne training from 16 to18 December, culminating with a combined jump on 19 December. Forty-six paratroopers participated in the combined jump, and TF
1-183 AVN supported the exercise with two UH-60s. TF MEDEAGLE conducted a Medical Civilian Assistance Program (MEDCAP) on 21 December in Modrica, where 122 local civilians were treated for various aliments.

27 December 2002 through 2 January 2003 At the end of the year, MND(N) strength had again declined to 1,404 US
personnel in TF EAGLE, and 1,386 soldiers in the non-US elements of the force. TF 1-109 IN continued to conduct robust deterrence patrols throughout their AOR and conducted joint reconnaissance patrols with the MSU, focusing on the opstinas (counties) of Hans Pijesak and Vlasenica. TF 1-109 IN continued preparations for ACTIVE HARVEST operations in 2003. The TF 1-104 CAV ACTIVE HARVEST operations concluded on 24 December included the seizure of 143,433 rounds of small arms ammunition; 250 landmines; 1,969 hand grenades; 233 rifle grenades; 21 mortar rounds; 6 mortars; 28 rocket launchers; and 78kg of explosives. The realignment of MND(N) continued with the arrival of the 2nd Portuguese Company, consisting of 48 vehicles and 145 personnel, to the NPBG AOR on 26 December. The NPBG was to conduct a TOA ceremony with the Multinational BG (MNBG) on 05 January 2003. The TU BN TF began ACTIVE HARVEST operations on 30 December.

Glossary 1AD
1st Armored Division
1ID
1st Infantry Division
3ID
3d Infantry Division
7ATC
Seventh Army Training Command
21st TSC
21st Theater Support Command
28ID
28th Infantry Division
49AD
49th Armored Division ABiH
Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina ACE
Allied Command Europe ACR
armored cavalry regiment AFB
assault floating bridge AFBiH
Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovena AFSOUTH
Allied Forces South Europe AO
area of operation AOR
area of responsibility APLM
antipersonnel landmine AR
Army regulation ARCOM
Army Reserve Command ARNG
Army National Guard ARRC
ACE Rapid Reaction Corps ASG
area support group AVN
aviation BCT
brigade combat team BG
battle group BiH
Bosne i Hercegovine CALFEX
combined arms live-fire exercise CAV
cavalry CCST
Conventional Coalition Support Team CG
commanding general CG, USAREUR/7A Commanding General, United States Army, Europe, and Seventh Army CIMIC
civil-military cooperation CINCEUR
Commander in Chief, Europe CINCUSAREUR
Commander in Chief, United States Army, Europe CIRP
Community Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project COMSFOR
Commander, Stabilization Force CONUS
continental United States CP
command post CRC
crowd and riot control CS
combat support CSE
combat service equipment CSH
combat support hospital CSS
combat service support CST
Coalition Support Team DANCON
Danish contingent DCG
deputy commanding general DCSOPS
deputy chief of staff, operations DPA
Dayton Peace Agreement DPRE
displaced person and refugee evacuation DU
depleted uranium EAF
Entity Armed Forces EASC
Election Appeal Subcommittee EFMB
Expert Field Medical Badge ENGR
engineer EOD
explosive ordnance detachment ERS
eastern Republika Srpska EUPM
European Union Police Mission EVAC
evacuation FOB
forward operating base FP
force protection FRY
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia FYROM
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia GFAP
General Framework Agreement for Peace GS
general support HDZ
Hrvatska demokratska zajednica Nosne i Hercegovine
(Bosnia-Herzegovina Croatian Democratic Union)
HNS
host-nation support IC
international community ICMP
International Commission on Missing Persons in the Former Yugoslavia ICTY
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia IEBL
inter-Entity boundary line IFOR
Implementation Force IN
infantry IO
information operations IOC
information operations center IPTF
[United Nations] International Police Task Force ISB
intermediate staging base ITT
International Telephone and Telegraph JMC
Joint Military Commission JNA
Yugoslav National Army JRTC
Joint Readiness Training Center KY
Kentucky LANDCENT
Allied Land Forces Central Europe LIWA
Land Information Warfare Agency LNO
liaison officer LOC
line of communications LOGCAP
logistics civil augmentation program MAC
mine awareness class MASCAL
mass casualty MASH
mobile Army surgical hospital MECH
mechanized MEDCAP
medical civilian-assistance program MEDCOM
medical command MGB
medium girder bridge MNBG
multinational battle group MND
multinational division MND(N)
Multinational Division (North)
MND(SE)
Multinational Division (Southeast)
MND(SW)
Multinational Division (Southwest)
MP
military police MSC
major subordinate command MSU
Multinational Specialized Unit MTN DIV
mountain division NAC
North Atlantic Council NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization NBC
nuclear, biological, and chemical NCA
National Command Authority NCO
noncommissioned officer NGO
nongovernmental organization NORDPOL
Nordic-Polish NPBG
Nordic-Polish Battle Group NSE
National Support Element OHR
Office of the High Representative OPCON
operational control OPLAN
operations plan OPRES
operational reserve ORF
operational reserve force OSCE
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe PDSS
person with designated special status PIC
Peace Implementation Council PIFWC
person indicted for war crimes PMO
provost marshal office PRSAB
Peacekeeping Russian Separate Airborne Brigade PSRC
Presidential Selective Reserve Call-Up PSYOP
psychological operations QFR
quick reaction force QRO
quick response options RC
Reserve Component RMC
Russian Military Contingent RPG
rocket-propelled grenade RRF
ready reaction force RS
Republika Srpska RSO
receive, stage, and onward movement RSOI
reception, staging, onward movement, and integration SACEUR
Supreme Allied Commander Europe SASC
Senate Armed Services Committee SF
Special Forces SFCST
Special Forces Coalition Support Team SFOB
southern forward operating base SFOR
Stabilization Force SHAPE
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe SIDA
Swedish International Development Agency SOFA
Status of Forces Agreement SOW
statement of work SPARR
Separate Peacekeeping Russian Regiment SRF
strategic reserve forces SWAT
special weapons and tactics TAA
tactical assembly area TAACOM
theater army area command TF
task force TFE
Task Force Eagle TFME
Task Force Medical Eagle TFS
Task Force Summit TIA
Tuzla International Airport TLE
treaty-limited equipment TOA
transfer of authority TOW
tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided TRIADS
Triwall Delivery System TSB
Taszar Support Base TST
tactical support team TU BN TF
Turkish Battalion Task Force TXARNG
Texas Army National Guard UK
United Kingdom UN
United Nations UNEP
United Nations Environmental Program UNHCR
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNMiBH
United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina UNPA
United Nations protected area UNPROFOR
United Nations Protection Force U.S.

United States USAFE
United States Air Forces in Europe USAID
United States Agency for International Development USAR
United States Army Reserve USAREUR
United States Army, Europe USASETAF
United States Army Southern European Task Force USCINCEUR
United States Commander in Chief, Europe USNS
United States Naval Ship UXO
unexploded ordnance VAT
vulnerability assessment team VF
Vojska Federacije (Federation Army)
VFW
Veterans of Foreign Wars VRS
Vojska Republika Srpska WSS
weapons storage site ZOS
zone of separation