Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Overseas Operations
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Oregon Army Guard chemical officer helps keep Kosovo safe By 100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
 CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – A team of Italian Army Hazmat soldiers approaches a building storing chemical waste and Kosovo Security Forces CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives) company dons protective gear as 1st Lt. Robert Boyer follows, making notes of any hazards at one of Kosovo's largest energy plants in Obilic/Obiliq on Oct. 1. As the safety officer role for the Kosovo Force Regional Command-East deployment, Boyer, an Army chemical officer organic to the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, visits abandoned and functioning factories around Kosovo and recommends how to improve chemical safety. "There are things with toxins that are of legitimate use in our society, and when they go to waste, you need to know what to do with them," said Boyer, who received his bachelor's degree in urban planning from Western Oregon State. Boyer has visited nearly a dozen factories and plants throughout Kosovo. He makes recommendations like adding emergency response plans, removing brush around chemical storage facilities for firefighter access and labeling containers. By visiting these locations as the subject matter expert, he increases KFOR RC-E commander's awareness of environmental safety concerns and efforts to circumvent hazards as part of KFORs mission to maintain a safe and secure environment in Kosovo. On site visits, Boyer works with organizations such as the Ministry of Environment and the NATO advisory liaison team. "Visits to the facilities and factories are critical because it holds these companies accountable for some of the hazardous material stored in these locations," said Lt. Col. Joseph Bolcar, NATO advisory liaison team. "The Hazmat teams conduct an inspection and submit a report to the ministry of environment, which is like our EPA, to help them find other ways to dispose of it. The ministry of environment is the entity that pushes initiatives." Bolcar attends the meetings to give command emphasis as a NATO representative to get involved parties to fix the problems. "Boyer is a subject matter expert really, and working with KSF certainly helps them grow as a nation," said Bolcar, a Cavalry officer organic to the New Jersey Army National Guard. He said it was good to collaborate with the Italian Regional Command West soldiers. "They can work together to figure out the way ahead. Hats off to them doing this thing because it helps them figure out what they need to do and find the right answer to the problem." Members of Kosovo Security Forces, the lead for the factory visits, work closely with Boyer. Since most of the factories and storage facilities are owned by private companies that don't have the resources to dispose of the chemical waste without harming the environment, the KSF helps repackage and dispose of hazardous waste. "Many factories are from 1991. The war started, they closed and the factories are in the same situations since then," said Sgt. Besnik Lokaj, security inspector for the Kosovo Security Forces CBRNE company. "It is important because if these chemicals burn, they will have to evacuate the whole city. We are committed to protecting the citizens and the environment." Lokaj said the U.S. and Italy have helped provide CBRNE training and equipment to enable them to deal with some of the hazardous waste. Boyer has been inspired by the relationships he has developed during the mission and plans to continue to work in the chemical field. "Chemical helps chemical, so it was easy to build relationships with them and get my foot in the door to understanding the current situation," said Boyer.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Oregon National Guard
 New Jersey National Guard
 Kosovo
 Camp Bondsteel
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership State Partnership Program • yesterday
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School Overseas Operations • yesterday
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program State Partnership Program • yesterday
 Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar Guard News • 2 days ago
 2024 (15)  2023 (57)  2022 (71)  2021 (58)  2020 (41)  2019 (56)  2018 (55)  2017 (46)  2016 (31)  2015 (36)  2014 (48)  2013 (64)  2012 (134)  2011 (163)  2010 (179)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil