2002 Operations
The Slovenian Armed Forces is participating in the following four
operations:
- The JOINT FORGE peace support operation (within SFOR international
forces) in Bosnia-Herzegovina
- The NATO-led JOINT GUARDIAN operation (within KFOR international
forces) in Kosovo and Macedonia
- The UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation)
peacekeeping missions in the Middle East
- The UN OHR (Office of the High Representative) in
Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Participation in the JOINT FORGE Peace Support Operation within
SFOR International Forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina
The largest contingent of Slovenian Armed Forces service members is
participating in the JOINT FORGE peace support operation within SFOR
(Stabilisation Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina), which is a continuation
of the JOINT GUARD operation.
Participation by the Slovenian Armed Forces in peace support
operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina dates back to November 1996, when the
Slovenian government put forward an initiative to participate in the
JOINT GUARD peace support operation. On 1 October 1994 the Slovenian
Armed Forces began its participation in an operation in
Bosnia-Herzegovina: members of the aircraft and helicopter unit (three
helicopters and one transport aircraft) performed transport services
for personnel and equipment while still based in Slovenia, and two
liaison officers were in charge of flight coordination in Zagreb
(initially by Slovenian aircraft, and later by international aircraft
as well).
In addition to the helicopter and aircraft unit, a military police
unit and a Slovenian Armed Forces medical unit also participated
within SFOR. A Slovenian Armed Forces officer and a non-commissioned
officer worked in the SFOR-MSU international command in Sarajevo.
The helicopter and aircraft unit of the Slovenian Armed Forces is
an independent unit that answers directly to SFOR command and performs
non-combatant tasks. Participation of this unit commenced at the end
of 1997 with the JOINT GUARD operation. To date, 41 service members of
the 15th Air Force and Air Defence Brigade have been part of the
unit. The unit is responsible for transporting members of SFOR command
and for reconnaissance and photographic coverage for the needs of the
command, and is on stand-by for the secondary transport of
unaccompanied light casualties. The unit has been praised by SFOR
command for its professionalism and has received an award from the
Slovenian Minister of Defence.
A military police unit of the Slovenian Armed Forces performs tasks
within the MSU (Multinational Specialised Unit) regiment, and is
directly subordinate to SFOR command. The regiment is a specialised
international unit performing military policing duties within the
JOINT FORGE operation. It is composed of two platoons: the first has
been operating since 1999, and was joined at a later date by the
second platoon. The platoon service members are assigned military
policing duties such as patrolling, information gathering, protecting
land and people, and the maintenance of order and peace. They also
participate in training: three officers work within the regiment's
command. During the last mandate they were joined by service members
of the Slovenian Armed Forces 10th Armoured Battalion. This unit has
also been praised several times for its performance on assignments.
The Slovenian Armed Forces medical unit began participating within
SFOR in February 2000. It is an independent unit directly answering to
SFOR command. It is a medical station administering primary medical
care to battalion service members (ROLE 1). The unit service members
perform medical examinations, and provide general and emergency
medical assistance to members of the command and other SFOR service
members stationed at the Butmir base in Sarajevo. They participate in
all exercises planned by SFOR command, and performed particularly well
in an exercise involving medical evacuation by helicopter
(Medevac). The unit has been praised several times by SFOR command for
its work and professionalism, and enjoys a high reputation in this
international force.
Motorised Company within the Multinational Battle Group
Since January 2003 a Slovenian Armed Forces motorised company with
86 service members has been participating in the Multinational
Polish-Portuguese-Slovenian Task Group. The unit is stationed in Doboj
in northern Bosnia-Herzegovina, and its purpose within the group is to
ensure a secure environment to enable continuous economic and cultural
development as well as alleviate the consequences of war.
SFOR Command in Sarajevo
In the NATO-led JOINT FORGE operation, the Slovenian Armed Forces
is also participating in SFOR Command in Bosnia-Herzegovina with two
of its service members. An officer and NCO have been at the mission
since September 2002.
National Support Element
Since May 2003 eleven service members of the Slovenian Armed Forces
have been participating in SFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the national
support element, with the task of ensuring administrative and
logistical support to Slovenian Armed Forces units in SFOR in Bosnia-
Herzegovina.
JOINT GUARDIAN Peace Support Operation within KFOR Forces in
Kosovo and Macedonia
The Slovenian Armed Forces has been participating in the second
NATO-led peace support operation, JOINT GUARDIAN, within KFOR (Kosovo
Force) in Macedonia since the beginning of 2000. Initially a group of
six Slovenian officers took part in the operation: three at KFOR
command in Pristina and three at the rear KFOR command in Skopje. Now
one officer and one NCO are taking part in the KFOR command in
Pristina .
UNTSO Peace Mission on the Israeli-Lebanese Border
Since 1998 two Slovenian Armed Forces officers have been
participating as military observers in the United Nations Truce
Supervision Operation mission on the Israeli-Lebanese border. They are
participating in the supervision and maintenance of ceasefire and
other agreements concluded between the warring parties in the area of
the OGG-T (Israel), OGG-D (Syria) and OGL (Lebanon) observation
points. In September 2002 Slovenia sent another officer to this
mission and he is serving as the commander of the group of military
observers in OGG-T.
UN OHR Peacekeeping Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Since mid-July 2001 an officer of the Slovenian Armed Forces has
been assigned to the Office of the High Representative in
Sarajevo. Because Slovenian officers have considerable knowledge of
the history of the former Yugoslavia, they are very welcome as service
members of this peace support operation.
| 
