Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, move toward an objective during Operation Iron Eagle IV in Zhegoc, Kosovo, Sept. 12, 2016. U.S. and NATO forces have contributed to the United Nations-mandated peacekeeping mission in Kosovo since June 1999. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval)
By Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval
Multinational Battle Group-East Public Affairs Office
ZHEGOC, Kosovo — Fort Carson Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, took center stage alongside members of the Portuguese and Hungarian armies during Operation Iron Eagle IV Sept. 12, 2016.
Operating under the command of Multinational Battle Group-East, the allied forces came together in an abandoned village in Zhegoc, Kosovo, to demonstrate their full range of operational and tactical capabilities as an infantry asset to the Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission.
“As a light infantry battalion, one of our key mission essential tasks is to conduct offensive operations,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Erhart, commander, 1st Bn., 41st Inf. Reg., 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “One of the most difficult types of offensive operations is to conduct an air insertion to seize an urban area against a near peer competitor.”
Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, take cover on top and underneath the remnants of an abandoned building during Operation Iron Eagle IV, in Zhegoc, Kosovo, Sept. 12, 2016. The Fort Carson Soldiers currently deployed with the Multi-national Battle Group-East joined members of the Portuguese and Hungarian armies in an abandoned village to demonstrate their full range of operational and tactical capabilities as an infantry asset to the Kosovo Force mission. U.S. and NATO forces have contributed to the United Nations-mandated peacekeeping mission in Kosovo since June 1999. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval)
Erhart said the complexity of the operation increases when adding partnered operations with other NATO members, citing the varying levels of training, equipment and experience as challenges.
“(The training) really tested our planning process, staff integration, interoperability and communication,” he said.
The exercise began with the infantrymen’s insertion by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters into an open field. From there, the Soldiers vanished into the tree line. Concealed by the dense Kosovo wood line, the Soldiers cautiously approached their objective, pausing only to discuss the best plan of attack.
About a mile into the trek, Soldiers went silent and became motionless as the objective came into focus. Not far from the multinational formation, opposing forces paced back and forth, seen through the windowsills, carrying assault rifles and training grenades, as if to welcome confrontation.
With eyes on their target, the infantrymen rushed from the hillside, engaging the enemy as they climbed through the remnants of a second-story window. The individual squads moved swiftly through each building, clearing every space and crevice and taking out opposing forces along the way.
As the U.S. Soldiers secured the first three buildings, the Portuguese and Hungarian soldiers from the KFOR Tactical Maneuver Battalion stormed the remaining enemy outposts, securing a high-value target and conquering the final objectives.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pull security for their squad in an abandoned building during Operation Iron Eagle IV in Zhegoc, Kosovo, Sept. 12m 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval)
In total, the joint forces cleared six buildings, three vehicles and eliminated dozens of simulated enemies. As the Soldiers celebrated mission success, Portuguese Capt. Nuno Morgado, a paratrooper from the 2nd Paratrooper Battalion, Rapid Reaction Brigade, reflected on his unit’s performance.
“I thought the operation went quite well, and I was surprised,” he said. “When you have three different countries working on an operation it’s difficult because of the language, because of the radio systems, but we proved we can find a way.”
Because KFOR is dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for the people of Kosovo, infantry operations are not always a top priority, which meant that accomplishing the mission wasn’t easy.
For months, the infantrymen from the U.S., Hungarian and Portuguese armies adjusted their focus from infantry tasks to training that supported the Kosovo Force mission, which is centered on crowd riot control techniques and nonlethal operations.
“We really didn’t do anything like this as a tactical objective for almost seven months because of the special training that we have to have for the Kosovo mission,” said Morgado. “But it’s always important to maintain some readiness, to maintain high spirit on the guys because that’s what we like to do, that’s what we are trained for.”
The day’s operation was just one component of the training, which aside from its infantry-related benefits, strengthened the battle group as a whole, Erhart said.
“The need for mission command during all phases of the operation stressed our communications systems and abilities, just as they would for a (crowd riot control) response,” he said.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, secure a landing zone as a UH-60 Black Hawk prepares to take off during Operation Iron Eagle IV, Sept. 12, 2016, in Zhegoc, Kosovo. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval)
“This operation ensured that all key leaders were familiar with each other, (that) our systems could integrate so we can talk to each other, and (that we were) familiar with the tactical employment of each other’s formation.”
Recognizing the implications of Operation Iron Eagle, Morgado said the training had far-reaching effects outside of the participating units.
“This training is not only good for our soldiers, but it’s good for the people of Kosovo,” he explained. “(They know) that we have forces in Kosovo that can do kinetic operations because we are here to maintain a safe and secure environment and to help ensure the people of Kosovo remain safe.”
With the security of the Kosovar people firmly rooted in everything they do, Erhart and Morgado said they will continue to build on their interoperability and capabilities during crowd riot control operations.
As for working together in the future, Erhart said he wouldn’t hesitate.
“The Portuguese are absolute professionals,” he said. “I would not hesitate to conduct this operation for real if I was asked tomorrow.”