11 Oct. - 6 Nov. 2004

Deployments demonstrates NATO’s commitment to Balkans News 06/10/04 - KFOR Rerserve Force Arrives: Paratroopers Jump into Kosovo 08/10/04 - SFOR NATO Reserve Forces Rehearse in BiH and Kosovo Background October 2004 - SFOR DETERMINED COMMITMENT 04 Operational Rehearsal 11 October - 6 November 2004 Links KFOR website SFOR website NATO has deployed extra troops to Bosnia and Herzegovina and to Kosovo in an operational rehearsal designed to ensure that the Alliance is prepared to respond to any crisis in the region. The rehearsal, codenamed Determined Commitment 2004, runs from 11 October to 6 November 2004. It tests NATO’s ability to quickly reinforce troops on the ground with reserve forces if and when required. It also demonstrates NATO`s strong commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region. Units will arrive by air and land. After processing through reception areas, they will be integrated into the NATO-led SFOR and KFOR peacekeeping operations, performing duties with the in-theatre troops in a wide variety of missions, for example manning checkpoints and conducting routine patrols. This allows the troops to familiarize themselves with the terrain and environment. Following the end of the rehearsal, the reserve forces will return to their home bases. The deployment includes the extra 2,000 troops which will help to boost security for the parliamentary elections in Kosovo on 23 October. The importance of having rapidly deployable reserve forces was demonstrated when inter-ethnic clashes erupted in Kosovo in March this year. NATO was able to quickly put extra troops on the ground, helping to put an end to the violence.