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Joint Resolve XI
by 1Lt Alain Boy.
First published in Sfor Informer #49, November 25, 1998
 A
never-ending wind-swept deserted plateau at the foot of majestic snow-covered
mountains, 1000 m above sea level. Only a thin trail of smoke is betraying
the presence of the French Scout Company of the Immediate Reaction Element
(IRE) of the MND-SE. Captain Stephane Guiot, French Army, is meeting with
Norwegian Captain Torleiv Nordhus of the Telemark Company in his command
post armoured vehicle to prepare the transfer of authority.
 "This
operation is the main part of Joint Resolve XI," explains Guiot.
"My company has been carrying out a surveillance mission to the northeast
of Nevesinje, but incidents have erupted in Konjic and I have been tasked
to deploy over there. So my company will be taken over by the Telemark
Company from Sarajevo. This operation has been thoroughly planned in order
to ensure a smooth and swift move."
 "The
forward elements of my company were heliported yesterday around noon,"
Captain Nordhus goes on. "We immediately went around the French positions
with our platoon leaders in order to get familiar with them. My armoured
vehicles arrived by road later in the afternoon."
 It
is nine o’clock now and the Norwegian armoured Sisus are revving
their engines. Fifteen minutes later they have taken over all French patrol
units from their surveillance positions. The French have now gathered
in the middle of a meadow to wait for the four German CH-53 helicopters
from Rajlovac to transport them to Konjic in three waves that will
heliport the 12 French VBL (light armoured vehicles).
 A
few kilometres further, the same transfer of authority is taking place
between Captain Pierre Santoni, commanding the French Infantry Company
of the Immediate Reaction Element, and Captain Sean Wilson, commanding
the Mountain Infantry C-Company of the Rapid Reaction Force from Tuzla.
"The multinational combined operation already started yesterday when
we were heliported by American Blackhawks and the surveillance of the
area was carried out by Apaches," explains Santoni.
The tactical command post of the operation was located to the north of
Nevesinje. It is commanded by French Colonel Jean-Pierre Gambotti, Chief J3 of the MND-SE.
"Joint Resolve XI is taking place within the framework of the implementation of the a
plan designed for the commitment of operative reserve forces," explains Gambotti.
"These SFOR reserve forces on the theatre are planned to reinforce SFOR if
required."
The exercise comprises four phases: in the first one, the IRE, which is
the tactical reserve of the MND-SE, under direct command of General Lang, is deployed
around Nevesinje, and an Action Mobile Detachment (AMD), composed of an Italian and a
Portuguese company, is deployed to another area. It is able to deploy rapidly in any place
of the division’s area of responsibility. In the second phase, the operative reserve
forces – the Telemark Company and the American C-Company from Tuzla – will take
over the IRE that will be heliported to Konjic in the third phase to deal with civil
disturbances. The MSU will intervene in the Trnovo area, also to restore order, while the
AMD deals with harder paramilitary actions taking place in the last phase of the exercise.
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