Coalition
Press
Information
Centre

Media
Operations

Sarajevo
25 March 1998
Peace Stabilisation Force - Operation Joint Guard - Exercise Dynamic Response 98

Press Release

Strategic Reserve Force Arrives
For Exercise Dynamic Response 98

Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina More than two thousand troops from six nations comprising the Strategic Reserve Force arrived Tuesday in the region, signalling the start of Exercise Dynamic Response 98 (DR 98), scheduled to end April 7.

DR 98 will test the capabilities of NATO's Strategic Reserve Force (SRF) in support of the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"The purpose of this exercise is to train the Strategic Reserve Force for SFOR," said General Sir Jeremy Mackenzie, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, during a media day aboard the U.S.S. Wasp in the Adriatic Sea. "This over-the-horizon force is available to General Shinseki should it be required."

This arrival in the region includes a landing at Ploce, Croatia today by the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Military vehicle traffic will be increasing in the coming days as SRF troops move into Bosnia and local traffic may experience some delays. SRF will take special care in ensuring that all safety procedures are followed.

Four NATO nations: Italy, The Netherlands, Turkey and the United States; and two Partnership for Peace nations: Poland and Romania, have come together to exercise their air, land and maritime assets. SRF resources are stationed outside Bosnia-Herzegovina but can be ordered to reinforce SFOR troops if necessary.

Dynamic Response 98 allows the SRF to familiarise itself with Bosnia, to practice interoperability among other multi-national forces, and to train units in many of the key tasks SFOR troops perform.

Note to editors:

Activities for the SRF tomorrow include:

  • Movement of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Force from Ploce, Croatia to Mostar and Sarajevo
  • Arrival of the Italian San Marco Battalion at Ploce, Croatia
  • Movement of the 26th Romanian Infantry Battalion from Zenica to Mostar
  • Arrival of the main body for the 1st Battalion, Royal Netherlands Marine Corps in Split, Croatia
  • Air movement of Turkish Company from Zenica to Sarajevo
  • Rail movement of the 18th Polish Airborne Battalion from Slav Brod to Sarajevo.

SFOR CPICS

Sarajevo(387) 71-447-601 or 146-6003
Mostar(387) 88-350-016 or 146-7881
Tuzla(387) 75-830-199 or 156-7036
Banja Luka(387) 78-722-059 or 146-8247
Zagreb(385) 37-800-11 Ext. 3415
Split(385) 21-895-205

Coalition Press Information Centre - Media Operations

Telephone:
00 387 - 71 447- 601 / 602 / 610/IPN 146 6000
Fax:
00 387 - 71 447 604/IPN146 5603
E-Mail :
ludersda@sfor.nato.int
eubanksd@hotmail.com

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