Belgians due in MND-SW
First published in the SFOR Informer #35, May 7, 1998
by Capt. Peter Tubaas, SFOR Informer
Livno
- The last week of April representatives from the Belgian-Luxembourgian
Battle Group (BELU BG) went on reconnaissance in the area where they are
due to replace the Malaysian Forces in two months.
At the same time the Belgian participation in the BELUGA Theatre Transport Group will
be reduced, and the Belgian efforts will be mainly concentrated in an area in Western
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"We are naturally looking forward to being deployed in Bosnia and Hercegovina.
This will be a very interesting experience for everyone," says the BELU BG Commander
Lt. Col. Yvon Michel.
The
majority of the BELU BG is from the Regiment of Chasseurs Ardennais (Ardenne
Light Infantry) from the 7th Mechanised Brigade in Marche-en-Famenne
in Belgium. The Regiment has been preparing for this specific mission
since March, but has already had experience in four missions in Eastern
Slavonia.
There will be two engineer platoons and one logistic company detached to the Battle
Group. The contribution from Luxembourg will be one recce platoon transferred from the
BELUGA Group. In addition to this there will be two CIMIC teams, which are already
established, under the BELU BG command. In total the force includes 500 persons, including
staff personnel who will be working in the MND-SW headquarters in Banja Luka.
The deployment of the Belgian forces will be carried out in three phases. The advance
party will arrive the first week of June, preparing for the main body to arrive in the
middle of the month. The latter party of the BELU BG will arrive in Theatre late in June
or early July.
As the borders of the area that the Belgians are taking over are being slightly
adjusted in June, the Belgians have calculated that the centre-of-gravity will move and
have for that reason choose Tomislavgrad rather than Livno to be the location of their
headquarters.
[Belgian soldier]
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