The infantry company of the 30th Austrian EUFOR (“European Union Force”) contingent was seen off at the Erzherzog Johann barracks at midday today. From next week, the soldiers will be serving in the Balkans for seven months as part of the EU-led peacekeeping force.
In addition to Head of Cabinet Michael Klug and Major General Friedrich Schrötter from the Operations Section, the President of the Styrian Parliament, Bettina Vollath, and numerous other guests of honor were also present at the ceremony. Since the beginning of January, the 130 soldiers of Jäger Battalion 17 and the Guard from Vienna have been preparing for their foreign deployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The unit’s main task is to guard “Camp Butmir” in Sarajevo, which houses the EUFOR headquarters and the infantry company itself. It will also be responsible for evacuating people, keeping order, checking people and vehicles, protecting transports and carrying out patrols. The deployment will last until September 2019.
Major General Friedrich Schrötter: “The Austrian Armed Forces are the largest troop contributor to Operation EUFOR/ALTHEA. We prove our comprehensive expertise time and time again during missions abroad. Wherever the soldiers have been and are active, they have only enhanced the reputation of our country. I wish the contingent all the best and every happiness as soldiers.” Almost half of the departing soldiers come from Styria, 35 from Vienna and the rest from the other federal states. The Austrian Armed Forces are providing a total of around 300 soldiers for the EUFOR force in Bosnia. The commander of the entire EUFOR mission with 630 soldiers from 19 countries has been Styrian Major General Martin Dorfer since March 28, 2018.
