The soldiers of the incoming 12th rotation of the HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT-12) recently mounted a culmination exercise (CULEX) to demonstrate their readiness to deploy on a mission abroad. Most of the contingent has been drawn from the HDF 5th ‘Bocskai István’ Infantry Brigade of Hódmezővásárhely.
The delegation led by the Minister of Defence Dr. Csaba Hende, which paid a five-day visit to the Hungarian military units serving in Afghanistan, arrived at the Debrecen Airport on Saturday, December 10. The Minister of Defence heard eight commander’s reports in four garrisons and seven bases, and held six staff meetings. The Minister was briefed about the security situation and tasks of our troops, and had talks with the Commander of the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A), with the Deputy Commander and the Hungarian Chief of Staff of ISAF Regional Command North (RC North), as well as with the Governor of Baghlan Province.
The servicemembers of the HDF 34th ‘Bercsényi László’ Special Operations Forces Battalion who displayed outstanding bravery in a firefight in the theatre of war in Afghanistan received medals and recognitions in the presence of their relations on November 29 in Szolnok.
Maj.-Gen. Michael Repass, the commander of the US Special Operations Command Europe (US SOCEUR) paid a courtesy call to Gen. Dr. Tibor Benkő, the Chief of the MoD Defence Staff on Monday, November 28.
On Wednesday, November 23 Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende received in his office Munsi Abdul Majeed, the governor of Baghlan Province and Moh. Rasul Mohsene (Rasul Khan), the Shura leader of Baghlan Province. Also present at the meeting were Lt.-Gen. Zoltán Orosz, the Deputy Chief of the MoD Defence Staff and MoD Deputy State Secretary for Defence Policy and Planning Péter Siklósi.
On October 6 around noon, the ISAF Regional Command-North (RC-N) notified the officer on duty of the HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT) that a Swedish ISAF service member got separated from his unit due to external circumstances. The allied soldier in need of help could not be located exactly, so he could have been anywhere over a several square kilometers-wide area.
Hungary is going to bring in line with NATO’s plans its own mid-term Afghanistan policy which is currently under preparation, Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende said in Brussels on Thursday, October 6 at the NATO Defence Ministers Meeting.
On Monday, July 18, the HDF 34th ‘Bercsényi László’ Special Operations Force (SOF) Battalion received 14 HMMWVs (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles). Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis, the Ambassador of the United States of America to Budapest handed over the vehicles ceremoniously to Minister of Defence Dr. Csaba Hende at the ‘Lt. Ittebei Kiss József’ Helicopter Base, Szolnok.
The HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT) continues to provide assistance for the poor in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan. Last time the children living in the orphanage of Pol-e Khomri and the occupants of the widows’ house in Deh Sallah District received care packages from the Hungarians.
Family members and relatives greeted the Hungarian troops of the fifth rotation of the HDF Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (HDF OMLT), who have recently returned from the area of operations. The “Welcome Home” ceremony was held on Thursday, June 30 inside the ‘Klapka György’ Barracks in Tata, where Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende delivered a speech.