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Bundeswehr Quick Reaction Force for Afghanistan
Two hundred German soldiers will replace the Norwegian unit in the north region of the country when they withdraw at midyear. The German Government is thus meeting a NATO request. “We are on a successful course in Afghanistan,” German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung stressed in announcing the decision in Berlin on February 6. Jung emphasized that the security situation in the north of the country must not be jeopardized going forward in mid 2008 because of a military gap. The German Armed Forces will therefore assume the tasks currently being performed by 250 Norwegian soldiers. The planning of the mission is already underway. The German unit will consist of about 200 men and women. Heavy equipment, such as helicopters and armored infantry fighting vehicles, as well as logistical personnel, are already available at the Mazar-e-Sharif base. “Protect, assist, mediate, and fight,” was Minister Jung’s description of the tasks of German soldiers within the international ISAF mission. The mandate of the German parliament covers the deployment in the north region. The tasks of the tactical reserve include patrolling and securing public events. The soldiers will, however, also take action against opposing military forces. "When friends are in need, we will assist them,” Minister Jung affirmed. In exceptional cases, deployments outside the north region are possible—time-limited and with his approval. Bundeswehr Assisting in Training Afghanistan should be assisted on its path to achieving sustainable security. For this reason, the German Armed Forces has redoubled its efforts to train the Afghan National Army, Minister Jung said. The country must not be allowed ever again to become a “training center for terrorism,” Jung said. Jung is firmly convinced that preventing such a development also serves security in Germany. The ISAF international protection force is distributed over five regional commands, A quick reaction force is assigned to each command. In the Regional Command North led by Germany, the quick reaction force has been a Norwegian unit since 2006. Because Norway is restructuring its deployment contingent midyear, a decision had to be made on a successor unit. This reaction force serves as a kind of “military fire brigade.” It has been called upon for immediate action 26 times over the past two years. The unit currently consists of approximately 250 soldiers, including logistical staff. February 6, 2008 Links
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