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Guardsmen prepare to deploy for Kosovo Force Mission
The Missouri National Guard is currently preparing for its largest deployment since World War II. Approximately 1,000 citizen-soldiers from more than 300 communities across the state will be deploying some time around June or July, to support the NATO-led Kosovo Force Mission.
The Kosovo Force operation was deployed in the wake of a 78-day air campaign launch by the Alliance in March 1999. The first elements of KFOR entered Kosovo on June 12, 1999, with approximately 50,000 personnel. By June 20, 1999, the withdrawal of Serbian forces was complete.
Since the initial infiltration trying to reverse a humanitarian catastrophe that was unfolding in Kosovo there has been a continual military presence from NATO.
Kosovo Force is said to be a peace keeping effort led by NATO.
People from the 135th Rear operations Center, 135th Signal Company, 1128th Force Provider Company, 3175th Military Police Company and 735th Quartermaster Company are receiving premobilization training in Nevada at Camp Clark. Soldiers from the five units located in St. Louis, Lexington, Marshall, Richmond, Warrenton, Mexico and De Soto have been stationed at the camp since early March and will continue training at the facility until they are deployed in April to Camp Attebury in Alabama for further preparations.
One soldier attending training at Camp Clark, Pfc. Russell Yandell, originally from Park Hills, Mo., will be the youngest to face deployment. Yandell, who just turned 18, has been a member of the guard since Jan. 32, 2007, and said he was excited about the opportunity to finish out training and move on to Kosovo. "Hopefully I'll enjoy it, because I'm fighting for something I need to fight for," he said.
Yandell comes from a long line of soldiers with both of his grandfathers being ex-Army and his father who joined the Marines immediately after high school. He said his enlistment was somewhat disapproved by his mother due to the ongoing war in Iraq however his father was very supportive, and continues to be today. "My dad was behind me 100 percent the entire time," he said.
When it comes to being the youngest in a camp of military men, Yandell said he was treated very well and has grown close to his fellow soldiers. He said, "I love my battle-buddies. They are pretty much my family."
Yandell made it very clear that he wishes to progress as a Guardsman and hopes to retire as an officer from the service. He said, "I plan on making a career out of it for sure."
Nevada native, Michael Lefevre is also awaiting his deployment from Camp Clark. The five-year Guardsman serves as a wheeled mechanic and transport.
"Pretty much anything that has rubber tires on it, I work on," Lefevre said.
Lefevre said he joined the military for new experiences and a better opportunity to attend college, but plans to finish out what is left of his flight training in Kosovo and become a civilian pilot when he returns.
Following the transfer from Camp Clark to Camp Attebury, the 1,000 soldiers will make a much larger move to Hohenfels, Germany, where they will become part of a Multi-National Readiness Center and placed into realistic tactical situations that might arise while serving in Kosovo. According to Maj. Bruce Becker, executive officer of Task Force Saber, the deployment to Hohenfels is expected to take place in May.
On Saturday, March 22, the Missouri National Guard will honor the 1,000 soldiers set to be deployed at the University of Missouri's Hearnes Center in Columbia at 11 a.m. Anyone wishing to show their support to these soldiers is invited to the departure ceremony.