Page 222 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
gave the Corps the mechanism to develop the successful EDD and lessons identified in Bosnia, particularly concerning equipment, were taken forward and implemented with further success in other theatres.
NATO brought SFOR to a conclusion in December 2004 in light of the improved security situation in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region. Peacekeeping responsibilities were assumed by the European Union Force EUFOR. British troops served in the country under NATO, the UN and then EUFOR until 2007 when the situation was considered to be sufficiently stabilised for troop numbers to be reduced.
Overall, the resounding professionalism of all RAVC ranks in the FRY resulted in positive publicity and a much wider understanding of the wide-ranging ability of MWD teams in many different circumstances extending to expedi- tionary deployment.
Kosovo
When the RAVC received a request from 4 Armoured Bde and 101 Logistic Bde at Aldershot for the deployment of Military Working Dogs and Corps personnel it was to enhance security and search operations being undertaken by BRITFOR in Kosovo. This was Op AGRICOLA.
Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) authorised the deployment of the RAVC Support Group which comprised: one Officer and two soldiers, plus three handlers from the DAC, two more came from DASU in Germany and a further two handlers were provided by 23 Pioneer Regiment Royal Logistics Corps (RLC). Of the eight dogs that deployed, three were AES from the DAC; Sennelager dispatched five Protection dogs and one Police dog.
The first deployment of handlers took place on 12th July 1999 with a second tranche moving to theatre from Germany three days later.
Background:
Unlike Bosnia, it’s unlikely that Kosovo could be described as a ‘beautiful’ country. For one thing, its diamond-shaped plateau, surrounded on all sides by mountains, creates a difficult micro-climate – insufferably hot in summer and desperately cold in winter. For soldiers deployed to Kosovo, memories of the towns will include few attractive highlights, only the huge piles of rubbish, horrific crime statistics and a suicidal approach to road safety. Another ugly feature of the time was a lingering ethnic hatred. The Albanians had the
upper hand and were keen to extract revenge on their erstwhile Serb oppressors whenever possible.16
During 1998, conflict returned to the Serbian province of Kosovo, an area dominated by ethnic Albanians. What followed was their brutal oppression and widespread displacement as international diplomacy failed. The UN proved incapable to act, and NATO threats against Serbia, led by President Slobodan Miloševic, were ignored. As a consequence, NATO commenced air Operations against Serbia in March 1999.
Following this significant challenge to its authority, the UN was eager to ensure the post-war situation was kept within its multi- lateral framework, and in the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1244 authorised an unprecedented multilateral peace- keeping operation – Kosovo Force (KFOR) and United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) – and by 2002, the UK was contributing some three thousand personnel to KFOR Operations.
Kosovo declared independence on 17th February 2008. The Alliance reaffirmed that KFOR would remain in Kosovo on the basis of UN Security Resolution 1244, as agreed by Foreign Ministers in December 2007, unless the Security Council decided otherwise.
Op AGRICOLA:
On arrival in Kosovo, the handlers completed in-theatre familiarisation training and were then located in Camp Arctic Circle where a site had been identified for the construction of kennels and temporary accommodation for the handlers. There was plenty of work to be done, but as they had arrived in soaring heat it was decided to allow the teams seven days to acclimatise.
Falling under Operational Control of HQ National Support Element, 101 Log Bde had previously identified sites for guarding – Belsacevac ammunition site and a Final RV (Rendezvous) situated in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, that of Macedonia. During September 1999, the small Dog Section also provided support to the Force Detention Centre with Germany providing a Police dog which proved vital in the dogs’ security role as well as searching for articles after visits by prisoners’ families. For a short time the RAVC provided support to the KFOR Rail Head of Departure, an area some 2 kms square and considered a strategic asset – as was the main Police station in Kosovo.
16 Chiron Calling Winter 1999/2000 comment by Captain Steve S Butterton RAVC.
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