Task Force Phalanx and Task Force Warhorse stand at attention during the transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Bondsteel Jan. 20. TF Phalanx,
Kosovo Force 17, was comprised of more than 400 coalition partners and four National Guard units.
KFOR 17 TF Aviation prepares to head home
Story and photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Samantha Parks
4th Public Affairs Detachment
A
fter more than nine months deployed, soldiers with
Task Force Phalanx, Kosovo Force 17, prepare to
head home.
In their final farewell, TF Phalanx transferred authority to TF
Warhorse, KFOR 18’s aviation task force, during a ceremony
at Camp Bondsteel Jan. 20.
“Today’s transfer of authority ceremony marks the end of a
very successful tour for KFOR 17 TF Aviation soldiers and
the beginning of what I am confident will also be a successful
tour for the newest rotation of our task force aviation,” said
U.S. Army Col. David Woods, Multinational Battle GroupEast commander and a native of Denbo, Pa.
TF Phalanx had more than 2,000 accident-free flying hours,
567 aviation support missions, 23 medical emergency
evacuations that included 27, MNBG-E’s first mountain hoist
rescue, and 699 ground missions.
“You came together like pieces of a puzzle, fitting together
perfectly and performing an exemplary job and providing us
such great service,” Woods said.
KFOR 17’s aviation task force was comprised of 400 coalition
partners and four National Guard units from Florida, Indiana,
Maryland and Oregon.
“It’s a unique organization by the mere fact that it’s the first
time the members of the organization have ever worked
together before they met in Texas,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col.
Kerry Dull, the outgoing TF Aviation commander and a native
PG 8
of Johnstown, Pa. “But by National Guard standards, that is
business as usual.”
During his speech, Dull took a moment to highlight the
soldiers that make up his task force. He said in the midst of his
formation, there is a doctor with his own practice, a law student
from George Washington University, an engineer that works at
Rolls Royce, an IRS investigator, an electrician, a construction
worker, a mechanic, a member of the security service, full time
soldiers that serve their states and other professions he did not
list.
“The oldest soldier is 57, the youngest 21 and the average age is
right around 35,” Dull said. “I highlight this because it’s what’s
unique about the National Guard. For most of them serving in
uniform is not their full time job. For some of you this is your
first deployment, for others it is more than you can count. At
the end of the day, you are all part of our great nation’s great
history.”
Dull did not take command of the task force until several months
into the deployment, but said the soldiers met every challenge
that was thrown at them head on.
“To our KFOR teammates: Germany, Poland, Ukraine, France,
Morocco, Armenia, Denmark, Italy and Turkey: thank you,”
Dull said. “We couldn’t have done it without you. We learned
as much from you as we did ourselves.”
To the soldiers of TF Warhorse, Dull offered a warm welcome
and one final piece of advice.
“Welcome and good luck,” Dull said. “As I stated to your task
force last week: every soldier will be challenged professionally
and personally here in Kosovo. Meet them all head on.