PG 32
KFOR competes for Portuguese National Day
Story and photos by U . S . Army Staff Sgt . Cody Harding 4th Public Affairs Detachment
M embers of Kosovo Force 17 ’ s Joint Regional Detachment -East competed alongside multinational coys as a part of a competition hosted by the Portuguese Coy in celebration of Portugal ’ s National Day at Camp Slim Lines June 8 .
Though the Portuguese National Day is June 10 , the Portuguese Coy decided to hold the event on a Saturday so as not to interfere with the missions of the various agencies and coys that were invited to attend .
The JRD-E team was one of 15 teams that competed , ranging from the KFOR Liaison Officer team , the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo , or EULEX , team and multinational coys from across Kosovo .
U . S . Army Staff Sgt . Ruben Cruz , a member of the JRD-E team , said working both with and against the multinational coys was a good thing not just for his team , but for KFOR .
“ It builds camaraderie , and it supports everything that we ’ re doing right now ,” Cruz , a native of Arecibo , Puerto Rico said . “ Working together , one team one fight . We do everything together , and that ’ s how we ’ re going to be successful in Kosovo .” notional minefield with improvised materials , to assembling a puzzle at the top of a “ slide ,” a fully raised dump truck that had been coated with grease .
Once all the events were completed , competitors were treated to a barbecue , courtesy of the Portuguese Coy , and given the chance to relax after they had crossed the finish line .
Portuguese Army Lt . Col . Paolo Cordeiro , the commander of the Portuguese 2nd Paratrooper Battalion and the Portuguese Coy , said the event was designed to bring different members of KFOR together and to help build relationships .
“ My intent is to bring some people who are not from this camp to spend time with us for this kind of familiarization ,” Cordeiro said . “ It ’ s also just as important for the commanders as it is for the Soldiers .”
After the barbecue came the awards ceremony , from eighth place and up , with a promise from Cordeiro for a dedicated celebration to go along with the official Portuguese National Day Ceremony on June 10 .
The Austrian Coy took first place overall , with the EULEX team coming in second . The U . S . Coy won fifth place overall , while JRD-E came out just ahead in fourth place .
The teams were given six tasks set at stations across the camp that they needed to pass in order to proceed onward . The events ranged from familiar obstacles , like navigating a
Members of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo , or EULEX , attempt to reach the top of a greased-down ' slide ' to assemble a puzzle at the top during the Portuguese National Day Competition at Camp Slim Lines June 8 .
PG 32