Swisscoy
The Swisscoy is an association of the Swiss Army in Kosovo. It is provided as part of the KFOR of NATO military mission to promote peace. The association contains a contingent of more than 220 people who are available and funded from Switzerland. The training and equipment of foreign troops is provided by the Center Swissint of the Swiss Army in Stans-Oberdorf.
The term Swisscoy (Swiss Company) has become misleading, since it only acted as a single company during deployment from 1999-2003. The group has a National Contingent Commander (NCC) with staff.
Deployment
From 1999 to 2012, the majority of the association was stationed in a former rubber factory at Suva Reka, the so-called Camp Casablanca. The name originated from the white color of the living containers. Radio Casablanca was jointly broadcast by the Swiss, Austrians and Germans.
Camp Casablanca was dissolved in 2012[1] Switzerland is present in four camps. These include "Camp Film City" (Pristina), "Camp Novo Selo" (near Metrovica), "Field Camp Prizren" (Prizren) and in "Camp Bondsteel" (Urosevac).
Structure
The Swiss contingent consisted of an infantry company and a logistics company. In addition, several smaller detachments are known as "OPCON."
Tasks
The logistics company focuses on water treatment, material and fuel supply, camp maintenance, road transport, communication and food supply. Other important tasks include camp security, patrol activity and ethnic minorities in Kosovo.
History
The Swiss infantry company was established on February 1, 2010. Three Austrian companies were also established at that time; the Dulje maneuver battalion and Multinational Task Force South (MNTF (S)) of KFOR was used.
On February 1, 2010, the Swiss infantry company was directly subordinated to the MNBG (S).
The infantry units were withdrawn in mid-August 2012. The logistics company remained.
Armament
Before the revision of the Military Act in 2001 (Article 66a MG), Swisscoy soldiers were armed only for self-protection, with permission to carry their personal weapon (gun SIG P220 or assault rifle Stgw 90) just outside the camp. Inside the camp, weapons were stored in special containers. The new Article 66a MG s empowered the infantry company to participate in the guarding Battalion. After this the Swisscoy was able to use the Mowag Piranha 8x8APC and the Mowag DuroIIIP.
Two helicopters of the type Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma are deployed at the MNBG (S) for transport tasks.
External links
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