An Cosantóir

12 | On July 12 2011, COM EUFOR Maj Gen Bernhard Bair welcomed His Excellency Mr Tom Brady, Ambassador of Ireland to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia to Camp Butmir. Pictured here (l/r) are: Col Pat Phelan (SIO EUFOR BiH), Maj Gen Bernhard Bair (COM EUFOR), His Excellency Mr Tom Brady Ambassador of Ireland to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia, Chiara Popplewell (Dep Head of Mission with the Irish Embassy in Ljubljana) and Lt Cmdr Pearse O'Donnell (NS) MA to the FC. 500 personnel, 70% of whom are civilian, and it influences every aspect of daily routine on the camp. From the Bulgar- ian guard who permits entry at the main gate to the ID card office that registers and issues permits to new personnel, everyone in camp depends on the support and assistance of the division. Feeding, accommodation, laundry, barrack services, supplies, and sports and recreational facilities are all supervised and controlled by the division. HQ Cmdt has been commanded by Irish lieutenant colo- nels since the US vacated the office in 2006, two years into EUFOR's existence. It could be assumed that the appoint- ment came to the Defence Forces because of our reputa- tion for conciliation and co-operation on overseas missions. My experience would suggest that this is true in part but our innate sense of fairness and honest endeavour has also served to gain universal respect within the international garrison in Sarajevo. Other appointments in HQ Cmdt filled by DF personnel included the Camp Sergeant-Major and senior NCOs in the operations, travel, welfare and administrative offices. The military police, who led the DF entry to SFOR in 1997, were also an integral part of the division and the life of the camp. Leading the civilian branches are a number of ex-ser- vicemen from the British armed forces who now reside in Sarajevo. Their professionalism and continuing loyalty have been very important to the ongoing success of the division. Mr Jim Makin, Director of Public Works, was the first RSM of the camp when SFOR initially occupied the green-field site. His knowledge and personal input across the spectrum of life in Butmir is immense and greatly appreciated. Mr Glen Meekings, Dining Facility Manager, also a former senior NCO in the British armed forces, runs a dining establishment that routinely caters for up to 3,000 meals per day. The last mem- ber of this impressive trio at HQ Cmdt Division is Mr John Brown, who essentially holds the warehousing and logistics accounts portfolios of both NATO and EUFOR. This peculiar- ity is as a result of the 'Berlin-Plus' agreement whereby NATO An Cosantóir September 2011 supports EUFOR in terms of infrastructure and certain equip- ment. John supervises a small but extremely efficient staff that maintains and delivers the extensive inventory of RLS supplies to the camp. The budget and resources currently placed at the disposal of the HQ Cmdt ensure a relatively flawless operation. When one takes into account that this includes over 30 concession- aires, a fully-staffed gymnasium and a fire-brigade, then the extent of the remit is clear. The Irish Component The Defence Forces had been considering a reduction in the number of personnel in EUFOR BiH since the spring of 2010 and contingencies were put in place in the summer of that year to finalise the appointments that would remain. However the component was retained in full following the withdrawal of the battalion from the MINURCAT mission in Central Africa. This allowed 12 Irish Component to deploy in July 2010, followed by 13 Irish Component in January 2011, the final unit of its size to serve with EUFOR BiH. The smaller 14 Irish Component deployed to the region in July of this year. The full extent of the influence of Irish personnel in the force appeared in clear focus when it was confirmed earlier this year that the DF were reducing their component by some 85% from July. The numbers game would be difficult in itself but where would one source similar personnel in terms of suitability and experience? The Irish had become heavily embedded in both Force HQ and HQ Cmdt Division. EUFOR is now essentially an intelligence-driven mission backed by a small quick reaction force based at Camp Butmir. From a time when multinational task force sectors were the norm the main effort is now served by liaison and observa- tion teams, or 'LOT houses' as they have become known. Seven appointments are filled by Irish personnel of 14 Irish Component currently deployed with EUFOR. A DF colonel leads the Intelligence and Analysis Division (IAD), the busiest of the sections at Force HQ. He has three other DF personnel

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