On 11 August, just a few minutes before 11:00, a huge NATO aircraft C-17 touched the ground at the Szczecin-Goleniów Airport. It was a much awaited moment for all servicemen of the Multinational Corps Northeast coming back from a 6-month mission in Afghanistan.
The welcome at the airport was short but an emotional one. The Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast Lieutenant General Rainer Korff, his Deputy Major General Ryszard Sorokosz, as well as Chiefs of the Headquarters’ Divisions shook hands with the deployers. “We are happy to have you back. It is very important to see you all in good health. Now the time for recreation and reintegration with the families has come,” said the Commander to his soldiers. Just a moment later, all deployers hastened to meet the families who have been waiting with flowers and hand-made gifts.
The arrival of about 60 MNC NE staff means brings the mission of the Multinational Corps Northeast in Afghanistan to an end. Already last week the first group of about 60 officers and non-commissioned officers left the area of operation. Several others will come back home with the national air bridge. All in all, about 130 MNC NE servicemen have served in Kabul for 6 months. Most of them worked at the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC) within all branches, starting with logistics, planning, intelligence, through civil-military cooperation, partnering with the Afghan National Security Forces, ending with personnel and financial cells.
Valuable experiences gained in theatre will be used to improve the Corps’ mission preparation process and train soldiers of other commands and headquarters getting ready for the Afghan mission. The Corps’ calendar has already been filled up with exercises, conferences and training during which the Corps soldiers will act as experts, mentors and trainers.
