The Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) Lieutenant General Rainer Korff accomplished his 4-day visit to Afghanistan on 15 June 2010.
General Korff often repeated that it would already be his fifth visit to Afghanistan, but the first one as the Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast. Therefore, he was very eager to meet MNC NE staff and to get familiar with the progress done in Afghanistan.
At IJC
On the first day of the visit, Brigadier General Josef Heinrichs, currently the highest ranking MNC NE serviceman in Afghanistan, showed General Korff around the camp at KAIA (Kabul International Airport) North. General Korff had a chance to see where the staff is working and what their living conditions are.
In the evening, the Corps' Commander met all MNC NE personnel during a common social event, which was also attended by servicemen from the Headquarters ISAF. There was time for common dinner and conversations. Servicemen from both commands rarely ever meet, so they too found it a nice opportunity to see not only the Commander but also their friends from Szczecin.
At ISAF HQ
Even though about 100 MNC NE personnel work and live at KAIA North, a group of about 30 servicemen see duty at ISAF Headquarters located downtown. General Korff also went to visit them at their place of work. Among others he visited the Combined Joint Psychological Operations Centre, where he listened to a briefing about tasks and projects of this particular cell and talked to MNC NE personnel working there and in other cells.
During the visit, General Korff met General Stanley McChrystal, the ISAF Commander in Afghanistan, as well as Lieutenant General Bruno Kasdorf, the ISAF Chief of Staff, with whom he discussed not only the current situation in Afghanistan but also the performance of MNC NE personnel.
Day No 3
“They are doing a great job,” the MNC NE Commander learnt from Lieutenant General David Rodriguez, the Commander of IJC, about the quality of work provided by MNC NE staff. Later on, General Korff also talked to the Chief of Staff Major General Colin Boag CBE.
In the afternoon, General Korff went downtown to the National Military Coordination Centre, where he met the command group of the centre, MNC NE staff cooperating with the Afghans and also General Karimi, General Staff Chief Operations Afghan National Army. Following the Afghan tradition, they had a nice chat and obligatory green tea. “Our enemy is growing, but we are growing, too,” among other things said General Karimi.
The Afghan National Security Forces is not only about the army, but also about the Afghan Police. Having seen many police officers in streets of Kabul directing the traffic, the Commander went to the National Police Coordination Centre and talked to the command group over there.
In the evening, General Korff went to the German Embassy in Kabul, where he met the Ambassador of Germany Mr. Werner Hans Lauk, the Ambassador of Poland Mr. Maciej Lang, Deputy Head of the Mission of the Danish Embassy Mr. Jesper Moller Sorensen, Chief of Staff of ISAF Lieutenant General Bruno Kasdorf and Commander of the German Forces in Afghanistan Colonel Kaatz and Military Attachés of Denmark and Germany.
Farewell and way back home
On the last day of the visit, at 10 am sharp, all MNC NE personnel who could leave their working positions gathered at the flag poles. It was the right time to take a common picture as a remembrance of the Commander's visit to Kabul. General Korff also addressed his servicemen thanking them for their service and dedication and wishing them all the best.
Afterwards, it was time for departure. The plane took the Commander and his assisting staff to Termez, Uzbekistan, where they spent the afternoon and evening in the camp. The next day in the early morning, which in fact was still night in accordance with the time zone in Szczecin, the plane Boeing 757 of the Uzbekistan Airlines soared above mountains and deserts of Uzbekistan, leaving Termez behind, and headed towards Germany. Even though from Cologne, where the plane landed, it was still more than 800 km to Szczecin where the Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast is located, it really felt being close home.
Impressions
General Korff had a lot of impressions from the visit. He confessed that the multinational environment made a lasting impression on him: “Nearly 60 nations are very busy with the work there to help that country,” he said. It also seems important that General Korff took part in several briefings and meetings to find out what the development of situation in Afghanistan was like. However, above all, it was crucial for the Commander to see his servicemen deal with their tasks. After the conversations with highest ranking personnel both at IJC and ISAF Headquarters, General Korff said. “I am really proud of what I have learnt. Szczecin guys have been very successful and fully integrated in the staff work. Our assistance and support in the two headquarters is highly appreciated. General Rodriguez told me he is proud to have our standing headquarters under his command”. From his conversations with officers and non-commissioned officers, General Korff concluded that the Corps’ mission preparations process proved to be very useful. It is a well-deserved success the MNC NE staff has been working hard for.
