The 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team IBCT of the Idaho Army National Guard, along with supporting units from across the United States, completed a significant culminating training event CTE at Fort Cavazos on September 15, 2024.
This accomplishment signals their readiness to move forward in their mobilization training at the 7th Army Training Command in Hohenfels, Germany.
The 41st IBCT is preparing for a nearly year-long mission in Kosovo as the Regional Command-East headquarters for the NATO-led Kosovo Forces KFOR peacekeeping mission.
The brigade, which includes units from the Idaho, Oregon, Tennessee, and West Virginia National Guards, has spent months training for its mission, and the CTE was the final stage of their U.S.-based preparation.
U.S. Army Col. Peter Helzer, commander of the 41st IBCT, emphasized that incorporating additional units enhances their capacity to conduct peacekeeping and stability operations in Kosovo.
At Hohenfels, the brigade will undergo final validation at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center JMRC, where they will be evaluated on their ability to handle real-world scenarios.
The training will also integrate multinational teamwork, preparing them for their role in maintaining peace in Kosovo.
The 41st IBCT’s deployment marks the 34th rotation of KFOR, a mission that began in 1999 to ensure peace, stability, and freedom of movement in Kosovo.
The unit will work alongside the Kosovo Police and the European Union Rule of Law Mission to maintain security in the region.