NEWS | Oct. 25, 2019

19th Special Forces Soldiers Honored by the Czech Republic

By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Pena 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Soldiers assigned to 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces, Texas Army National Guard, were awarded the Medal of the Minister of Defense of Czech Republic, at a ceremony in Prostejov, Oct. 25, 2019, for their efforts supporting their Czech Allies during a recent combat deployment to Afghanistan as part of Operation Resolute Support.

Resolute Support is a NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. The Resolute Support mission is currently comprised of 17,000 personnel from 39 NATO Allies and partners.

"The ceremony was a dedication to the end of a successful mission that was conducted in Afghanistan,” said the deputy commander of the Czech Republic’s Special Operations Forces. “It is important for everyone to understand how special it is for us to have our U.S. brothers here with us. My Czech operators that served side-by-side with the [Texas] operators felt the cooperation was extraordinary and wanted to express gratitude."

During their deployment, the Texas Guardsmen, assigned to the Army's 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), partnered directly with Czech SOF for six months in Afghanistan’s Western region where they worked hand-in-hand for one shared goal - protecting their homelands.

"It is not common for Czech to give foreign service members this [Medal of the Minister of Defense of Czech Republic] decoration," said the Czech deputy commander. "They are here not because of me, or my boss, or my boss' boss. They are here because of the brotherhood that was born in the battlefield of Afghanistan. It is because of operators here in this unit that were deployed, had someone next to them from the United States that they could rely on."

This combined effort stems from a 24-year relationship between the Texas Military Department, Nebraska National Guard and the Czech Republic as part of the U.S. State Department’s State Partnership Program, based on military-to-military engagements with all components from the Czech Republic and Texas.

"It was great for us to take that partnership that had been developed over the years and put it together in a mutual deployment," said the detachment commander of the Texas-based 19th SFG (A) Special Forces team. "The Czechs went on approximately 30 missions with us, so that is a lot of time spent on a daily-basis planning, rehearsing and executing and it just validated that our special operations brotherhood is more than just our regiment, it expands across our NATO partners."

Those who have participated in the State Partnership Program have seen the direct correlation between investing in the relationship with their Czech counterparts during peacetime and the effectiveness created between NATO Allies in combat.

"There's a plaque I have with pictures of the teams working together across all of those missions," said the American detachment commander. "This directly demonstrates the strength of the state partnership from each program, even in places as distant as Afghanistan, the U.S. Army, the Texas Army National Guard and the Czech Republic can work hand in hand for mutual goals and benefits."

This deployment was just one of many examples of how the Texas and Czech Republic’s partner-unit preparation, through U.S. support and engagement, is a strengthened capability and improves interoperability every day, whether it is training at home station or combat missions abroad.

"I am so proud of these Texas Guardsmen," said Texas Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris, the Adjutant General of Texas. "Their efforts to work in close collaboration with our Czech partners and go the extra mile exemplify the type of Soldier we all strive to be. Our long campaign in Afghanistan has required our troops to be highly adaptable professionals at all times. The 19th SFG (A) continues to stay true to our mission and values in this war fight, bringing honor to themselves and those of us back home."

-30-

 

In general, all media on the site is produced by U.S. DoD or Federal Agencies, and is in the public domain, i.e., not protected by U.S. copyright; however, other restrictions might apply, such as, but not limited to, the right to enforce trademarks, and the right of privacy/right of publicity, any of which might restrict use of some of the media. Media may not be used to imply endorsement of any product or service by the DoD. Proper credit of the producing journalist(s) is requested.

Your Career Starts Here

Tips to survive, gifts, family, and mandatory fun
By Keith Garner | Dec. 19, 2023
The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, but for some of us, they can also be a source of stress and sadness. Maybe you’re going through a tough time, such as a loss of a loved one, a divorce, a health...

ACUB
Army Compatible Use Buffer A Valued Partnership
By | Nov. 21, 2023
The cities of Saratoga Springs and Herriman joined the Utah National Guard at a small event hosted at Camp Williams on Oct. 4, 2023. The event recognized the immense work and partnership that enabled the purchase of over 10...

Master Sgt. Justin Cordero leads a Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (resilience) class for Soldiers assigned to the 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Camp Williams, Utah, June 2, 2023. Cordero is a Resilience Training Assistant for the 204th. (US Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Rich Stowell)
Learning Optimism Is a Battle Drill Soldiers are on the for good stuff.
By | Nov. 21, 2023
Every month, they attend classes where they learn skills like optimism, self-regulation, and mental agility...

2023 Utah National Guard Counterdrug Conference EXSUM
By | Nov. 21, 2023
2023 Utah National Guard Counterdrug Conference exercise summery...

Utah Air National Guard members participate in Arbinger training
Utah Air National Guard participates in Arbinger training
By Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Perez | Nov. 3, 2023
In a classroom at the Utah Air National Guard Base, a group of Servicemembers were asked: What would be possible if you and your organization were more outward?The Servicemembers, with varying levels of rank and professional...

Utah Air National Guard members participate in Arbinger training
Utah Air National Guard participates in Arbinger training
By Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Perez | Nov. 3, 2023
In a classroom at the Utah Air National Guard Base, a group of Servicemembers were asked: What would be possible if you and your organization were more outward?The Servicemembers, with varying levels of rank and professional...

In a significant assumption of command and promotion ceremony held on 14 October 2023, Colonel G. Chris Buckner was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and assumed command of the Utah Air National Guard, also serving as the Assistant Adjutant General for Air of the Utah National Guard.
Brigadier General G. Chris Buckner Assumes Command of the Utah Air National Guard in Prestigious Ceremony
By Master Sgt. Colton Elliott | Oct. 16, 2023
In a significant assumption of command and promotion ceremony held on 14 October 2023, Colonel G. Chris Buckner was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and assumed command of the Utah Air National Guard, also serving as...

204th MEB Soldiers Get Battle Ready for Africom Deployment
By Sgt. 1st Class Rich Stowell | Aug. 22, 2023
 “Contact! Contact!” Soldiers yell out to each other as they begin to take simulated fire from up the hill.It was part of a week-long training event for the 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Camp Williams, Utah. They call...

Freedom Academy delegates perform a customized group chant at Camp Williams on the morning of July 20th, 2023. Since 1961 the Utah National Guard and Honorary Colonels Corps have sponsored Freedom Academy, providing a challenging and engaging environment designed to teach high school leaders from across Utah the importance of freedom and highlight the military and governmental functions that are critical to its survival.
Utah National Guard hosts Freedom Academy 2023
By Sgt. Christine Hoskins | July 20, 2023
High school students from across the state of Utah assembled at Camp Williams for a week of learning, honing leadership skills, developing friendships, finding deeper purpose, and solidifying their understanding of freedom,...

Senior Airman Kevin Buckner (middle), fire protection with the 151st Civil Engineering Squadron, Utah National Guard, carries a pineapple while rucking more than six miles for the mystery event during the Region VII Best Warrior Competition on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu, May 7-11, 2023. The Best Warrior Competition is an annual Army-sponsored event designed to measure the Soldier’s physical fitness, mental acuity, and demonstrated skill in warrior tasks and battle drills. The Soldier and Noncommisioned Officer of the Year for the region will advance to the All Guard National Best Warrior Competition in Alaska.
Utah Airman keeps up with region’s top Soldiers at Best Warrior Competition
By Staff Sgt. Jordan Hack | May 12, 2023
Senior Airman Kevin Buckner, a fire protection journeyman with the 151st Civil Engineering Squadron, winner of the Soldier of the Year category at this year’s Utah National Guard Best Warrior Competition, impressed everyone...