Macedonian Soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq

[Bill77]

Who would have thought such competition existed. But a great achievement indeed.

[Blagojce]

I remember reading about this a year ago. Without a doubt the Macedonian special forces are some of the best the world has to offer.

Here is a link i found just now. I remember seeing the score card for the event a year ago. It was posted on a military forum. Most people on that forum were critical of the placing, Russia, Ukraine and Macedonia. Most were Americans and seemed to have the typical statement of it seems it was only open to ex-commie states.

Truth hurts to the Americans, especially when the volci in Iraq were training their soldiers.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/05/11/sniper-world-cup-09/

[Blagojce]

Interesting comment:

I was at this event and trust me the shots were very hard, the temperature was fearsome and the near sadistic corses of fire threw a hell of us out due to never having to shoot like that normally, I learnt a hell of a lot and skipped 2009 so as to give myself a chance.
The top 10 places were occupied by only the best, The fact that the American/Aus didn’t put up a team was a shame (I was one of the few English speakers there) hopefully 2010 will change this.
There was a wide range of guns in use, but truly the “nut behind the butt” was the only real factor, I did feel sorry for the Chinese as they had come the furthest and got pummeled, nice guys though (when the political officer wasn’t around).
Oh Russia won, they were incredable and very much of the same cloth as Zeitsev.
Please don’t disregard this event as it is quite new and the Hungarians put on a great shoot for us, the UK has such restrictions on it that practice is hard to get (our olympic team has to practice in Switzerland), the USA is hard to get a rifle into for comps but we are working on it (ideas guys?)

[Prolet]

Thank you very much Blagojche

This is brilliant and i remember reading this report, i know when the Volci and Tigri they train with live bullets. I've even seen videos where a sniper has to shoot a balloon from 1km away of the top of the head of a soldier with a live bullet.

Speaking of training soldiers take a look at these clips

YouTube - Training soldiers from Macedonia

YouTube - Macedonian and US forces train Iraqi Police

[Dimko-piperkata]

Always a Step Ahead - Macedonia Rangers

YouTube - Always a Step Ahead - Macedonia Rangers partner with Task Force Avalanche in Paktya

‘Always a Step Ahead’ – Macedonia Rangers partner with Task Force Avalanche in Paktya

PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – True to their motto “Always a step ahead,” the soldiers of the Ranger Battalion of the Macedonian army are forging new ground with their U.S. partners from the Vermont Army National Guard in the National Guard’s State Partnership for Peace Program.

By being the first Guard unit in the PFP program to embed and conduct combat operations in Afghanistan, the soldiers of the Ranger platoon and the Vermont Guard are making history for the program.


The platoon of Macedonian Rangers are embedded with 4th Platoon, D Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry at the Sar Hawza district center, where they conduct daily combined operations with Afghan National Security Forces to provide security and help train and mentor them.

“We are always proud to be soldiers for our country. But now we are soldiers for other countries also,” said Macedonian army Staff Sgt. 1st Class Sashko Gjorgjeav, the first sergeant of the Macedonian Ranger platoon.

“It is a great pleasure to work shoulder-to-shoulder with the Americans,” said Macedonian army 1st Lt. Vlatko Karanfilov, a team commander from Skopje, Macedonia, with the Ranger platoon.

Three months into their mission, the combined team members have found their rhythm, conducting multiple patrols each day with their Afghan partners. Despite the triple language barrier, the Soldiers have been able to build a working relationship, not only with each other, but also with the Afghan National Police who also live on their joint combat outpost.

“We’re pretty tight with them. We have passed a working relationship to a friendship. If we didn’t like each other this wouldn’t work,” said U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Dan Silver from Dover, N.H., the platoon leader of the 4th Platoon, D Company.

Their living conditions at the district center have also played a large role in strengthening their bond. The Macedonian and U.S. Soldiers not only work together, but they eat, sleep and live together. In addition, their Afghan police partners live only a few feet away and host a tri-national dinner almost nightly.
The result of the bond they have built was evident during a recent escort patrol the U.S. and Macedonian team conducted with the ANP.

They told ANP Chief Zafar Khan they could continue without his team. After meeting up with the ANA further down the route, Silver turned around and saw Khan and his team had followed to ensure they made it safely.

“This is my second tour and he (Khan) is the best Afghan soldier or policeman I’ve ever worked with,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Hill, the 4th Platoon, D Company platoon sergeant.

The combined team has five villages in its area of responsibility. In the villages, the mission is to support the ANSF in providing security and help develop the infrastructure and stability of the government.

“We are here to help the Afghan people by doing anything we can to help them build a better life,” said Karanfilov.

This is what Silver calls full spectrum counter insurgency operations.

“Today, it is not just conventional armies fighting conventional armies. There is a lot more required of us. The mission involves security, development, information operations and agricultural development. All of those lines of effort have to be incorporated,” Silver said.

Security, one of the most important facets of their mission has been a success as they have received no civilian or combined forces casualties in their operation so far, said Silver.

Scouting insurgents used to be a problem in the mountainous terrain, but due to the continuous patrols and intelligence operations with the National Directorate of Security, they have seen a significant decline in the insurgent activity, said Hill.

A recent convoy patrol showed the benefits of multi-national coordination in action. While returning on a convoy from Forward Operating Base Sharana to the Sar Hawza district center, a team of Macedonians, U.S., and NDS soldiers received information that there was a possible ambush with an improvised explosive device awaiting them on the road.

The Macedonian soldiers quickly took action by dismounting from their vehicles and searching the road on foot for IEDs to clear the route for the convoy. The team made it back to the district center without incident.

“We are the first unit to work embedded with another army; this is a big experience for us. This is something you can’t learn in a book; it is something you have to learn in the terrain here,” said Karanfilov.


PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Dan Silver, platoon leader from Dover, N.H., of 4th Platoon, D Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment smiles as his Macedonian counterpart Capt. Burche Turturov, the commander of the Macedonian Ranger Platoon from Skopje, Macedonia, shakes hands with an Afghan National Army soldier during a patrol, June 5. The Macedonians are embedded with the D Company Soldiers of the Vermont National Guard as part of their state Partnership for Peace Program. They are the first state partnership involved in the program to embed and run combat operations. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Whitney Hughes, Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)



PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Dan Silver of Dover, N.H., the 4th Platoon leader, D Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment pats the back of Afghan National Police Chief Zafar Khan during a patrol June 5 as they talk to Macedonian Capt. Borche Turturov from Skopje, Macedonia, the commander of the Macedonian Ranger Platoon. The Macedonians are embedded with the D Company Soldiers of the Vermont National Guard as part of their state Partnership for Peace Program. They are the first state partnership involved in the program to embed and run combat operations. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Whitney Hughes, Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)



PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Spc. Robert Dearden, an infantryman from Georges Mills, N.H., of 4th Platoon, D Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment mans a machine gun during a joint patrol with a platoon of Macedonian Rangers, June 5. The Macedonians are embedded with the D Company Soldiers of the Vermont National Guard as part of their state Partnership for Peace Program. They are the first state partnership involved in the program to embed and run combat operations. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Whitney Hughes, Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)



PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Dan Silver, a platoon leader, from Dover, N.H, and Spc. Robert Dearden, an infantryman from Georges Mills, N.H., both of 4th Platoon, D Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment pose with Macedonian army Rangers Capt. Blerim Ismaili, the executive officer from Gostivar, Macedonia; 1st Lt. Vlatko Karanfilov, a team commander from Skopje, Macedonia; and Capt. Borce Turtorov, the platoon commander from Skopje, Macedonia, all of the Macedonian Rangers; and Afghan National Police Chief Zafar Khan and his officers. The Macedonians are embedded with the D Company Soldiers of the Vermont National Guard as part of their state Partnership for Peace Program. They are the first state partnership involved in the program to embed and run combat operations. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Whitney Hughes, Task Force Wolverine Public Affairs)

http://www.cjtf82.com/regional-command-east-news-mainmenu-401/2879-always-a-step-ahead-macedonia-rangers-partner-with-task-force-avalanche-in-paktya.html

[Frank]

They are respected buy the men they work with no doubt but as a sign of protest to NATO lack of collective reagard after Bucharest they should never be serving under in NATO mission.

[Dimko-piperkata]

They are respected buy the men they work with no doubt but as a sign of protest to NATO lack of collective reagard after Bucharest they should never be serving under in NATO mission.

thats also my attitude.

[Phoenix]

They are respected buy the men they work with no doubt but as a sign of protest to NATO lack of collective reagard after Bucharest they should never be serving under in NATO mission.

UMD disgracefully applauds the inclusion of Macedonian troops in NATO operations. Neither the question of the morality of war itself nor the disrespect that NATO shows Macedonia stands in the way of the now customary and subservient arse kissing of UMD...

[Jankovska]

I have always been against Macedonoans sons fighting for NATO. If we can not be part of NATO we shouldn't be fighting with them. What is wrong with the gov and everyone else who thinks it's ok to send our boys off?

[Prolet]

Jankovska, UMD praised our government for sending in more troops while me and Phoenix where against such a move. Surly they need to give us something in return for us to stick our necks out for them.

[Volk]

Oh stop bitching, our troops should not be there...

They are fighting for our interest, what are you doing?

Good on them, valuable lessons to teach our army counter insurgency and stop the fundamentalist islamic plague threatening the world.

Pride of the nation.

[Jankovska]

Oh stop bitching, our troops should not be there...

They are fighting for our interest, what are you doing?

Good on them, valuable lessons to teach our army counter insurgency and stop the fundamentalist islamic plague threatening the world.

Pride of the nation.

Hwo are they fighting our intrest? You have to stop with the Muslim hate here, our boys or anyone really has no right to be in Iraq or Afganistan

[777Bitola]

Hwo are they fighting our intrest? You have to stop with the Muslim hate here, our boys or anyone really has no right to be in Iraq or Afganistan

Learning valuable lessons and passing it onto generations of soldiers when they fight against Albanian insurgents. We volunteerd to go their NATO never made us go anywhere its good training for when Albanians act up and this time we are prepared.
Also i hate that you jump on the conclusion that we hate Muslims. Well on that, yes i hate Muslims that blow themselves up as a Martyr thinking in return they will get 72 virgins. Yes, i hate those kinds of muslims.

[Onur]

Turkey joined NATO at 1950 and they asked from us to send our troops to Korean war. We lost lots of soldiers in there and it`s still being criticized in Turkey from time to time. USA asked from us to send Turkish soldiers for Iraq and Afghanistan too but we never accepted to involve in any combat again. There are few Turkish squads in Afghanistan atm but they stay in NATO bases and we never enter any combat. We gone Bosnia and Kosova under the tag of NATO but USA didn't call us for those, Turkey demanded to go these places.

You can be sure that if your citizens dies(god forbid) in Afghanistan, you will regret about this too. I am sure USA asking for sacrifices from Macedonia to be able to enter NATO but it`s tricky situation.


Also 777Bitola, i don't agree with you for the situation in Afghanistan. Religion is just a cover to the problems in Afghanistan. Actually it`s not about religion. For a long time, maybe for 100 years, Afghan people has no hope, no money, no life, nothing at all. Russians invaded them, then Taliban and Al-Qaeda came, now the USA occupation. If you don't give any hope to someone, you have to expect him to do ridicules actions like blowing himself up. I believe they do this because they got no hope for the world they live in today. If you consider that Greeks threw molotov cocktails inside banks and killed people because they wont get their 15th salary anymore then maybe you can understand the situation of Afghan people.

So, you shouldn't conclude as this and connect this situation only with the religion. There are other elements in this issue which concealed from regular people in the world like you and me.

[777Bitola]

I never said i hate muslims. I said i hate muslims that blow themselves up and die for a martyr. Their are some muslims i know that are good people.