Awareness level is higher, but SFOR
peacekeepers go about their business
Story and photos by Ivana
Avramovic, Bosnia bureau
Soldiers leave Eagle Base
in a convoy to patrol Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
EAGLE BASE, Bosnia and Herzegovina — While life in America has changed since the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, U.S. peacekeepers in Bosnia and Herzegovina say their lives
haven’t change much at all.
Officials say the Stabilization Force’s mission remains the same: Keep Bosnians
and U.S. peacekeepers safe and secure.
"It is our No. 1 priority, and we take it seriously," said Col. Thomas
Stewart, in charge of ground patrols for U.S. peacekeepers. Stewart added that he has not
seen any evidence of an increased threat to SFOR soldiers in the past weeks.
"We all know that those things can change tomorrow," Stewart said, "but
as of today, we do not have a clear threat."
While the attack on America stunned peacekeepers, it produced only a few changes in the
way they conduct their mission.
- Threat-condition levels increased from Bravo to Charlie, resulting in more thorough
inspections of people and vehicles entering U.S. base camps in Bosnia.
- Local-national employees are searched when entering bases.
- Random K-9 inspections are more common.
- Soldiers guarding the gates have to wear more protective gear, and are present in larger
numbers.
- Morale, Welfare and Recreation trips to Tuzla and Sarajevo are temporarily suspended.
U.S. and foreign
diplomats and soldiers gather at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo Tuesday for a memorial
service honoring those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks. |
"We started paying more attention to details, what’s going on in our
surroundings," said Sgt 1st Class Dwayne Chaney of Company A, 1st Battalion, 121
Infantry Regiment, who often travels the countryside. But he said he has not noticed
anything different on his patrols. "I feel safer here than I do at home."
His first sergeant, Calvin Wilcox, points out that troops now have to wear their
protective vests when they leave the gates, instead of just having them in their Humvees.
"Your awareness level goes up a little bit," Wilcox said.
But the recent events have not delayed new incoming units, Stewart said.
Even though it is "business as usual" for the peacekeepers, Stewart’s
message to soldiers is: "Keep your eyes wider; focus a little more on what you are
doing."
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