ORF battalion
An ORF battalion is a battalion of the Operational Reserve Forces of NATO . ORF battalions are held by Germany , Italy and Great Britain for a period of six months . After the troop reduction in the Balkans at EUFOR and KFOR , NATO set up this operational reserve in order to be able to react quickly to tensions and crises by reinforcing the forces.
The ORF battalions are preparing for the deployment, as are the deployment contingents. They stay in their home country for as long as they are on call, continue to practice continuously and during this time complete at least one so-called "Operation Rehearsal", an exercise in the country of assignment.
German ORF battalions
A German ORF battalion will be formed from an existing battalion, partly with support from forces of the Austrian Armed Forces . It consists of the headquarters and supply company , three operational companies and additional reinforcement forces such as engineers , police officers , paramedics and supply forces . One of the deployment companies is immediately available with the status “ready”, the other units with the status “standby” can be relocated to the deployment country on request within two weeks. The battalion is self-sufficient when deployed, it can operate independently in a room without relying on other forces.
Previous German ORF battalions were
- July 1, 2003 - December 31, 2003: Armored Grenadier Battalion 212
- January 1, 2004 - June 30, 2004: 401 Panzer Grenadier Battalion
- July 1, 2004 - January 1, 2005: Panzer Battalion 104, Panzer Grenadier Battalion 122
- January 1, 2005 - July 1, 2005: Panzer Grenadier Training Battalion 92
- July 1, 2005 - January 1, 2006: Mountain Infantry Battalion 233
- January 1, 2006 - July 1, 2006: Tank Battalion 183
- July 1, 2006 - January 1, 2007: Panzer battalion 104, Panzergrenadierbataillon 122, Panzerpionierbataillon 4
- January 1, 2007 - July 1, 2007: Panzergrenadierlehrbataillon 92 (+ 3rd / Panzerlehrbataillon 93)
- July 1, 2007 - January 1, 2008: Mountain Infantry Battalion 232
- January 1, 2008 - June 15, 2008: Jägerregiment 1 (+ an Austrian company from Panzergrenadierbataillon 35 and Jägerbataillon 19 )
- June 16, 2008 - December 15, 2008: Panzer training battalion 93 + an Austrian hunter company
- December 16, 2008 - June 30, 2009: Panzer Battalion 33 + 3rd / Jägerbataillon 25 of the Federal Army
- July 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009: Jäger battalion 292 + one company of artillery battalion 295 + one company of the Austrian Panzergrenadier battalion 13 + 1 PzPiKp 550 pioneer platoon
- January 1, 2010 - June 30, 2010: Panzer Battalion 203 + 5th Battery Rocket Artillery Battalion 132
- July 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010: Panzer Battalion 104 + 6th Company NBC Defense Regiment 750 + a company of the Austrian Panzer Grenadier Battalion 35
- January 1, 2011 - June 30, 2011: Air defense training regiment 6 + a company of the Austrian Jäger Battalion 25
- July 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011: rocket artillery battalion 132 + light NBC defense company 110 + a company of the Austrian armored infantry battalion 13
- January 1, 2012 - June 30, 2012: NBC Defense Regiment 750 + a company of artillery battalion 295 + Austrian forces from the 6th Jäger Brigade
- July 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012: NBC Defense Regiment 750 + one company NBC Defense Battalion 7 (mostly from 3rd / Company) + Austrian forces
German ORF battalions in action
From July 2011, tensions escalated on the northern borders and soon also in large parts of the northern region of Kosovo. Border officials from the Kosovar government and EULEX members were attacked by Serbs. From August 2011 to December 2012, the German ORF battalion was deployed in the north.