Schofield Barracks soldiers have officially begun their six months as peacekeepers in Bosnia. 25th Infantry from
New commander assigned
Schofield serves as
Bosnia peacekeepersBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comThe transfer-of-authority ceremony took place in Tulza at the Army's Eagle Base where soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division relieved units headed by the Maryland and Virginia Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Division.
The Tropic Lightning soldiers are part of Stabilization Force 11, which assumed its peacekeeping duties under the authority of the 1996 Dayton Peace Accords. The 25th will provide the headquarters element and the largest contingent of more than 2,000 troops for SFOR 11.
About 51 percent of SFOR 11 consists of active-duty troops with the rest a mix of Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers from Indiana, Idaho and Montana.
"I can guarantee that the troops under my command in SFOR 11 are well trained, with high standards, and are ready to accomplish the mission," said Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack, who commands SFOR 11.
He said SFOR's role, in cooperation with the international community, is to provide a safe and secure environment in order to make the establishment of a functional, self-preserved and responsible government possible, a government which will serve all people.
The United States has been responsible for commanding Multinational Division-North since 1996. Other nations that are part of Multinational Division-North include Russia, Turkey and Norway.
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Brig. Gen. Eric T. Olson, West Point commandant of cadets, has been assigned as the new commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks. 25th Infantry getting
new commanderBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comHe will replace Maj. Gen. James Dubik, who took charge of soldiers of the Tropic Lightning division in November 2000. The Pentagon did not say what Dubik's new assignment will be and when the change of command will take place.
Also announced by the Pentagon today was the assignment of Maj. Gen. Charles H. Swannack, Jr., who is now in Bosnia as commander of Multinational Division (North) and Task Force Eagle, to head the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, probably when his Bosnia assignment ends at the end of the year.
Elements of the 25th Division are now under Swannack's command.
Olson, who is expected to receive his second star with the Schofield Barracks posting, will head the division as it undertakes a major structural change since one of its brigades has been designated as part of the Army's transformation process.
Olson, who graduated from West Point in 1972, has never served at Schofield Barracks. He commanded a battalion with the 24th Mechanized Division in Desert Storm.
He has been a brigade commander with Fort Hood's 1st Calvary Division and was assistant division commander from 1998-99 with the 1st Infantry Division in Germany.