Courageous Service: Hungarian Soldiers Honored at the Highest Level of KFOR

In May, Corporal Róbert Jenei was awarded the title of “Soldier of the Month” for the KFOR mission. Candidates for this prestigious award are nominated by the senior non-commissioned officers of the contingents of KFOR troop contributing nations, and the KFOR senior non-commissioned officers’ committe decides on the winner. The individual ultimately selected by the committee led by the KFOR Command Sergeant Major receives their certificate in person from the KFOR Commander, is featured in an article in KFOR’s monthly magazine, and has their photo displayed for one month alongside those of senior officers in the lobby of KFOR Headquarters.

Corporal Jenei was nominated for the award for his courageous actions in averting an immediate threat to life—he stopped the severe arterial bleeding of a colleague —and was nominated for the award, which he received from Major General Özkan Ulutaş, the mission commander, at the Film City camp in Pristina, home to KFOR Headquarters.

Corporal Jenei averted the dangerous situation together with his comrade, Private First Class Norbert Kányási, who was also honored: he received the same award from KFOR’s Command Sergeant Major Ahmet Cemalettin Tokur.

Both Hungarian soldiers are deployed to Kosovo as members of the Hungarian-led KFOR Tactical Reserve Battalion. During an accident that occurred outside their duty hours, they both simultaneously demonstrated their ability to react immediately and their excellent teamwork. Their professional commitment to the mission, their service, and their comrade brought honor to themselves, their unit, and NATO, and faithfully reflected the noblest traditions of military service.