Oregon Army National Guard 41st Infantry Brigade Combat

Oregon Army National Guard 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Col. Noel Hoback visits with non-government organization Autizmi director Sunita Kurti Sept. 24, 2020, in Prishtina/Pristina, Kosovo. Hoback, the deputy commander of the Kosovo Force Regional Command East, was accompanied by KFOR Italian Armed Forces liaison monitoring personnel and KFOR civil-military cooperation personnel. The group donated gym equipment to Autizmi in support of enduring stability in Kosovo. Hoback presided over the donation ceremony and spoke of KFOR’s commitment to partnering with NGOs like Autizmi. “Developing these children to become productive members of society is essential in developing a stable Kosovo,” said Hoback. “We are impressed with and appreciative of the work that is done here and KFOR appreciates the opportunity to help accomplish your mission.” Since its founding in 2011 Autizmi staff has been dedicated to educating and developing the skills of children with autism in support of fully integrating them into society while raising awareness of the needs and services of autistic children in Kosovo. “Building a healthy body is conducive to developing a healthy mind,” said Kurti. “Thanks to your donation of gym equipment our children will have more opportunity to develop a wider range of skills here. This is our purpose every day and your donation has helped us to accomplish our mission.” KFOR has conducted peacekeeping operations in Kosovo since 1999 under the NATO-led Operation Joint Guardian and is charged with ensuring the safety and security and freedom of movement for all the people in Kosovo in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Miguel Ruiz)