War in Afghanistan[edit]

ISAF logo

Macedonian soldiers in Kabul

The then-Republic of Macedonia began its participation in the NATO-led ISAF operation in August

2002, with the allocation of two officers to the Turkish contingent. On 8 September, independence
day of the Republic of Macedonia, the Macedonian flag was flown for the first time in Kabul. In
March 2003, the Army of the Republic of Macedonia increased its contribution in the ISAF mission
by sending one section from the 2nd Infantry Brigade as part of the German contingent. As a result
of the successful execution of the mission and the high marks received for participation in ISAF, from
August 2004 until the end of 2006, the ARM participated with one mechanized infantry platoon from
the Leopard unit. At the same time, in August 2005 medical personnel was sent in ISAF as part of
the Combined Medical Team in the A3 format (Macedonia, Albania, Croatia), which successfully
carried out tasks at the Kabul airport, firstly in the composition of the Greek Field Hospital, and later
in the composition of the Czech Field Hospital.
Based on the assessments of the Alliance in the part of the declared units from the ARM, which
achieved the required strict standards in the field of training and operational procedures, and in line
with the Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC), the ARM in June 2006 sent also one mechanized
infantry company, part of the first mechanized infantry brigade, in the composition of the British
contingent in ISAF. The trust shown from the United Kingdom towards the ninety "Scorpions" from
the first infantry brigade, was justified in full.
The high marks from the highest command structures for the work of the unit as well as the learned
lessons are only an imperative for continuing the successful mission. In the second rotation of the
company for securing the ISAF command, the Republic of Macedonia increased the participation
from ninety to one hundred and twenty seven participants, and from January 2008 it sent three staff
officers in the ISAF Command in Kabul.
As a support to the efforts for self-sustainability of the Afghanistan National Army (ANA), beginning
from March 2008, the Republic of Macedonia sent two soldiers (one officer and one NCO) as part of
the Combined Multinational Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) in Mazar-i-
Sharif while, beginning from December 2008, in cooperation with the Kingdom of Norway, a
Macedonian medical team is included through one Surgical team in the organizational structure of
the surgical unit of the Norwegian Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Meymanah,
Afghanistan.