The MFO spoke to Specialist William Laybourne earlier this year when he was deployed with Task Force Sinai as part of the U.S. Contingent (USCON). Specialist Laybourne is a military working dog handler who was partnered with Ninja, one of the MFO’s military working dogs in the Sinai. For more information on USCON please see the following link.

On 12 November 2021, the MFO marked the one-year anniversary of the death of seven of its members in a helicopter crash on Tiran Island off the coast of Sinai.

The MFO was honored to host military representatives from both Parties to the 1979 Treaty of Peace, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel, and provide logistical and technical support for their Joint Military Committee (JMC) meeting on November 7, 2021, at the MFO’s South Camp.

Delegates from the MFO participated in commemorative events honoring the brave men and women who fought in battles at El Alamein, Egypt, and Beersheba, Israel, during the World Wars.

On 31 October 2021, Ambassador Noke Masaki from Japan was presented with the Director General’s Award for Excellence for his longstanding support of the MFO and help in furthering peace and understanding between Egypt and Israel.

Following two years in the Sinai, Kristin Claire Williams, the spouse of our Force Commander, Major General Evan Williams, returned to New Zealand. Prior to her departure, MFO Director General R. Stephen Beecroft recognized her many contributions to the MFO by presenting her with the Director General’s Award. She will be remembered by her MFO family with great affection.

The MFO speaks with Staff Sergeant Jessica Cordero. Staff Sergeant Cordero is currently serving within Task Force Sinai, part of the U.S. Contingent (USCON), as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge for Finance. Many of the officers and non-commissioned officers who work in Task Force Sinai are dual-hatted with specialized skills and carry out important responsibilities both for USCON and the MFO.  For more information on USCON please see the following link.

The MFO speaks to Lieutenant (Navy) Sandro Semeraro from the Italian Contingent (ITCON). Lieutenant Semeraro is currently serving admirably with the MFO as the Commanding Officer of the ITS Esploratore, one of the four vessels provided to the MFO by Italy for our Coastal Patrol Unit. The Coastal Patrol Unit plays an important Protocol function by ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Tiran in accordance with Article V of the Treaty of Peace. For more information on ITCON please see the following link.