NATO - Norwegian National Support Group Role 1 Medical Reaction Force sleeve patch, desert

Desert variant. Full bevo silk embroidery on cloth base with merrowed edging.

National Support Elements (NSE) were part of the IFOR, and later the SFOR, NATO led forces, which were deployed primarily in former Yugoslavia from 1996 to 2004 (when replaced by EUFOR). Each of the contributing countries deployed their own logistic support units. The Nordic countries and Poland deployed their NSE's.
The Norwegian National Support Element was part of the Nordic Support Group, which comprised several National Support Elements, and handled the relay of supply, personnel and other logistical tasks between the Nordic-Polish Brigade (NORDPOL) participating countries and their deployed forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The NSE/NSG has become a commonly used unit name, thus a similar unit has also been deployed in Macedonia as part of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission and in Afghanistan as part of ISAF.

In NATO terminology military Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs) are designated a Role number to describe their functional capability to deliver a specific level of care. ROLE 1 includes the provision of primary care, emergency treatment (resuscitation and stabilization) and preparation for transfer usually under the guidance of a medical officer. This capability is normally integral to a major land-based unit and also reflects the provision of medical support inherent to an afloat platform.