5th NATO EOD Demonstrations and Trials 2018
No. 39 ● Vol. VII ● www.mosr.sk/ebulletin/
(20 September) New Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)/Improvised Explosive Devices Disposal (IEDD) technologies and trends could be viewed by visitors to the 5th NATO EOD Demonstrations and Trials 2018 at Bratislavaʼs Incheba Expo Arena on 19-20 September 2018. The exhibition, organised by the NATO Centre of Excellence EOD Trenčín, was opened by Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš. In his opening speech, Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš said: “Today, too, the Slovak Republic has its irreplaceable place in this field, and we have a lot to offer to our Allies and partners. This has been the case, for example, with our engagement in Ukraine, where we are the Lead Nation for the NATO EOD/C-IED Trust Fund.” He further noted that over 360 participants from 22 countries have registered for this yearʼs NATO EOD Demonstrations and Trials 2018. In his speech, Chief of Defence Lt Gen Daniel Zmeko underlined that the SVK Armed Forces have top level EOD specialists. “This has been achieved also thanks to the fact that we have both national and international EOD centres in Slovakia,” he said. Slovakia has been the NATO Lead Nation for EOD since 2004. The main theme of this yearʼs exhibition was ‘Multidisciplinary Approach to EOD’. The event was organised by the NATO EOD COE Trenčín in collaboration with the MILENG COE in Spain and the C-IED COE in Germany under the aegis of the NATO Emerging Security Challenges Division (ESCD). ● On 19 Sept, Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš attended an Open Door Day at J. A. Gagarin Agrotechnical Secondary School in Bernolákovo, which will open a new study programme – Personal and Property Protection – in the school term 2019/2020. The intent is to educate and train students for trades in the SVK Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies.
Armed Forces Day (22 September) Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš and Chief of Defence Lt Gen Daniel Zmeko took part in official celebrations of Slovak Armed Forces Day in Brezová pod Bradlom. In his speech on this occasion, Minister Gajdoš expressed his appreciation for day-to-day work of military professionals and to support it, he pointed to the ongoing modernization programmes which will enable the armed forces to perform their tasks more effectively in favour of the Slovak Republic and its citizens. Speaking about the SVK Armed Forces as a credible institution, Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “In January of this year our Armed Forces marked the 25th anniversary of its establishment. Over the period of its existence the Slovak military has grown to become a respected institution and the biggest guarantee of Slovakiaʼs self-defence. If not for its firm base of human potential – that is to say, you, men and women of the Armed Forces, it would have never made it among the most trusted institutions.” Residents and visitors to Brezová pod Bradlom had a chance to see a static display of SVK Army equipment and technology as well as dynamic and flying demonstrations, including the new Spartan C-27J airlifter and UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters. Also showcased was the eight-wheeled IFV prototype for the SVK Army, which will be a unique product of the Slovak defence industry and its production will generate new jobs and increase employment levels in the arms companies across the Považie region. To mark Slovak Armed Forces Day, military professionals and veterans who had brought credit to the SVK Armed Forces were awarded with medals. Among them were also injured and wounded veterans of Afghanistan. Slovak Armed Forces Day coincides symbolically with the anniversary of the Slovak Volunteers winning the Battle at Brezová pod Bradlom in 1848.
Celebrations at MOD (21 September) MOD civilian employees and soldiers gathered at the MOD Club to mark Slovak Armed Forces Day a day ahead of the official celebrations. Before the gathering, they attended an act of commeration at the MOD Appeasement Memorial in memory of all departed Service personnel and employees in Defence. Also, the Minister and the CHOD held a video conference call with Slovak soldiers deployed on missions and operations abroad. They were interested to learn about latest security developments in the countries as well as how they can help improve their conditions of service. As part of the celebrations on 21 September, military units across Slovakia staged Open Door Day events to reach out to members of the public and raise awareness of their work.
170 years of National Council (19 September) Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš and General Secretary of the SVK MOD Service Office Ján Hoľko along with Parliamentary Chairman Andrej Danko, members of the Cabinet, and Members of Parliament commemorated the 170th anniversary of the establishment of the 1st Slovak National Council, the first Slovak political body to lead the struggle for national liberation. Describing the crucial role the 1st Slovak National Council took on in the 1848 revolutionary year, Minister Gajdoš said: “We had to go the hard way to establish our national rights. The 1st Slovak National Council as a revolutionary body of Slovakians was a spark of hope for our people in an effort to achieve recognition of their rights.”
● Having attended an oath of allegiance and graduation ceremony at the Training and Mobilization Manning Base Martin on 21 Sept, 216 new active duty soldiers, of whom 56 were servicewomen, completed their BMT training and officially joined the SVK Armed Forces. ● A US Army convoy moved across southwestern Slovakia on 20-21 Sept. As part of the scheduled military movement from Germany, the US Army convoy, consisting of 39 vehicles and 130 troops, deployed to Hungary for Ex Brave Warrior. A SVK Army Mechanised Platoon with 42 personnel and 4 upgraded IFVs also took part in the exercise. ● On 18 Sept in Cyprus, Camp Štefánik hosted the Commander SLOVCON Sector 4 UNFICYP Change of Command (COC) ceremony, with the outgoing Commander, Lt Col Jaroslav Marko, handing over to the incoming Commander, Lt Col Ján Hudák. SVK Ambassador to Cyprus Ján Škoda, members of the UNFICYP HQ in Nicosia, and members of the Crisis Management Strategic Centre, GS, were also in attendance. ● Members of the SVK and CZE Cabinets met on 17 Sept 2018 in Košice in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Czechoslovak Republic. In front of the Old Town Hall, the Prime Ministers of both countries received a red carpet welcome with military honours by a platoon-sized guard of honour with the Slovak National Flag. The Slovak and Czech National Anthems were played by the Army Band Banská Bystrica. ● Commander SVK Air Force Ľubomír Svoboda, representatives of the Zvolen Local Government, General M. R. Štefánik Slovak Aviation Association, Slovak Airmen Association, Slovak Soldiers Association and members of the Slovak Air Force met at the Fallen SNP Airmen Memorial in the village of Zolná at Zvolen to celebrate Slovak Air Force Day on 17 Sept 2018. ● Drivers are asked to be alert and drive with care as there will be 27 military road movements across Slovakia in the period between 24 and 30 Sept 2018. They will mainly involve POL troops returning from Ex Slovak Shield, CZE troops returning from Ex Clear Sign and Ex Slovak Shield, and US troops. In addition to this, SVK Army troops transporting oversized cargo are scheduled to convoy from Nitra to PC Kolíňanský Vrch, Nitra – Nemecká, Sereď – Trenčín, Michalovce – Stropkov, Trebišov – Stropkov; and movements of SVK Army vehicles are scheduled from Drietoma to Rožňava.
We have new generals (20 September) Slovak President Andrej Kiska promoted GS Col Martin Michalko, GS Col Jaroslav Polák and GS Col Peter Turský to the most junior general officer rank of Brigadier General. According to Slovak President and Commander-in-Chief of the Slovak Armed Forces Andrej Kiska, the promotions reflect the exceptional readiness of the promoted to staff the positions they were entrusted with and are a recognition of their work for the benefit of the Slovak Armed Forces. “I am convinced that active duty service in the Armed Forces is not only a profession but also a mission. It is you, the Armed Forces, and military leaders who deliver one of the most important tasks of the State – security for our citizens,” he said.
Soldiers return from Cyprus (21 September) With the completion of their year-long deployment to UNFICYP, Slovak soldiers have returned home from Cyprus. They were welcomed by Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš and CHOD Lt Gen Daniel Zmeko during a homecoming ceremony at the AAM Brigade in Nitra. 67 service personnel, of whom 4 were servicewomen, were back home after the latest rotation of troops. With all positions staffed by SVK troops, Slovakia is now fully responsible for Sector 4.
Toxic Valley and Coronat Mask (21 September) The Training and Testing CBRN Centre Zemianke Kostoľany, which falls under the National EOD and CBRN Centre Nováky, hosted the 6th iteration of Ex Toxic Valley 2018 on 11-21 September. Officer in Command of the exercise Lt Col Pavol Trúchly, of the Strategic Planning Staff, GS, said this yearʼs exercise had attracted 120 CBRN specialists from 11 countries, the highest number of exercising troops from abroad so far. In total, 240 CBRN specialists, operating 58 pieces of equipment, took part in the exercise. This year Ex Toxic Valley 2018 was linked to Ex Coronat Mask 2018, held in DEU and CZE under the Framework Nation Concept CBRN Cluster Protection. Samples were collected on Tisá Training Area, North Czechia, and transported to the National Referential Laboratory in Zemianske Kostoľany to be analysed. Numbers of participating nations, personnel and equipment included 290 CBRN specialists from 15 EU countries, of whom 27 personnel were from the CBRN Bn Rožňava, and 110 pcs of military equipment, of which 10 pcs were from the SVK Army.
Ex Slovak Shield is the largest exercise in Slovakia this year (17 September) Ex Slovak Shield 2018, this year’s largest military exercise in Slovakia, is underway at Lešť. With 1,500 SVK personnel and 250 soldiers from the Visegrad Group (V4) Armed Forces, the Indiana National Guard (INNG) and the United States Army Europe (USAREUR) having deployed on the exercise, it is one of the most significant military training activities in Central Europe. The Slovak Shield 2018 series is geared towards training troops together in response to current security challenges. As well as practising tactical and operational capabilities at all levels of command and control, focus of the SVK Armed Forces along with Allied troops is on
eBULLETIN SVK MoD
giving HQ/Staff 2nd Mechanised Brigade, HQ Task Force, and Air Component HQ practice in SOPs. Ex Slovak Shield 2018 will run until 28 September 2018 and will see the participation of military training facilities across the whole of Slovakia, including at the Training Centre Lešť and the Simulation Centre of Liptovský Mikuláš-based General M. R. Štefánik Armed Forces Academy. The LIVEX phase of Ex Slovak Shield 2018 kicked off on 23 September 2018. An accident involving an Abrams tank with 3 members of the US Army, including 1 servicewoman, was reported during the exercise at Lešť on 19 September.
17 - 23 September 2018