Rainy Day Firing (June 4) The VIP day of the Ground Forces' Commander Brigadier General Ondřej Novosad was celebrated in the military training area of Kamenica nad Cirochou (Valaškovce) on 4 June. He welcomed the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant-General Peter Vojtek and representatives of the Generals Club of the Slovak Republic. The former and retired Chief of the General Staff Marián Mikluš, neither retired Lieutenant- General Jaroslav Vývlek, nor retired Major-General Ján Čmilanský did not miss out this occasion. The guests were acquainted with equipment, technology and centered field training of our single tank unit. The members of the tank company of the Mixed Mechanized Battalion of Commander Capt. Jozef Horváth in Trebišov just completed the tank crew firing in full caliber from T-72 M1 tank. Despite the heavy rain and fog, the tank troopers completed all the tasks. ● On Monday 3 June, the representatives of the National Guard of the State of Indiana from the USA (NG USA) visited the Air Force of the SR under the program of the military cooperation with the USA (Mil-to-Mil). The Commander of the Air Force BrigadierGeneral Miroslav Korba welcomed the five-member delegation of the NG USA from the 122nd Fighter Wing led by David Augustine at the premises of the Headquarters of the Air Force in Zvolen. The American representatives submitted a proposal for future cooperation focusing on preparation of joint international training in 2016. The program continued by visiting the Mixed Wing Sliač and transport wing Kuchyňa.
Future discussed in Brussels (June 5) On 4 – 5 June, Ministers of Defence from NATO member countries met in NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The Slovak delega on was headed by the State Secretary of MoD SR Miloš Koterec. The primary focus of the mee ng was on NATO defence planning proces. The mee ng provided a framework for a discussion on nega ve impacts of cu ng down defence budgets allocated for development of the North Atlan c Alliance’s capabilies. The representa ves of the member countries approved a list of capabili es which the individual countries should contribute to the collec ve defence. They emphasized the importance of mul na onal groups like V4, which enable the countries involved to share certain defence costs. Another issue discussed was cyber security and the role of NATO in the case of cyber a acks in NATO countries. The ministers endorsed new safety precau ons and measures aimed at protecon of the allies from cyber a acks. The representa ves of the individual member countries also raised the issue of combat ability and figh ng capacity of the Alliance a er most of NATO troops from Afghanistan shall have withdrawn a er 2014. They stressed the importance of frequently held joint exercises. In a final part of the mee ng, a discussion was held on the need of the Alliance’s presence in Afghanistan a er 2014. The commander of NATO opera on in Afghanistan assessed the situa on in the Afghan na onal forces as sa sfactory and confirmed preparedness of NATO to support them also a er 2014. The Ministers endorsed a concept of a future mission in Afghanistan, planned from 2015, and tasked the military authories to develop the appropriate plans. On Tuesday, the State Secretary of Ministry of Defence of the SR Miloš Koterec held a nego a on in Brussels with Director General for business and industry in the European Commission Daniel Calleja Cresp within the V4 framework, with par cipaon of representa ves of the Polish, Czech and Hungarian ministries of defence. The nego a on focused on the EU summit on defence, which is to be held in December 2013. That is expected to come up with the measures to be taken in the three key areas including defence industry. The main goal of the V4 representa ves was to bring forward joint proposals for support and the strengthening of defence industry.
Battling High Water
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(June 3) In the evening of 3 June, based on a decision of the Minister of Defence Martin Glváč to provide an immediate assistance to the citizens endangered by floods, 15 soldiers from the Guard of Honour of the Armed Forces of the SR are deployed to the area between Karlova Ves and Devín (parts of Bratislava). The AF SR deploy 40 pcs of equipment, vehicles TATRA and AKTIS, helicopters and boats. (June 4) Minister Glváč makes a checkout flight over the areas affected by floods.
ALTHEA Award
(June 3) The ceremony, which took place at the Ministry of Defence of the SR on 3 June, was the culmination of the successful conduct of the operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 22 members of the Armed Forces. The State Secretary Miloš Koterec together with the Chief of the General Staff of the AF of the SR Lieutenant-General Peter Vojtek handed over the awards to the soldiers for their service in the European Union Mission Althea and thanked the families of the soldiers for their support.
● On the occasion of the end of Lt. Col. Christopher Burelli’s term as the U.S. Military Attaché to the Slovak Republic, Lt. Col. Christopher Burelli, accompanied by his successor Lt. Col. Andrew J. Taylor, visited the Headquarters of the Slovak Air Force based in Zvolen. The Commander of the Air Force Brig. Gen Miroslav Korba informed Lt. Col. Taylor about the structure, designation and basic tasks of the headquarter and individual subordinate units. In subsequent informal discussions, they positively evaluated the contribution of the United States Defense Attaché’s Office to the development of the cooperation between the Air Forces of the SR and the USA. A visit to the Sliač airbase was next on the itinerary of the delegation, in order to get informed with the practical activity of the members and the aviation technology of the AF. ● Brig. Gen Ľubomír Svoboda welcomed the U.S. Military Attaché to the Slovak Republic, Lt. Col. Christopher Burelli at the Training and Support Forces Headquarters located in Trenčín on Thursday 6 June. Lt. Col. Christopher Burelli was accompanied by his successor Lt. Col. Andrew J. Taylor and by the Chief of the U.S. Office of Defence Cooperation in the SR Lt. Col. Matthew H. Nuhse. The Chief of the AF thanked the departing attaché for his accomplished work in favor of the AF of the SR and awarded him with the Commemorative Medal of the Training and Support Forces Headquarters and wished every success on the new post of the new attaché Lt. Col. Andrew J. Taylor. ● The 6th annual shooting competition of the Commander’s 2nd Mechanized Brigade Challenge cup with the addition of the Journalist Shooting Competition 2013 (Novinárska strela 2013) took place in the Garrison Training and Firing Area in Ruská Nová Ves in the presence of the ground forces' commander Brigadier General Ondřej Novosad. 19 teams not only from the garrison in Prešov, the subordinate battalions and the units of the brigade came to validate their shooting skills with hand guns, the type 82 and the type 58 gun. The winner of the Challenge cup was the self-propelled artillery unit team based in Michalovce. The gunners defended the title from the last year at the competition. Miroslav Mudrák was the winner among the journalists who competed.
Soldier, Expert, Honoree
(June 3) A soldier, an expert in the field of military engineering and armaments, a Chief of the Military Top Sport Administration and a technical advisor of ministers of defence and of the newly established Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, retired Major General Rudolf Tvaroška has reached an important jubilee. The members of the Association of Soldiers of the Slovak Republic congratulated Tvaroška on his 85th birthday at the reunion in the Military Dome in Trenčín on 3 June. General Tvaroška has entered into the history of our Armed Forces forever since he was personally involved in the important milestones of the AF, emphasized the Chief of the General Staff of the AF of the SR Lieutenant-General Vojtek in his congratulations.
● On Tuesday 4 June, 27 students from Ľudovít Štúr High School in Trenčín took part in the activities of the Language Institute of the General Staff of the AF of the SR at the Department of Language Preparation. Junior high school students took part in a presentation of the Language Institute’s activities, as well as some practical demonstrations carried out in the English language by the members of the Language Institute and the members of the 5th Special Forces Regiment in Žilina. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the AF of the SR, the Language Institute wishes to continue in promoting its activity in cooperation with secondary schools. (June 5) Mayor of Devín asks the Armed Forces SR for help. 21 soldiers from the Bratislava garrison are deployed to provide shuttle transport service by Tatra vehicles. (June 6) The AF SR deploy the next hundred soldiers to Devín in case it would be necessary to build higher barriers there. Minister of Defence comes to inspect the situation in Devín. In response to an urgent need, a helicopter is provided to transport a mother and her 3-month-old baby suffering from a fever to a hospital in Kramáre. More than 600 soldiers and 102 pcs of equipment are standing by to fight against floods. (June 7) Martin Glváč comes to inspect the situation caused by floods in the south of Slovakia, which is where the floodwater is heading for. 42 soldiers from Nitra are deployed to Komárno. 468 soldiers and 72 pcs of equipment are on a stand-by. The Armed Forces continue to provide for a safe transportation of inhabitants of Devín. The next two Tatra vehicles with their crews are made available for a rescue component of the Integrated Rescue System, providing for transportation of persons, POL and material to Devín and Dlhé Diely (parts of Bratislava). The situation is monitored by a helicopter of the Armed Forces.
eBULLETIN MO SR
(June 8) From 3 June, the Armed Forces deployed altogether 301 soldiers to assist with building barriers in Bratislava, Devín and Komárno, to provide for transportation of inhabitants, to help with evacuation of material and supplying of food. Soldiers from the Bratislava garrison HQs, transportation wing Kuchyňa, helicopter wing Prešov, transportation battalion Hlohovec, engineer battalion LF Sereď, 12th mechanized battalion and the anti-aircraft rocket brigade, both based in Nitra, were deployed to assist in areas affected by floods. Six vehicles Tatra 815, thirteen vehicles Tatra 815VN and three vehicles Tatra 815S3 were deployed, as well as two medium allterrain vehicles Aktis and one Land Rover. The vehicles made altogether 4,371 km and soldier transported nearly 1,300 persons. Equally, three Mi17 helicopters of the AF SR were deployed to provide monitoring and assistance. (June 9) Soldiers from Nitra have been rendering assistance in the southern Slovakia affected by floods the whole night. The past days have verified preparedness and capabilities of the Armed Forces to response immediately to any crisis situation notwithstanding its time frame and magnitude,’ stated Minister Glváč.
June 3 - 9, 2013