Ukraine to receive clothing and medical supplies (8 January) The SVK Ministry of Defence will send another humanitarian aid consignment to Ukraine. Items of clothing and medical supplies are scheduled to leave Slovakia at the end of January. The aid will mainly include boots, jackets, coats and hats, as well as bandages, stretchers and mattresses. After the courses for Ukrainian specialists which we organized in our units in Nováky and Martin at the end of last year, this is another form of concrete help,” said SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. The SVK Ministry of Defence will send a total of 157 pallets with clothing and medical supplies, which are ready to be dispatched from the Nemecká-based military unit. As part of the delivery, the SVK MOD will send a total of 24 packages of stretchers to Ukraine.
Co-operation with Indiana
(10 January) Co-operation between the Slovak Republic and the US state of Indiana could assume a new dimension. Apart from the successful military co-operation, which has enjoyed a 20-year-long tradition, it could now shift to the civilian area, especially to the industry sector. This was agreed by SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč and the governor of Indiana, Mr Mike Pence during their meeting as part of the SVK defence minister’s official visit to the United States of America. “I can’t see any reason why our countries should not engage in co-operation even in other areas,” said Minister Glváč, who, for this purpose, invited governor Pencer for an official visit of Slovakia, where the common agenda can be discussed along with other experts. At the meeting, the head of the SVK MOD greatly appreciated the contribution of Maj Gen Martin Umbarger, the Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard, to developing the bilateral defence relationship between the SVK Armed Forces and the US Armed Forces. In this respect, he reminded that the participation of an Indiana National Guard platoon in Exercise Ground Pepper 2014, held last October in Slovakia, was a concrete example of cooperation. During the meeting, SVK Chief of the General Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim confirmed the outstanding relationship and excellent co-operation. “Our co -operation has developed gradually. From theoretical training which has gradually grown to include joint exercises to a joint deployment of troops as part of international crisis management operations. Let me recall the ISAF mission, where US SOFs and SVK troops conducted missions shoulder to shoulder,” he said.
● The ceremonial muster of the members of the Headquarters of the SVK Air Force took place on 7 January to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the sovereign and independent Slovak Republic and the establishment of the SVK Armed Forces and Air Force. Brig Gen Miroslav Korba, Commander of the SVK Air Force, concluded that the year 2014 was not easy for the Air Force. He emphasized accomplishment of several demanding tasks, to mention just development and endorsement of the Concept of Development of the SVK Air Force or the signing of the contract for a purchase of the two C-27 J SPARTAN aircraft, which are supposed to replace the An-26 aircraft as from 2016. He expressed satisfaction with extending the capabilities of NATINAMDS operation through cooperation with the Czech Republic and expressed his acknowledgement to the members of the Air Force for preparation of, support for and participation in military exercises home as well as in the international exercises in the past year. ● On Wednesday, 7 January, a ceremonial muster of the members of the Bratislava Garrison Headquarters took place on the premises of the military complex Bratislava – Vajnory. This was aimed at commemorating the significant events linked with 1 January. In his address, Col Ján Marek, Commander of the Bratislava Garrison, briefly summarized and evaluated the performance of tasks of the garrison in the training year 2014, and projected the further goals to be achieved in 2015.
Solemn gathering
(7 January) On the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Republic, the solemn gathering of the professional soldiers and employees of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces was held. Lt Col Patrik Adamec, Chief of the Personnel Support Division of the Staff for Support Operations read the Order of the President of the Slovak Republic. Second Deputy Chief of the GS Maj Gen Pavel Macko welcomed the gathered personnel on behalf of Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces. In his speech, he focused on the establishment and on the background of the SVK Army, a predecessor of the current armed forces, which was established at the time of the establishment of the Slovak Republic. Maj Gen Pavel Macko briefly evaluated the past year and expressed his acknowledgement to the present guests for a job well done and wished them sound health and lots of enthusiasm and energy at performing the tasks in the new year. A part of the programme of the solemn gathering was the award of the commemorative Medals of the Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic, Medals for Allegiance to the SVK Armed Forces, honorary badges of the SVK Armed Forces and badges of Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces to the selected employees and professional soldiers.
● On 9 January, members of the Prešov–based helicopter wing “Col Gen Ján Ambruš” took part in a ceremonial muster held in Prešov to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Republic and its Armed Forces. Col Robert Toth, Commander of the helicopter wing, evaluated the performance of tasks for December 2014 and introduced the main objectives to be met in January 2015. He informed the members of the wing of the exercises and the main tasks that Prešov aviators will perform in the training year 2015. On this occasion, WO I Ján Krolák was awarded with the badge of the flight engineer of the helicopter aviation, 1 Class. MSgt Rastislav Matija, who was appointed as commanding noncommissioned officer as of 1 January 2015, was introduced to the members of the helicopter wing. ● On 2 January, members of the Repair and Maintenance Battalion took part in a ceremonial muster to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Republic and its Armed Forces. The muster was followed by reading the order of the President of the Slovak Republic on the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the Slovak Republic. Lt Col Daniel Ličko, Commander of the Battalion, wished the members of the Battalion sound health and every personal and professional success in 2015. The muster was concluded by a ceremonial parade.
On Wednesday, 31 December 2014, a solemn muster took place in the Repair and Maintenance Battalion on the occasion of the end of the term of Deputy Commander of the Battalion Maj Peter Sudimák, who serves at the Staff of Strategic Planning of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces as of 1 January 2015. Capt Ľubomír Petrík was promoted to the rank of Major and took up the post of Deputy Commander of the Repair and Maintenance Battalion as of 1 January 2015.
Martin Glváč holds talks with US Secretary of Defence
www.mosr.sk/ebulletin/
(9 January) SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč and SVK Chief of the General Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim held talks with US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel at the Pentagon, addressing, among others, the conclusion of the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, defence co-operation, defence investment and modernization projects. The Defence Secretary hailed our strategic partnership and highlighted the engagement of SVK troops in ISAF in Afghanistan. Martin Glváč reassured the US Defence Secretary that SVK troops will continue to operate in Afghanistan in a non-combat role. He went on to inform Chuck Hagel of the numerous measures to increase investment in modernization. The US Defence Secretary appreciated the personal approach of the SVK MOD’s current leadership in favour of boosting the expenditures on modernization.
“Even this was an opportunity for Defence Secretary Hagel to thank the SVK Defence Minister for the commitment to increase the defence budget to 1.6 % by 2020 and to considerably increase defence spending on modernization,” said the US Ambassador, H.E. Mr Theodore Sedgwick. SVK Minister of Defence Glváč thanked the US Ambassador for excellent co-operation and for organizing the meeting. Martin Glváč and Defence Secretary Hagel also discussed defence co-operation issues.“Twenty plus years of defence co-operation between our countries have significantly contributed to the modernization of the SVK Armed Forces and we wish to continue with it. Thanks to assistance in the form of funds which our country has been using for several years, we have been able to support the transformation process of
eBULLETIN MoD SR
our armed forces. The defence secretary and I discussed the ongoing modernization projects for armed forces. Our US counterpart offered to help with the acquisition of multipurpose helicopters,” said Martin Glváč. The SVK Minister of Defence updated his American colleague on the measures taken by the Slovak Republic in connection with the situational developments in Ukraine. Chuck Hagel appreciated Slovakia for its role in reversing the flow of gas to Ukraine, as well as for its significant efforts to help Ukraine. After the meeting at the Pentagon, Martin Glváč met with Vice Admiral Joseph W. Rixey, Director of Defence Security Co-operation Agency, to discuss US assistance programmes and Slovakia’s ambitions under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
January 5 - 11, 2015