Exercise Green Wave 2015 (29 May) SVK Armed Forces have completed the exercise Green Wave 2015 held within the second stage of the series of the exercise Slovak Shield 2015. Its scenario was constructed to reflect the challenges of the current security environment. The whole department of defence was engaged in the Green Wave, starting from the ministerial part through the General Staff down to the tactical units. „The armed forces practiced cooperation with the other security forces, being fully aware of the fact that, in a potential crisis situation, their cooperation would be vital,” emphasized SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. “The second stage of the Slovak Shield comprised planning and practicing the individual activities, as well as a preparation for a conduct of combat activities within the context of a broader scenario, which involved potential combat and non-combat threats. In the current security environment, there is a very thin line between peace and war,” explained Maj Gen Pavel Macko, 2nd Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces, who was a director of the exercise. The exercise Slovak Shield will reach its peak in autumn at the Training Centre Lešť, where the exercising troops will be faced with the tasks of even more detailed planning of combat operations aimed at maintaining stability and security as well as ensuring defence of the Slovak Republic, in conjunction with the NATO allies. ● On 26 May, the director of the Language Institute opened the written part of the STANAG 6001 language proficiency test for attendees of intensive language courses – English, Russian and French, aimed at testing the acquired language skills at Second Language Proficiency (SLP) levels 1, 2 and 3. Held at the General M. R. Štefánik SVK Armed Forces Academy in Liptovský Mikuláš, the language proficiency test was attended by 116 course participants who had completed language training at the Language Training Centres in Liptovský Mikuláš, Zvolen, Trenčín and Prešov. ● On 19 May, a fire broke out in close vicinity to the UNFICYP Headquarters in Cyprus. Apart from civilian firefighters from both Cypriot republics, also SVK military engineers were called in to assist in the emergency. The aim of their mission was to bring the fire under control by employing heavy engineer equipment and creating anti-fire zones, thereby facilitating the advance of civilian firefighters. The efforts of the SVK sappers were recognized by Maj Gen Kristin Lund, UNFICYP Force Commander.
Josef Bečvář in Bratislava (26 May) SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč met with the newly appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic Lt Gen Josef Bečvář. Among the main issues raised during their meeting was cooperation in the field of defence industries, in the field of training and joint protection of airspace, as well as cooperation between the land forces. „Relations between our countries are, in the long term, viewed as excellent, which opens horizons for further cooperation,” said Minister of Defence Glváč. As a tangible result of cooperation between the Slovak and Czech defence industries he invoked the light truck-carried howitzer EVA, which was introduced last week at IDET 2015 in Brno. „Cooperation between our countries is exquisite,” concluded the new Czech ChoD Josef Bečvář. Based on the government resolution, the Slovak Republic holds negotiations on possibilities of a lease of flying hours of the aircraft JAS-39 Gripen, which aircraft has been used by the Czech Air Force on a long-term basis. „In the process of negotiations, we find the know-how provided by the Czech Republic most useful,” said Martin Glváč. The visit was made by virtue of the invitation of Lt Gen Milan Maxim, Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces. The both Generals evaluated the current state of the bilateral cooperation, as well as cooperation from the perspective of the future. The Partners shared the information on the series of exercise Slovak Shield 2015 and made an evaluation of the recent engineering exercise Engineer Rescuers 2015. As for Lt Gen Josef Bečvář, the visit of the Slovak Republic was his first official visit in his capacity as Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic.
Armed Forces’ Info Portal
www.mosr.sk/ebulletin/
SVK Armed Forces have developed a mobile application, thanks to which those, whose ambition is to join the army, can register to be put on a waiting list, offering positions they are interested in. After completing a form they will be officially registered as if they had visited a recruitment cell in person. „We are carrying out the largest modernization projects in a history of the armed forces and I do believe that the new modern equipment will become motivation for many young people and might be a decisive factor in selecting a military career. Our new application should help them in this respect,“ said Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. Application „SVK Armed Forces’ Info Portal” offers an overview of the current development and major events in the SVK Armed Forces. It is available for anyone with mobile equipment with the operational system Android, version 2.3 and higher. It is available at http://www.mosr.sk/aplikacia/, where from it can be downloaded free. SVK Armed Forces’ Info Portal was created internally by the Base of stationary communication and information systems. Its personnel are currently developing version also for the other operational systems of mobile equipment.
President on a visit to HG (26 May) SVK President and Commander-in-Chief of the SVK Armed Forces Andrej Kiska inspected the Slovak Presidential Honour Guard Unit at a welcome ceremony at Duklianske Barracks, SVK MOD, on Tuesday, 26 May. The president was greeted by Col Miroslav Ištván, Commander of the Presidential Honour Guard Unit, and by Lt Gen Marián Áč, Chief of the SVK President’s Military Office. During the programme, the Honour Guard members recently promoted to higher ranks were officially introduced to the president. And so were professional soldiers who participate in charity and sports activities, thereby building a good name for the Presidential Honour Guard and the SVK Armed Forces. The Commander-in-Chief of the SVK Armed Forces expressed his thanks to the assembled Honour Guard members. President Kiska then went on to view military equipment on display, received a tour of armouries and military clothing storage facilities, before heading for the Honour Guard’s Hall of Fame and Traditions. At the end of his visit, he held a discussion with HG members.
● On Thursday, 28 May, Lt Col Zoltán Farkas, handed over his responsibilities as Commander of the Multiple Rocket Launcher Unit to his Second-in-Command (SinC), Maj Ľubomír Bodnár in Rožňava. The change of command ceremony was attended by Col Karol Navrátil GS, SVK Land Forces Headquarters, Pavol Burdiga, mayor of Rožňava, Róbert Hanuštiak, chief of the Rožňava City Police, and Maj Kuzmiak, member of the CBRN Defence Battalion. ● As part of the joint exercise involving the U.S. and SVK Armed Forces with the participation of the U.S. Air Force’s 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, a coordination exercise of air defence units was held from 18 through 22 May on the garrison training grounds at Kolíňaský Vrch as well as in the area of the S300 PMU air defence system’s permanent deployment. Air defence system crews were put through their paces while being engaged by the U.S. Air Force’s A-10C Thunderbolt aircraft. For the purposes of the exercise, the Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade deployed a variety of ground-based missile defence systems, including the S-300 PMU air defence system (SA-10 Grumble), 2K12 KUB (SA-6 Gainful) and 9K38 IGLA (SA-18 Grouse). The main training objective of the exercise was to be on full combat alert, detect, lock on to and engage air targets non-lethally by simulation. Equally important, the exercise aimed to verify the readiness of the entire Air Defence Command and Control System. ● On Thursday, 28 May, Sereď-based Engineer Battalion received a delegation from the German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr. Representing the German military were units from special operations, logistics and radar troops. Military chaplains were entrusted with the coordination of the visit. The initial briefing for the military audience was delivered by Lt Col Dalibor Jelínek, Commander of the Engineer Battalion, followed by static and dynamic demonstrations of engineer equipment, as it is employed on domestic and international crisis management operations. ● The 21st Jozef Gabčík Memorial Run, bringing together a total of 244 competitors, featured an 11-km cross-country run with 12 specific running categories on Saturday, 30 May. The overall winner was Anatoly Maly of Ukraine, Jan Wydra of Poland placed second, and Robert Rolko of Slovakia, member of the Sports Police Club Žilina, won the third place.
Security Forces Day
(30 May) The last Saturday in May attracted crowds to Tyršovo Square Bratislava. The highlights of Security Forces Day included the world champion of the F-500 Powerboat World Series Marián Jung, sportsman from the Army Sports Club Dukla; flypasts by Mil Mi-17 helicopters combined with helidrops of 5th Special Forces Regiment members; JAS-39 Gripen flight simulator; advanced military equipment on display; and practical demonstrations by the SVK Armed Forces. Organized by the SVK Interior and Defence Ministries, the official programme started at 10.00 am. The visitors to the event had the opportunity to get their hands on a variety of equipment used by soldiers, police personnel and firefighters and special sports activities were organized for children. To enrich the event, Army and Police bands entertained the public with their art of music. The SVK MOD Military Band staged a premiere performance in liaison with the Laci Strike Street Dance Academy. Security Forces Day culminated with a concert by the legendary rock band Olympic from the Czech Republic.
Tanks and IFVs demonstrating their fording and swimming capability (29 May) From 22 to 29 May, training was held at the water training site of the Training Area of the Military District Lešť, with tanks, armoured assets (combat reconnaissance/patrol vehicle BRDM and Aligator) and infantry fighting vehicles overcoming water obstacles. Such fording exercises had not been held for more than nine years. They should have been part of routine training of combat units and combat support units equipped with vehicles able to overcome a water obstacle by swimming or fording. Due to the above mentioned gap, for many drivers this was the very first run.
eBULLETIN MoD SR
At the beginning, on 26 May, the members of the tank company of Trebišov based combined mechanized battalion, Martin based training battalion and Martin based repair and maintenance battalion of combat support brigade Trenčín forded a 140 m-long and nearly 1.6 m-deep water obstacle. On Wednesday, 27 May, the infantry fighting vehicles of Nitra-based mechanized battalion swam a 176 m-long and 3.7 m-deep water obstacle. This exercise put to the test preparedness of the engineering and reconnaissance groups, as well as preparedness of rescue and recovery service.
May 25 - 31, 2015