Summer Rain 2014 sweeps across Slovakia
(15 June) Exercise Summer Rain 2014 culminated towards the end of the week at Military Training Area Turecký vrch (MTA Turecký vrch) in Záhorie. According to the exercise director, 2nd Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff Maj Gen Pavel Macko, it was a comprehensive test of the stand-by regime and readiness of forces that the SVK Armed Forces have earmarked for the NATO Response Force (NRF). The test of readiness for the earmarked troops culminated in a tactical exercise at MTA Turecký vrch. For the NRF, this year Slovakia provides a Chemical, Biological and Radiological Protection (CBRP) platoon, a mobile chemical laboratory together with a sample collection team from the CBRP Battalion Rožňava, an NSE company, comprising especially members of the Hlohovec-based transport and multifunctional battalion, Martin-based repair battalion, movement control team, and Military Police platoon.
On Sunday, 15 June, during an inaugural Parliamentary session, Andrej Kiska took his presiden al oath in the presence of the Chairwoman of the Cons tu onal Court of the Slovak Republic Ive a Macejková, in line with the Cons tu on. Thereby, he has officially assumed the office of the Slovak President and post of commander‐in‐chief of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic.
Preparedness put to test
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(12 June) On his working trip, Minister of Defence Mar n Glváč visited the Training Centre Lešť. This top centre offers the military, police, rescue and medical professionals a possibility to undergo comprehensive training, to include training aimed at the fight against terrorism and organized crime. At the recent mee ng of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, Minister Glváč offered our Partners to train in Lešť. “This offer seems to appeal strongly to our Partners,” he said. Last week, the first exercise involving military intelligence from Slovakia and Poland, dubbed SLOVPOLEX 2014, was held in Lešť. Its aim was to test the level of skills and capabili es of intelligence units. “Such exercise has never been held before. This has been for the very first me that intelligence is involved. Military police and Special Forces also took part in the exercise. It bears tes mony to the fact that V4 countries have established and further develop rela ons that go above and beyond the standard scope,” stated the Head of Defence Department. He views the exercise as highly beneficial, namely with respect to the V4 plan to form the Visegrad Ba legroup in 2016, in which the Polish and Slovak special forces and special units are supposed to operate jointly. New Slovak Chief of Defence Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim has announced that a non‐scheduled exercise will be held again a er quite a long me, which is supposed to verify overall preparedness and readiness of NATO Response Force (NRF). This year, Slovakia will contribute to NRF a highly specialized chemical, biological and radiological defence unit from the CBRN ba alion based in Rožňava. “Similar exercise will be increasingly frequent. In comparison to the past, soldiers will train more intensively, since this is the only way we can discover our weak points and reveal hidden reserves. We intend to introduce a system of non‐scheduled exercises and movements, with a set of organiza onal arrangements as an enabler,” concluded the Minister of Defence. In autumn, a large exercise will be organized in coopera on with the Czech Republic, with up to 1,300 Slovak and Czech troops taking part. It will be aimed at prac cing a performance of tasks of collec ve defence of NATO countries.
● A main planning conference on international exercise MACE XVI, due to culminate on 17 – 30 September 2014, was held between 10 and 12 June in Zvolen. Over 50 representatives, coming from Australia, Denmark, United Kingdom, Germany, United States of America, Sweden, Norway, France, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovakia, convened to work out the exercise agenda. ● Members of the 11th Mechanized Battalion Martin (11th Mech Bn Martin) commemorated the 10th anniversary of the tragic death of their colleagues, who had died while performing their missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom, during a commemoration ceremony at Slovak National Uprising Barracks in Martin on 9 June. The remembrance ceremony was attended by Col. Ľubomír Mrváň (DS SVK Armed Forces) and Maj. Vladimír Dutka on behalf of the Land Forces together with Žilina-based 5th Special Operations Regiment members, Sereď-based Engineer Battalion members, Martin-based Training Battalion members, Martin-based Battalion and military veterans of the rotation during which the tragedy had occurred. ● Participants of an international conference in the field of work safety and specialized technical oversight familiarized themselves with the tasks and mission of the ZT-5 Martin Logistics Supply Base on 11 June. The conference was hosted by the Oversight Activity Division and the Work Inspectorate, operating under the SVK MOD, and was attended, among others, by officials from the SVK MOD's components, Ministry of Social, Work and Family Affairs, and Interior Ministry. The event featured a tour of workstations and activities of the Technical Oversight and Metrology Section, a practical demonstration of a lifting device revision, a pressure vessels tightness test, a calibration of electric analogous measurement systems. ● Two courses for chemical observer platoons to meet the requirements of the SVK Armed Forces took place at the Training Battalion. Held from 29 May to 13 June, the course culminated in a practical training session at the Zemianske Kostoľany-based CBR Protection Training and Testing Centre. The attendees honed their skills in detecting toxic chemical agents and radioactive substances on persons, in the terrain and on different types of material and carried out the initial decontamination of weapons, vehicles and equipment while using military decontamination sets, as part of individual decontamination tools. ● Held on General Jurech Square under the auspices of the Defence Staff of the SVK Armed Forces, a festive ceremony unveiling the bust of General Jurech took place in Bošáca on 14 June. The ceremony was attended by Col Martin Stoklasa, GS, Commander Training and Support Forces (COM TSF), who concurrently holds the post of Commander Garrison Trenčín, members of the military diplomatic corps accredited to Slovakia, officials from the SVK Generals' Club led by the former Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen Peter Vojtek, Union of Slovak AntiNazi Resistance Fighters, Union of Slovak Soldiers, and other guests. The bust was unveiled by General Jurech's son, Lt Col (Retd) Marcel Jurech-York.
Final rotation in ISAF
(13 June) A pre-deployment ceremony took place at Nitra Barracks, home to the 12th Mechanized Battalion, with SVK Armed Forces personnel bound for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. The ISAF-bound 253-strong contingent were greeted by Lt Gen Milan Maxim, Chief of the Defence Staff, Brig Ondřej Novosad, Commander SVK Land Forces, Col Ján Bujňák, GS, Commander 1st Mechanized Brigade, and Ing. Jozef Dvonč, mayor of Nitra. The mission of the KAF Protection Force during its deployment in ISAF will be to permanently protect and defend the airfield at ECP-5 entry-exit checkpoint. MSF SFAT will be tasked with counselling and support to the Afghan National Army in the area of deployment.
In preparation for SIAF 2014
The representatives of the main departments and components of the SVK Ministry of Defence, General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Slovak Republic met on the premises of the Command HQ of the Air Force in Zvolen with the aim to introduce the implementation plan and goals of the Slovak International Air Fest SIAF 2014. The Slovak International Air Fest SIAF 2014 ranks among the air shows that attract huge masses of visitors each year, counting in tens of thousands. Due to a perfect organization and participation of the top pilots in the world, SIAF has earned a reputation of the most prestigious air show in Slovakia. The event of the year, arousing great expectations, will be held on 30 – 31 August at Sliač Airbase and will leave the aviation lovers with unforgettable experiences. The Slovak International Air Fest SIAF 2014 is inextricably bound with the important anniversaries like the 70th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising and the 10th anniversary of the accession of the Slovak Republic to the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union.
Lieutenant General Maxim at the Meeting of V4 Chiefs of Defence
(11 June) On 11 – 12 June, with a view to the fact that the Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrad Group is coming to an end, Chiefs of Defence of the V4 countries met in Balatonöszöd to evaluate the
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Hungarian Presidency in the field of defence as well as the issue of preparation for the joint EU Battlegroup V4. Equally, the Slovak Republic introduced a program for its presidency for the upcoming twelve months. In his speech, Chief of the Defence Staff of the SVK Armed Forces Lieutenant General Milan Maxim expressed a need for continuity in the field of defence cooperation. In a follow-up discussion with other Generals, they explored possibilities of launching joint programs of procurement of equipment, programs of joint training and organization of joint exercises. Subsequently, a delegation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, led by their Chief of the General Staff, joined the program. During the negotiations, the participants addressed the issue of possible Ukrainian Armed Forces’ involvement and participation in building the joint EU BG V4.
June 9 - 15, 2014