Tank squadron in attack on Lešť Training Area after a decade (14 June) This year’s training of our only tank unit to be operational in the SVK Armed Forces – the Tank Squadron – culminated on Lešť Training Area during the second week of June. Commanded by Capt Jozef Horváth, the Tank Squadron (Tk Sqn), Trebišov-based Combined Mechanized Battalion (Combd Mech Bn Trebišov), conducted a squadron-sized live-fire tactical exercise using full calibre shells. The theme of the exercise was: “Tank Squadron in Attack with Full Combat Support”. During the exercise, the Tk Sqn was backed by combat arms and combat support units, including mortar, anti-tank and repair platoons from the Combd Mech Bn Trebišov and a CBRN platoon from the CBRN Defence Battalion Rožňava. At the final stage of the exercise, as the Tk Sqn launched a counter-attack, it was supported by fire from mortar and anti-tank platoons. The highlight of the exercise was the live firing of the entire squadron with full calibre shells, the first of its type after more than a decade. Despite some trivialities, Lt Col Róbert Funtaľ, Combined Mechanized Battalion Commander, expressed his satisfaction with the exercise. ● On 1 – 12 June, Slovak and Czech troops deployed on Exercise EBONIT JAVELIN 2015, taking place on Libavá Training Area, Czech Republic, to prepare for two different international crisis management operations. The training saw members of Martin-based Mechanized Company, 11th Mechanized Battalion, which has been re-subordinated to the Immediate Reserve Forces under the EUFOR ALTHEA Commander in Bosnia and Herzegovina, exercising together with members of the 71st Mechanized Battalion Hranice na Morave, Czech Republic, who are gearing up for the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. ● A delegation of the Croatian Minister of Defence, headed by Viktor Koprivnjak, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Croatia and Director General of the Material Resources Branch, visited the SVK Air Force on 9 June. The visit started at the Combined Wing Sliač, where the delegation was welcomed by Col Vladimír Lisý, GS, and then moved on to the SVK AF HQ in Zvolen. After an introductory speech delivered by Brig Gen Miroslav Korba, SVK AF Commander, the audience familiarized themselves with the structure, tasks and future direction of the SVK AF. The programme continued with discussions of the expertise on public procurement of military aircraft and potential cooperation in the future.
Cooperation with Vietnam (12 June) SVK military training facilities could be utilised by service personnel of the Vietnam People’s Armed Forces (VPAF). The VPAF are also interested in the experience of our troops developed during international crisis management operations. These are the conclusions of the bilateral meeting between SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč and Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Gen Phung Quang Thanh. “We broached the topic of exchanging spare components because some equipment in service with the Vietnamese military has also been in service with our Armed Forces. What’s more, close defence industry cooperation is emerging as very realistic,” said Minister Glváč. During the meeting, the Minister and his Vietnamese partner signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the SVK and Vietnamese MODs. Within the visit, Martin Glváč gave his support to the Slovak arms producers participating in a defence manufacturers’ workshop in Vietnam. The Minister also met with the President of Vietnam, Mr Truong Tan Sang. “The president fully supports our projects. We’ve agreed that there are prospective areas of cooperation in spite of the geographical distance,” remarked the head of the SVK MOD. During the official meeting, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang asked SVK Minister of Defence Glváč to pass on his invitation to the President of the Slovak Republic to come for an official visit to Vietnam. While in Vietnam, Martin Glváč received a tour of Vietnam’s largest military repair company, which has a similar production programme as military companies in Slovakia. Discussions resulted in the idea of setting up a joint venture in Slovakia. “In the long term, it is a great idea in view of investment and employment,” said the head of the SVK MOD, after touring the military engineering company. He also paid a visit to Headquarters Military Zone 7, being subordinate to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, which is tasked with organizing, building and exercising the command and control of the VPAF with the aim of securing the territorial integrity of Southeast Vietnam.
● A joint training exercise of the September rotation unit members to be deployed to UNFICYP, which was preceded by a two-week training programme of the deploying unit’s key personnel at Martin-based Peace Support Operations Training Unit, got underway on 8 June. Supervised by Lt Col Miroslav Belanský, the incoming commander, by 3 July the unit will have familiarized themselves with the tasks and activities to be performed as part of their operational duties. The training will conclude with a tactical exercise on Kolíňanský vrch Garrison Training Area at the end of June. ● On 10 June, Topoľčany-based Jaselské Barracks hosted the main planning conference on the upcoming Exercise WILD LYNX 2015. For the 1st Mechanized Brigade, this will be the 26th such exercise, the biggest one in the SVK Armed Forces. The conference, with the participation of the 1st Mechanized Brigade Command staff and its subordinate units and members of the Lešť Training Centre, Mobile CIS Base and Stationary CIS Base, was chaired by Lt Col Peter Bagačka, Deputy Chief of the Operations Staff. The exercise, being prepared in accordance with NATO standards and using the JEMM system, will be conducted simultaneously at three different garrisons. It will test the HQ personnel and staffs of Martinbased 11th Mechanized Battalion and Nitra-based 12th Mechanized Battalion on their ability to exercise the command and control of an offensive operation in a high-intensity conflict. ● On 11 June, Lipovník-based Garrison Training Area hosted a skills enhancement exercise, which aimed to test the combat readiness of the 1st Mechanized Brigade Command staff. Focus was on basic combat skills and marksmanship. The training was overseen by Lt Col Ľubomír Podhorec, Topoľčany-based Brigade Chief of Staff. An interesting piece of news from the June shooting exercise was the firing of the TP-82 pistol at the Pepper Popper metal targets on folding stands. These are designed to fall back after being hit from a distance of 10m. ● Members of the Combat Service Support Brigade (CSSB) participated in an international logistics exercise, dubbed Capable Logistician 2015 in Hungary. The exercise was organized by the International Centre for Logistics Coordination, and was, for the first time in its history, attended by representatives of business companies operating in the Smart Energy sector. Wide international participation was a unique opportunity for the CSSB personnel to gain and deepen their knowledge of logistics in international structures. At the same time, the exercise served as a training exercise for the Joint Logistics Support Group Headquarters (JLSG HQ) to gear up for deployment as part of the V4 EU Battle Group, which is scheduled to be on stand-by in 2016. ● On Tuesday, 9 June, members of Ružomberok-based Mobile CIS Base HQ underwent marksmanship training with the SER 82 pistol at the Sučany Firing Range. A total of 20 service members tested their marksmanship skills with the pistol, shooting at a non-covered lying human figure with circles from a distance of 25m.
LOT Trenčín seeks partners (11 June) Aircraft Repair Company Trenčín JSC (LOT Trenčín) has started to seek a strategic partner. Just as in the case of two other military repair companies, the selection is being conducted via a public tender. An invitation to tender has already appeared on the web page of LOT Trenčín and is to be published in three national daily newspapers and in the Financial Times as well. “This procedure has proved to be effective. While ensuring transparency, we found strategic partners for two of our companies, which would have otherwise ceased to exist. Currently, the companies employ approximately 250 more people than before and have almost no orders from the SVK MOD. Even in the case of the aircraft repair company, we wish to find a partner who will be able to sustain employment levels and secure orders from outside the MOD,” stated SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. The public tender will be divided into two stages. As part of Stage 1, due to end on 31 July at 2pm, candidates will apply for participation in the tender. As part of Stage 2, due to end on 15 October at 1pm, registered bidders will submit their bids. Foreign companies are invited to participate in the bidding process as well.
Largest flood anniversary (10 June) State Secretary of the SVK MOD Miloš Koterec commemorated the 50th anniversary of the largest and most catastrophic flood affecting the Danube River in 1965. The then Czechoslovak Army, especially sappers, played a significant role in helping with the restoration of waterworks and roads, and provided transport for civilians. The soldiers risked their own lives to protect citizens and their property, and to prevent large-scale damage from occurring along the Danube. Approximately 4,000 houses were destroyed by the flood and 6,000 were damaged. 250km of roads and 70km of railway tracks were overflown with flood water. It destroyed crops on the fields with an area of 94,000ha, as well as 300,000 fruit trees. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the flood, Miloš Koterec awarded Lt Gen Jiří Brychta, former Czechoslovak National Army Engineer Commander, with the SVK Chief of the General Staff Medal, 3rd Class, and 14 war veterans and sappers with the “Hands of Sappers” commemorative medals.
Battalion in full engagement (9 June) On 1 June, members of Trebišov-based 21st Mechanized Battalion kicked off an intensive exercise at the Training Centre Lešť. During the training, maneuver companies, combat support and combat service support units have come together to improve their skills in the field of tactical and specialized tactical training, while performing tactical drills. The company-sized training of mechanized companies and a tank squadron is now culminating in a coordination exercise and company-level tactical exercises. A fire support company together with a combat service support company are being exercised in using their capabilities. During the last stage of the training at TC Lešť on 15 – 18 June, the Battalion’s 2nd Mechanized Company, Logistics Support Platoon and dressing station will participate in a certification exercise to conclude the preparation of the declared units for the V4 EU Battle Group.
Professional Soldiers’ State Service Bill up for first reading in SVK Parliament
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(12 June) The new Professional Soldiers’ State Service Bill, the main priority of which is to make active duty service more attractive and set the conditions for turning the military profession into a life-long career, is expected to receive the first reading by the general assembly of the SVK National Council as early as this week. The Bill is bringing a decisive change in the personnel area. This is evidenced by the abolition of the hugely unpopular competitive selection and the introduction of new rules for career progression of service personnel. “It would have been a non-standard practice, if we had submitted a bill without the new Chief of the General Staff reviewing it. Formulating a new, high quality amendment act has greatly mattered to us and that’s why we’ve created a sufficient space for broader debate. The outcome is a bill in agreement with service
personnel and the General Staff. It wouldn’t be in my interest to submit a bill without the support of the opposition parties. Of course, this still requires agreeing on common grounds, that’s why soldiers are invited to explain their requirements comprehensibly to the public and Members of Parliament,” said SVK Minister of Defence. The bill introduces new types of active duty service – Permanent State Service and Short-Term State Service. Service personnel on active duty in the Temporary State Service may be transferred to the Permanent State Service upon completion of 17 years of service. There, they will continue to serve until the age of 55. Moreover, the bill incorporates a new military pay scale chart, enhanced by two pay grades. As a result, increases in military salaries will be distributed over an extended period of time. With this move, the SVK
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MOD is aiming to motivate service members to remain on active duty. However, the Armed Forces will not keep service personnel who fail to demonstrate a strong commitment. After meeting the eligibility for military retirement pay, service members will be entitled to leave the military upon request and the Service Office will be obliged to approve of their request. Also under consideration is the option to adjust the benefits of selected SVK Armed Forces members, including, notably, on-board navigators, pilots and members of the Military Intelligence. In doing so, the budget earmarked for military salaries will remain unchanged. The benefits will not be increased at the cost of other service members, nor will they result in the cuts of other positions. The proposed change is directly related to the ongoing security developments and risks and is intended to be an incentive for niche highly qualified oc-
cupational specialities. “Once passed with the proposed legislative changes, I regard the new legislation as a positive development, one which will help stabilize active duty personnel in the Armed Forces,” said Lt Gen Milan Maxim. The Professional Soldiers’ State Service Act will build on the Police and Military Personnel Social Welfare Amendment Act, developed by the current government. “The previous government did nothing to effect changes in this area, that’s why I’m pleased to say that we’ve succeeded in doing so,” said the Minister. He went on to remark that the bill in the first reading will be in the form as it was endorsed by the SVK government, while the second reading will incorporate the proposals by the Chief of the General Staff, which will be worked into the amending proposals of Members of Parliament.
June 8 - 14, 2015