Legacy of Tobruq heroes commemorated by exercise The integrated international ground-based air defence exercise was held on the premises of the military training area Boletice, the Czech Republic, from 23 June to 3 July, with participation of five NATO countries: the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Lithuania and the US. Equally, the observers from Poland, Slovenia and Latvia, as well as the members of TACEVAL division from ACC Rammstein took part in the exercise. Nitra-based Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade and Strakonice-based 25th Air Defence Missile Regiment adhere to the historical legacy bequeathed by the Czechoslovak soldiers who, during World War II, took part in the fights for Tobruq harbour in north Africa. The honorary names of the both units were a source of inspiration for the name given to the exercise. The focus of the exercise was on the joint operational procedures within the process of formation of the multinational air defence task force through NATO data links. Among the exercising units were primarily mobile air defence systems platoons, antiaircraft missile brigade Nitra from Slovakia, equipped with 9K38 IGLA air defence system and with the automated ASTRA AD command and control system. The commander of the exercise with the participation of nearly 500 troops was Brig Gen Jaromír Šebesta, who emphasized their dedication and their commitment to cooperate. The 40-strong Slovak contingent under the command of Maj Peter Fajčík and Maj Jozef Čížek produced excellent results. The exercise was graced with the presence of Brig Gen Miroslav Korba, Commander of SVK Air Force, Lt Gen Josef Bečvář, Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic or Lt Gen Ben Hodges, Commander of the US Army Europe. ● On 7-8 July, members of the Vlkanová-Hronsek Crisis Management Section (CMS) gathered for all-arms training. Focus was on topographical and communications drills, clearing terrain obstacles, as well as on different aspects of the soldier’s deployment in the field. The training was aimed at strengthening the psychological and physical readiness of the Crisis Management Section staff gearing up for domestic and international crisis management missions.
US support to modernization (7 July) The modernization process in the SVK Department of Defence is perceived as highly positive by the US, said the US charge d’affaires Rudolf Perina at his meeting with SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. He appreciated the purchase of Black Hawk helicopters through the US Government program FMS. “It was the right step to take since this is a genuinely transparent way of purchasing,” he said. Equally, he emphasized the importance of the engagement of the Slovak troops in Afghanistan. Minister Glváč stated he would welcome the continuing cooperation with the US as to the new projects. He informed the US charge d’affaires of the other modernization plans, primarily those with respect to the SVK Land Forces. Charge d’affaires Perina declared the utmost support of the US party to the modernization effort in our armed forces.
Museum at Slavín within one year (9 July) The project of a museum to be built under the Slavín Memorial has begun to take shape. SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč met with the Mayor of Bratislava Ivo Nesrovnal to inform him of the next steps to take. „We have the Prime Minister’s support. He declared that he would allocate finances from the reserve funds of the Prime Minister, which will be used to have the project documentation and static expert opinions developed,” said Head of the Defence Department. However, we will need to obtain finances also from the other sources. „Our ambition is to come up with something new at Slavín in the upcoming year,” stressed out the Minister. The permanent exhibition dedicated to the liberation of Slovakia in 1944 – 1945 is supposed to be established under the Slavín Memorial. The preliminary scheme allows for the auditorium in the centre of the premises and exhibits to be aligned along a perimeter, partially to be provided by the Military History Institute. In the auditorium, the lectures should be held, to include slide lectures and documentaries. It was SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč who came up with the incentive to establish a permanent exhibition under the Slavín Memorial, and who, in concert with the Mayor of Bratislava, created a working group charged with implementation of the project.
● On Monday, 6 July, the participants of the 12th Higher Command Staff Course at the SVK Armed Forces Academy in Liptovský Mikuláš paid a visit to Sliač AFB. The aim of the fact-finding trip was for the course attendees to familiarize themselves with the tasks and missions of Sliač AFB, the functioning of the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS), MiG-29 and L-39 aircraft, as well as the work of the Technical Repairs and Prescribed Works Squadron. The study trip continued with a visit to the Command, Control and Reconnaissance Brigade Zvolen. ● On Wednesday, 8 July, SVK Air Force Commander Brig Gen Miroslav Korba received a delegation of the Military Revival of Slovakia Association (MRSA). During the meeting, Col (Ret) Svätopluk Kusala introduced the association and highlighted its activities. At the end of the meeting, he presented the 25th MRSA Anniversary Medal to Brig Gen Korba and thanked him for previous cooperation. ● For his significant work in developing the Czecho-Slovak relations and international cooperation in the field of archiving, Jozef Petráš, Director of the Trnava Military Archives – Central Registry, was awarded the Medal For Merits in Czech Archiving. This highest distinction in the field of archiving was presented to nearly a dozen recipients, among others, the archivers from Austria, Germany and France by the Czech Deputy Interior Minister, Petr Mlsna. ● The Canine Section Facility of the Vlkanová-Hronsek Canine and Training Division hosted the SVK Ministry of Defence Military Working Dogs and Dog Handlers Championships. In the tough competition, of the 12 participating military working dogs (MWDs) and MWD handlers from SVK Armed Forces units, it was the dog handlers from Sliač AFB that proved their excellence in the multipurpose dog category, winning two separately assessed disciplines. No MWD and MWD handlers championships were held between 2006 and 2014. Yet, just as at the previous two championships, also this year Sliač-based canine handlers continued in their tradition of victories by placing first and third in the competition. Boris Hronec, a sentry dog handler, and Kasper, his military working dog, demonstrated the best defence capabilities, besides achieving excellent overall placement. Similarly, Karol Letenay, a sentry dog handler, and Bossom, his military working dog, achieved, besides excellent overall placement, the best results in the all army discipline. The overall winner of the championships was Karol Letenay who managed to win and bring the Challenge Cup back to Sliač after 10 years.
Slovak – Hungarian sky
(10 July) After accession of the Slovak Republic to NATO and after its integration into NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS), the initiative was introduced to enable the crossborder operation of the V4 stand-by aircraft. Starting from 2006, the Slovak party began to prepare arrangements with the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary. In 2011, the intergovernmental agreement with the Czech Republic was signed. Within a lapse of more than eight years, at the negotiation in Zvolen, the Slovak and Hungarian experts eventually concurred on the final wording of the future agreement. The legislative process will follow, which should be completed by the end of the year by the respective countries endorsing the agreement on the governmental level. It will extend the area of operation to allow the operation of stand-by aircraft of the both concerned countries within NATINAMDS and to allow training in the newly created cross-border airspace.
Purchase of 3D surveillance radars
(7 July) A total of six prospective bidders have submitted their applications to participate in the international competitive bidding (ICB) for procurement of 3D medium-range surveillance radars. Upon reviewing the submitted applications, the SVK MOD will forward the bidding specifications to the companies that have been in full compliance with the requirements as well as call on them to submit their price bids. “We’ve taken maximum efforts to ensure the transparency of the entire process. We see it as a positive that there are several companies interested in participating in the competitive bidding process. But we have no influence over whether they can meet the set requirements and security criteria, and thereby qualify and realistically compete,” said SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. Through this ICB procurement, the SVK MOD is seeking to purchase 3D medium-range surveillance radars in order to replace the currently operational P-37 radars by 2020.
Exercise to rehearse response to refugees
(8 July) Representatives of the SVK Armed Forces, the Interior Ministry and the Red Cross came together at the Mechanized Battalion in Nitra to go ahead with planning an exercise to test the coordination of units in handling a massive influx of refugees. The Slovak Republic has been one of the transition countries receiving waves of refugees from different countries, including from Africa and Asia. Also for this reason, SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč gave orders to Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces Lt Gen Milan Maxim to validate, through a coordination exercise, the readiness of the SVK Armed Forces units and facilities to execute assistance tasks, should State administration bodies request them to do so. The exercise itself is scheduled to take place at the end of July in the Nitra region and will serve towards aligning the Standing – rather than Standard – Operating Procedures (SOPs), as utilized by members of the Armed Forces, the Police Corps, the Foreign and Border Police, and the Migration Office. As part of the exercise, a provisional refugee processing centre and detention camp will be set up at Nitra Barracks, so that the participants may be exercised in SOPs for processing refugees, providing initial care, and ensuring law and order support.
Service in the armed forces viewed as mission and commitment towards Slovakia
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(9 July) State Secretary of SVK Ministry of Defence Miloš Koterec graced with his presence the passing-out ceremony of cadets and graduation ceremony of graduates of the Armed Forces Academy of Gen Milan Rastislav Štefánik in Liptovský Mikuláš. Having successfully completed the military cadet program and the three-year-bachelor studies, altogether 49 graduates were promoted to the first CO rank of Lieutenant. SVK President Andrej Kiska emphasized the unique role of the Armed Forces Academy in Liptovský Mikuláš in promoting education in the field of security and defence. “Inspiring students to serve their homeland. Encouraging and fostering the values like duty, responsibility, honour and the best interests of the native country, hence enabling the country to assume its primary role and perform its primary task, which is defence and security of its citizens,” said the President.
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According to State Secretary of MOD Miloš Koterec, the SVK Armed Forces need qualified, competent and efficient personnel, „able to meet the high demands, since a career of a professional soldier is primarily sort of a mission, and, at the same time, a commitment towards the Slovak Republic.“ State Secretary handed over the Award of the SVK Minister of Defence to the best cadet and the Badge of Chief of the SVK General Staff, 3rd Grade, to the second best cadet. The passing -out ceremony was followed by a graduation ceremony. „We are glad that, within a few days, the new officers will swell the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, ready to serve in the individual units, formations and facilities, bringing along a new wave of energy“ stated Lt Gen Peter Gajdoš, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces. At the entry to the Armed Forces Academy, a bust of Gen Milan Rastislav Štefánik was solemnly revealed.
July 6 - 12, 2015