Renewal of memorial Biely potok
(17 July) Within the maintenance of the training base of mobile CIS Ružomberok, and based on the arrangement with the Slovak Union of Anti-Fascist Fighters – regional committee in Ružomberok, the members of the 3rd centre of the Mobile Communications and Information Base restored the Slovak National Uprising (SNU) Memorial in Biely potok – Jazierce. The memorial pays tribute to the bravery of those who held the defence line Railway Station, facing the offensive of the German troops from August to October 1944. To certain extent, the memorial was renewed several years ago by the town Ružomberok, however, the Soviet 120-mm mortar needed a new paint coat and its basement needed to be repaired as well. By cooperation with civil organizations, the engineers from Ružomberok reinforced allegiance to the message of the SNU and its participants. ● One year has passed since the attack at Slovak soldiers in Afghanistan, in which SSgt Daniel Kavuliak was killed. In remembrance of SSgt Kavuliak, a commemorative ceremony was held in the battalion chapel at the 11th mechanized battalion Martin, in the presence of members of the battalion, family members and colleagues of the deceased. The mess was celebrated by military chaplain from battalion Martin Lt Ján Ostapčuk. SSgt Miroslav Staník, a direct participant of the tragic incident, unveiled a commemorative tablet put up by the members of the battalion. Subsequently, a preliminary annual Daniel Kavuliak Memorial started by a football match in Sever barracks.
Unification of small arms
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(15 July) Slovak and Czech ministries of defence are determined to unify their small arms inventory. This is implicit in Declara on on coopera on to create condi ons for procurement of small arms. The act of signing the Declara on contains symbolism, as SVK Minister of Defence Mar n Glváč and Head of the Czech Defence Department Mar n Stropnický signed the Declara on on the day of the opening of the joint venture CZ – Slovakia in the premises of the former Military Repair Plant Nováky. “We concurred on the need to unify our small arms inventories. We are not talking only about specific Czech brands. Needs and requirements of soldiers will always come first, the soldiers themselves must define what arms they need,” said Mar n Glváč. He added that the Czech party is ready to cede to us the orders they have made in compe ve tendering and contrac ng with respect to the delivery of small arms, should our soldiers evince interest in the same. “Hence we could launch the planned process of rearmament as early as this year,” said the Minister. Head of the Czech Defence Department emphasized the importance of the Czech armaments industry entering Slovakia and he accentuated that it will bring along 200 working posi ons. “This is the most tangible form of coopera on I could imagine,” he said. He also stressed out that there is no problem in agreeing on specific weapons. “We only have to reach agreement as to our specific needs. As long as our requirements and needs are conformable, we will definitely seek to take the iden cal course of ac on,” Minister Stropnický explained. The joint Czech and Slovak venture CZ – Slovakia in Nováky was opened by SVK Prime Minister Robert Fico and Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka. According to Minister Glváč, partnership with the Czech company stands as tes mony to the fact that inclusion of a strategic partner in MRP Nováky was the right thing to do and has become a precedent that is worth following. “While the former leadership considered winding up the MRP, we managed to preserve the plant and what is more, we created new working posions,” stated SVK Minister of Defence.
● Joint specialized training of the unit preparing for deployment in UNFICYP was concluded by a final tactical exercise Blue Chance in the military training area Kolíňanský vrch. The exercise put to test preparedness of members of the staff, force protection unit and support elements. Capabilities and the established command procedures were evaluated as excellent and the unit received rating DEPLOYABLE. ● SVK Chief of the Defence Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim made a visit to the Anti-aircraft missile brigade in Nitra. He was introduced to the role and goals of the brigade, its structure and current state of capabilities of ground based air defence. After the briefing, SVK ChoD was shown round the premises of the brigade. He talked to the troops preparing for a one-year deployment in UNFICYP, Cyprus. He accentuated the importance of UNFICYP mission and stressed out their deal of responsibility for the performance of the tasks and for the reputation of Slovakia.
Aerial gunnery practice in Lešť
Preparedness of SVK Air Force pilots was put to the test during live aerial firing in the Training Center Lešť. The aerial gunnery practice was aimed at engaging and destruction of ground targets by L-39 Albatros gun. During the two training days, pilots took off eleven times from Sliač Air Base and dropped 90 pcs of aerial ammunition on targets. As part of the training, they practiced aerial assaults with photo coverage. Ground target tracking was carried out by forward air controllers from 5th Special Forces Regiment Žilina. Maj Patrik Šmigovský, who was in control of live aerial firing, concluded the practice went smooth, without compromising flight security. He evaluated the results of the aerial gunnery practice as excellent.
RCP international training
On the premises of an engineering battalion of the SVK Land Forces, joint training was held of engineering battalion troops and members of the Army of the Czech Republic in the field of Route Clearance Patrol – reconnaissance aimed at mines, booby traps and improvised explosive devices on road communications. They focused on comparison and harmonization of command, control and tactics of C-IED procedures. The training troops performed the RCP tasks in combined multinational teams. The important aspect was comparison of materiel and technical equipment, as well as a possibility to practice.
● On 15 July, SVK Chief of the Defence Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim made a visit to the Bratislava Garrison HQs. At the Staff of the Garrison HQs in Duklianske kasárne (Dukla barracks) he was welcomed by Col Ján Marek. Subsequently, he visited the Guard of Honour of the SVK Armed Forces in Vajnory barracks. After the initial presentation and meeting with the top officials, ChoD evinced interest in working conditions and commander’s intent for the future. He also observed a specialized preparation of the Guard of Honour of the SVK Armed Forces. ● On Monday, 18 July, Commander of Training and Support Forces of the SVK Armed Forces Col Martin Stoklasa bid farewell to the members of Headquarters who will terminate their operation in the command structure as from 31 July and 31 August. He conveyed his thanks to them for the job well done at the operational headquarters, and wished them every success. He also awarded them with commemorative medals and letters of appreciation. On that particular occasion, TSF Commander read out the personnel orders, by virtue of which the selected personnel will be sent to a short term attachment to perform tasks at the SVK Land Forces Command Headquarters. ● On 17 July, a truck loaded with donated clothes, shoes and toys set off from Martin for Serbia. The training battalion based in Martin, under the auspices of Martin garrison club, organized a campaign to raise donations as a form of humanitarian aid in support of the flood- afflicted towns in Serbia. The humanitarian aid, to which contributed members of several military units as well as a wide public, was eventually delivered to the representatives of the Red Cross in Sombor in the evening of 18 July.
BVP and OT-90 in Sučany
On 2 - 18 July, training aimed at driving infantry fighting vehicles BVP/OT-90 was held in Martin-based Training battalion. In the theoretical part, the participants were introduced to the construction and design of the infantry fighting vehicles, their assemblies, maintenance, and prevention of breakdowns, malfunctions or collisions. Starting from 10 July, a practical part was held in the training area designated for tracked vehicles in Sučany. The training was concluded by oral and writing tests and by practical final tests. Thirteen participants from the SVK Armed Forces received Certificates of participation and Qualification of a BVP/OT-90 driver.
Preparation for GROUND PEPPER 2014 has started (17 July) On Thursday, 17 July 2014, the Ground Pepper 2014 initial planning conference was held in the premises of Land Forces Headquarters in Trenčín. It was held under the auspices of 2nd Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff of the SVK Armed Forces Maj Gen Pavel Macko, with nearly 60 experts in different fields and from different countries attending the conference. Commander of the Land Forces Brig Gen Ondřej Novosad welcomed Commander of the Land Forces of the Army of the Czech Republic Ján Gurník and the US Defense Attaché Lt Col Andrew Taylor, the delegation of the Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, representatives of the Hun-
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garian Armed Forces and the Army of the Czech Republic. The participants held discussion on goals, ambitions and specification of the exercise, they addressed the issue of its structure and in the individual working groups they focused on analyzing the particular issues and supplying solutions to problems. The main planning conference will be held at the end of August. The idea to organize the international exercise Ground Pepper 2014 originated from the negotiation between the Slovak and Czech Ministers of Defence. Later on, the plan extended to involve troops from the V4 countries. The exercise will be held in autumn this year.
July 14 - 20, 2014