Rolling up for basic military training in Martin (3 August) The gate of Training Battalion in Martin has opened for the third time this year for 65 candidates of preparatory state service, 49 university graduates and 83 cadets from the Armed Forces Academy of Milan Rastislav Štefánik, who will undergo their basic military training there and Martin barracks of 4th Czechoslovak Brigade will become their home for a period of nine weeks. 36 of the candidates and cadets are females. Having successfully passed all the requisite initial procedures and having been issued all the materiel in the Regional center of military clothing and equipment at the Multifunctional Supply Base West in Nemšová, the recruits were assigned to the training platoons and training aimed at mastering the basic military skills immediately started. Their skills will be put to the test during a firing practice at the garrison training area Sučany, and mainly during a final exercise. Once they successfully undergo their basic military training, they will pass-out in a passing-out ceremony and will be ready for their first assignment in their career of a professional soldier in their parent military units.
On a visit to Cyprus Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces Lt Gen Milan Maxim has for the first time visited Milan Rastislav Štefánik Camp in Cyprus. He was accompanied by Brig Gen Jindřich Joch, Chief of the Crisis Management Strategic Centre at the SVK General Staff; Col Slavomír Staviarsky, Chief of the Personnel Division of Chief of the SVK General Staff; CSM Vladimír Beluš, Senior NCO of the SVK Armed Forces and the others. Due to the tragic event that happened in Prešov helicopter wing, the visit of Chief of the SVK General Staff to Cyprus shortened from the planned three days to just one. SVK Chief of Defence met with Maj Gen Kristin Lund, Force Commander of UNFICYP. She expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Slovak contingent and in particular she appreciated the approach of the current commander Col Jaroslav Bitala. The visit continued by introducing SVK CHOD to the operational tasks in Varosha. For the first time in the history of operation of the Slovak troops in UNFICYP, the Turkish party has consented to the entry of such a high military representative to the territory of Varosha, which is under strict Turkish control.
(3 August) Held at Prešov-based Colonel General Ján Ambruš Helicopter Wing, the SVK Minister of Defence, Martin Glváč participated in the last farewell ceremony dedicated to the deceased pilot Capt Richard Sépi, who tragically died in the Mi-17 helicopter crash. The funeral of Capt Sépi took place with full military honours. “To go to the funeral of a member of the SVK Armed Forces who died in a mission or during training are the worst moments in a ministerial office,” stated Martin Glváč. The funereal ceremony was celebrated by Mons František Rábek, SVK Armed Forces and Armed Corps Ordinary. Capt Sépi’s coffin was covered with the flag of the Slovak Republic during the funeral rite, and the national anthem was played in his honour. The Chief of the SVK General Staff, Lt Gen Milan Maxim then handed over the flag to the deceased pilot’s wife. The Chief of the Slovak General Staff posthumously awarded pilot Richard Sépi the golden military Medal of Faithfull Service in the SVK Armed Forces, 1st class for responsible performing of tasks. “We knew Richard Sépi as an honest and reliable person. He was an example of a tireless diligence and professional conduct. By his sudden departure, the SVK Armed Forces lost one of the qualified and dutiful professional soldiers – one of the most experienced pilots. During his service, he was always performing the assigned tasks flawlessly,” stated the Chief of the SVK General Staff, Lt Gen Milan Maxim. “He was an upstanding, modest, respectable person, a great pilot and a great man,” added the SVK AF Commander, Miroslav Korba. Richard Sépi served in the SVK Armed Forces for almost 22 years and participated in the military mission KFOR in Kosovo.
Departure ceremony
(3 August) A ceremonial muster took place at the Mobile CIS Base Ružomberok on the occasion of the departure of 12 members of the Deployable Communication Module (DCM-C) to the operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan. They will carry out specialized tasks in the field of NATO CIS, ensuring the operation of the individual commands. The deploying DCM-C members are assigned to positions in the Afghan Mission Network Operation Centre (AMNOC). They will serve as system network administrators, administrators of the LAN and WAN networks, as well as in the field of cyber security. The departure ceremony saw the Chief of Information Security and Protection and CIS (ISP CIS) Branch of the SVK General Staff, Col Ľubomír Gorelčík together with the Chief of ISP CIS Branch of the SVK Land Forces Command, Milan Mezovský. They wished the deploying unit every success and a safe return back home.
Last Farewell
Change of places in Topoľčany
(3 August) At Jaselské Barracks, Commander of the 1st Mechanized Brigade Topoľčany, Col Vladimír Kubáň, GS, welcomed Lt Col Štefan Acsaia who took up the position of a Chief of the Operation Planning and Control Branch (G-3), 1st Mechanized Brigade Topoľčany. Col Kubáň appreciated his military career so far and wished him good health, a lot of patience and strength in fulfilling the demanding tasks connected with his responsible position.
Preparation of 3rd SLOVCON rotation to operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan
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(3 August) Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan started as of 1 January 2015 as a spontaneous continuation of ISAF operation. However, not only the name of the operation has changed, but also the initial objective of ISAF has transformed into the present-day primary tasks: training, advisory and mentoring tasks, assistance. The selected members of the SVK Armed Forces have prepared to carry out the abovementioned tasks and within a period of 6 – 30 July they underwent training in the Training unit of military missions at Martin Training Battalion, within the national pre-deployment training. Our troops have been earmarked to serve at the mission Headquarters (HQ RS), in the National Support Element (NSE), in the Air Advisory Team (AAT) and at ROLE 1&2 (Field Hospital). The initial part of training was theoretical, consisting of lectures
during which the trainees received key information on the area of operations and on the historical background of the conflict. Due to significant cultural differences between our country and the host nation it was essential to highlight such differences and explain what impacts they might have on the performance of the operational tasks. Improvised explosive devices (IED) still pose the ever-present threat in Afghanistan and as such it must remain a front-burner issue. In addition to the above threat, members of SLOVCON RS are being faced with many other threats and health risks inherently linked with serving in military operation in this country. In this respect, medical preparation is particularly significant. Its focus is on treatment of wounds and injuries, including but not limited to providing first aid to oneself and to the others, and on how to mobilize support and ensure transportation of casualties (MEDEVAC - Medical Evacuation, CASEVAC – Casualty Evacuation). Operating in multinational environment requires good communication skills in English, ability to work with an interpreter and to negotiate, and last but not least, it requires mastering signals and communication procedures and reporting. As for Afghanistan, as part of the overall approach of the coalition troops
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to the local population, it is essential to explain the nature of counter-insurgency measures (COIN). In the second week, the trainees left the classroom to practice the knowledge they have gained. The first of the practical exercises was aimed at general skills inevitable to perform the tasks outside the territory of the Slovak Republic. The second exercise focused on the convoy activities. During the both exercises, the troops communicated in English. In the third week, training entered the stage of final preparation. In a barrier firing range of Sučany garrison training area, a firing practice was held, aimed at shooting from small arms. In the last week, the practical preparation was completed by exercises on theme Guardian Angel and by the professional soldiers sharing the experience and lessons learned in this area of operation after their return home in June. At the end of the week, preparation was concluded by the staff rehearsal dubbed National Support, which was a unique chance to verify readiness and preparedness of SLOVCON to perform tasks in Afghanistan. Training of the personnel declared to RS in Afghanistan was completed by final interviews held on the premises of the training units of military missions at Martin Training Battalion.
August 3 - 9, 2015