(12 January) Members of the Self-Propelled Artillery Detachment (Sp Arty Det) marked the 10th anniversary of the Sp Arti Det´s existence and Artillery Day on 12 January. Speaking at the anniversary ceremony, the detachment commander, Lt Col Pavol Barančík recalled the detachment´s history, highlighted the active role of artillery personnel in conducting domestic and international crisis management tasks, as well as their engagement in military operations outside the Slovak Republic and performance of international obligations under the declared NATO troops. The commander handed out the SVK Armed Forces Honorary Badges to the members of the detachment, which had been awarded to them by the SVK Chief of the General Staff. The ceremony was followed by the detachment commander's sports day. The event saw unconventional sports disciplines and skills competitions. ● Preparations for this year’s first rotation of the UNFICYP mission (March 2015), which is already the 9th rotation under the responsibility of the Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade (AAMB), have started in Nitra. On Monday, 12 January, the training was ceremonially opened by AAMB Commander Lt Col Jozef Paňko, who briefed the participants on the training goals, tasks, themes and programme directed at the preparation of the staff, force protection company and support elements. The training is led by skilled instructors and professional soldiers who, on the turn of November and December 2014, participated in the training of key personnel at the Peace Support Operations (PSO) Training Unit in Martin. The PSO unit’s preparation will end on 2 – 4 February with a tactical exercise at the Kolíňanský vrch garrison training ground.
Fruitful co-operation
(15 January) The State Secretary of the SVK Ministry of Defence, Miloš Koterec received H.E. Mr Helfried Carl, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria, at the SVK MOD. At the meeting, he evaluated bilateral relations, especially in the field of defence co-operation and training between both countries. Defence co-operation builds on intense contacts, as well as on the joint engagements of the SVK and Austrian Armed Forces in KFOR in Kosovo, UNDOF on the Golan Heights, and UNFICYP in Cyprus. “Co-operation between the Slovak Republic and Austria has been excellent. Our common border creates a big space for fostering cooperation in the field of domestic crisis management, which could be beneficial to both countries,” said State Secretary Miloš Koterec at the meeting. On this occasion, the State Secretary offered to the Austrian party the possibility to use the Lešť Training Centre, where not only Special Operations Forces but also all rescue service components may undertake training. The training of Austrian military personnel with real chemical agents at the Zemianske Sady CBRN Training Centre has been an area of mutual long term co-operation.
● On 14 January, members of the Topoľčany-based Brigade HQ participated in skills improvement training at the Lipovník garrison firing range, going through all kinds of military drills, including weapon handling, firing the pistol at fixed targets and the sub-machine gun at disappearing and moving targets, orientation in the terrain with the help of a map, marching on an azimuth, improvised explosive devices, setup of communications, basic communication in English, and team co-operation. They improved their knowledge in the field of tactical and medical preparation as well. ● On 15 January, the Trenčín garrison club hosted this year’s first preparation of commanders, with the participation of SVK Land Forces Commander Brig Gen Ondřej Novosad, directly subordinated commanders and members of SVK Land Forces units and formations. Its goal was to brief professional soldiers and employees on the legal regulations governing fire protection, classified information, workplace safety rules, as well as information technologies. As part of the commanders’ preparation, the SVK Land Forces Commander awarded the SVK Minister of Defence Medal and the SVK Chief of the General Staff Medal for Allegiance to the Armed Forces to selected soldiers and employees. Brig Gen Novosad also awarded Cpl Martin Szúdor, 12th Mechanized Battalion, as the best soldier in the junior enlisted rank category, and SFC Peter Švantner, Training Battalion Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, as the best NCO. ● On Friday, 16 January, this year’s first session of the SVK Land Forces Military Council (MC) was held at the Land Forces HQ in Trenčín. The meeting was led by Brig Gen Juraj Krištofovič, SVK Land Forces Deputy Commander. With the MC members, he discussed the tasks of the current training year for January and February, as well as evaluated the tasks performed since the Council’s last session.
SVK CHOD in Levice
(14 January) On Wednesday morning, the SVK Chief of the General Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim visited the 13th Mechanized Battalion (Mech Bn) in Levice. He was welcomed by Battalion Commander Lt Col Dušan Michalek, and joined by CSM Vladimír Beluš, Chief SVK Armed Forces NonCommissioned Officer, and the key officials of the 13th Mech Bn, they discussed the battalion’s manning levels and logistic support. Lt Gen Maxim also visited the Mech Bn’s Hall of Fame, where he signed the guest book and handed over a commemorative plaque to the battalion commander. In the afternoon, Lt Col Michalek showed him around selected facilities and gave him a tour of the Tank and Infantry Firing Range in the village of Devičany.
Ministers’ visit
(14 January) Juraj Draxler, SVK Minister of Education, Science, Research and Sports, together with Viliam Čislák, SVK Minister of Health, visited the Command, Control and Surveillance Brigade in Zvolen. They were welcomed by Col Vladimír Kováč, SVK Air Force Deputy Commander, and Col Miloš Mosný, GS, Zvolen-based Brigade Commander. Lt Col Vladimír Jaklovský, Command, Control and Surveillance Brigade Deputy Commander, briefed the ministers on the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (NATINAMDS) and the tasks performed by declared stand-by units and SVK Air Force assets within NATINAMDS. The visit’s main goal was to notify the ministers of the rules and procedures of the national governmental authority in response to an adversary violating the SVK airspace under the RENEGADE concept.
Liberation of Bardejov
(17 January) On Saturday, Bardejov residents celebrated the 70th anniversary of the townʼs and the districtʼs liberation. One of the side events was a WWII battle reenactment, organized in co-operation with the Bardejov Military History Club and the Spišbased ‘Gvardijaʼ Military History Club. SVK Chief of the General Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim came to Bardejov to commemorate this significant milestone in our history, and together with the town mayor and Col Martin Michalko, 2nd Mechanized Brigade Commander, paid tribute to the memory of battle heroes by laying down a bouquet at the Gratitude Memorial, situated on the Slovak National Uprising Square. After the commemoration ceremony, they attended a WWII battle reenactment of Bardejovʼs liberation in the water moat at the Fortified Bastion in Bardejov.
Bratislava hosts a photo exhibition entitled Tints of Afghanistan
www.mosr.sk/ebulletin/
(17 January) Hundreds of people were lured to attend a travelling exhibition of 1st Lt Peter Poldruhák at one of Bratislava´s shopping centres. The exhibition was launched by Lt Gen Peter Gajdoš, 1st Vice Chief of the SVK Armed Forces General Staff, during an opening ceremony. “The SVK Armed Forces operated in Afghanistan for 12 years and a total of 3,500 SVK personnel rotated as part of the mission,” emphasized Peter Gajdoš. The exhibition´s 50 photographs bring closer to audiences the demands and importance of the ISAF mission in which the SVK Armed Forces executed operational missions. Peter Poldruhák served as part of a military advisory training team for the Afghan National Security Forces. The photos document how we trained the Afghans in conducting mortar and sniper
eBULLETIN MoD SR
fire. They also depict everyday life. It was my wish to bring the moments to as many people in Slovakia as possible,” said the exhibition´s author. Visitors will be able to see the Tints of Afghanistan exhibition in a number of Slovak cities, including Bratislava (till the end of January), Nitra, Trenčín, Žilina, Martin, Prešov and Michalovce. A few side events were organized for visitors as part of the exhibition´s opening day. Not to be missed was a performance by the SVK Armed Forces Guards of Honour, a demonstration by EOD specialists, and a concert by the SVK Armed Forces Band. Sportsmen of the Dukla Banská Bystrica Military Sports Club staged a judo training session, giving the visitors an opportunity to join in. The SVK MOD also put on a rich programme of activities for kids.
January 12 - 18, 2015