SVK Minister of Defence Medal for Maciej Popowski
(7 October) On the premises of the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU, State Secretary of the SVK MOD Miloš Koterec awarded outgoing Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Maciej Popowski with the SVK Minister of Defence 2nd Class Commemorative Medal. By presenting him with the medal, SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč appreciated Mr. Popowski’s contribution to the development of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, as well as relations between the EU and NATO. “The medal is a token of gratitude and appreciation of job well-done. Hereby we would like to thank Maciej Popowski not only for the development of the institution, but the overall EU’s security policy as well,” stated Martin Glváč. Mr. Popowski worked as a Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service from the foundation of the EEAS in 2011. In the position, he devoted himself to both military and civil crisis management, security policy, situational awareness, and prevention of conflicts. ● On the 9th annual Slovak Security Forum held in the Bratislava University Library on 5 October, 2nd Deputy Chief of the SVK General Staff Maj Gen Pavel Macko engaged as a speaker in a discussion panel “NATO from Wales to Warsaw”. He talked also about military exercises and other activities aimed at enhancing capabilities of the armed forces and about their modernization. Equally, he addressed the issue of a hybrid war. ● Sgt Miroslav Škadra, member of the 13th mechanized battalion Levice, earned himself a nomination to the World Championship in bench press, held in Las Vegas by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). In the category of a weight class of up to 75 kg he lifted weight of 120 kg, which ensured him victory and he became the World Champion.
Negotiations in Brussels
(8 October) During the negotiations in Brussels, NATO member states’ Defence Ministers confirmed creation of NATO Force Integration Units (NFIU) in Slovakia and Hungary. “The goal is to strengthen the Alliance’s responsiveness and to facilitate the deployment of Rapid Response Forces and Rapid Deployment Forces. Our NFIU will be based in Vajnory, Bratislava, and will consist of 41 persons: 21 Slovak soldiers and 20 soldiers from other NATO member states,” explained SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. The Slovak NATO Force Integration Unit will be established in 2016. It should reach the initial operational capability by July 2016 Warsaw Summit, and the full operational capability by the end of next year. The NFIU will supervise preparation and coordination, and will guarantee seamless reception of NATO coalition forces in case of their deployment on the territory of the Slovak Republic. It will also coordinate mutual exercises of the SVK Armed Forces and NATO forces. The expenses will be covered by budgets of both SVK MOD and NATO. The SVK MOD has already started with preparations for building the necessary infrastructure. Simultaneously, it is taking steps to ensure the establishment and operation of the NFIU organizational core. The Slovak NFIU will be subordinated to the HQ Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) based in Szczecin, Poland. Besides creating NFIU, Defence Ministers discussed the future of the mission in Afghanistan and the presence of Russian troops in Syria. NATO member states expressed their readiness to prolong NATO mission in Afghanistan, if the security situation in the country requires so. Operation Resolute Support should finish towards the end of next year, but the Allies are worried about the intensity of fights led by Taliban. During the meeting, the NATO member states called on Russia to concentrate on fighting the terrorists of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria. They expressed their worries about Russia’s military activities in Syria which are only marginally directed against the IS, and they denounced the violation of Turkish airspace by the Russian AF.
● On Monday, 5 October, in cooperation with the SVK National Blood Transfusion Service, voluntary blood donation was organized in the Hall of Traditions of the Honour Guard of the President of the Slovak Republic. Among the non-remunerated blood donors were the members of said formation, members of the Military Office of the President of the Slovak Republic and other employees of the Ministry of Defence and General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces. ● In September, the NATO Allied and Partner SOF Symposium 2015 was held in Mons, Belgium, which was organized by the NATO Special Operations HQ. General Philip Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, awarded the commanding NCO from 5th Special Forces Regiment of the SVK Armed Forces Martin Boháčik for his contribution to the Allied Special Forces.
Assembly of military associations (10 October) On 8 – 10 October, on the premises of the Granit Hotel in Piešťany, the 17th annual assembly of the representatives of the V4 military associations was held under the auspices of the presiding Slovak Soldiers’ Association. This year, also the representatives from Lithuania took part in the assembly. The topical issue was the current situation as to the social welfare of the members of the armed forces of the concerned countries. The assembly was graced with the presence of Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces Lt Gen Milan Maxim. The representatives of the military associations concurred that today, for the armed forces and retired soldiers, stability of the social system is essential. They exchanged information on changes that have taken place in their countries since the meeting in Hungary last year. They took interest in seeing the exhibits of the Military History Museum in Piešťany and in visiting the Memorial barrow to Gen Milan Rastislav Štefánik on the Bradlo hill. They also made a visit to the Land Forces HQ in Trenčín. Land Forces Commander Brig Gen Ondřej Novosad introduced them into the organization structure of the Land Forces and their tasks. Next year, the meeting will be held in the Czech Republic and should focus on the role of and chances for the females in the armed forces.
● On 9 October, at the assembly of the Logistic Support Office (LSO) of the SVK Armed Forces, by virtue of the personnel orders of the Director of the Personnel Office of the SVK Armed Forces, Commander of the LSO Col Ján Žarnovický promoted Maj Ján Kováčik to the military rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Capt Ľubomír Feltovič to the military rank of Major. ● On 5 October, nine members of the SVK Armed Forces completed training for the First Aid Course Instructor when they took a final examination at the Section of training, education and specialized preparation of the Division of the specialized medical and veterinary activities at the Surgeon General Office Ružomberok, workplace Liptovský Mikuláš. ● In Trenčín, on 6 October, the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the District Army House (later Cultural and Methodological Centre) was commemorated. Its importance was reminded by Director of the Garrison Club Trenčín Lt Col (Ret.) Stanislav Martinák and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Land Forces HQ Col Ján Dreveňák. To date, 19 clubs with 1 112 members altogether are associated within the Garrison Club Trenčín. The Club of Military Veterans is the largest one, hence being the biggest club in the SVK Armed Forces. ● On 7 – 8 October, at the tank and infantry firing range Devičany, the 12th mechanized battalion organized the concentrated training for the gunners – operators of the infantry fighting vehicles BVP-2, which represent the main part of the inventory of the Nitra based mechanized battalion. The gunners – operators from all the mechanized companies practised firing from PKT 7,62 mm universal light machine gun, operating the antitank system and loading munitions into the ammunition belts.
Exercise Air Shield 2015
(9 October) On 5 – 9 October, under the auspices of the SVK Air Force HQ, the exercise AIR SHIELD 2015 was held on the premises of the Training Centre Lešť – Simulation technologies division (STD). It was aimed at rehearsing performance of the tasks of the selected members of the Air Force related to continuous defence and protection of both the Slovak and NATO airspace. Director of the exercise was Chief of Staff of the SVK Air Force Col Stanislav Hurčík. In the exercise took part the earmarked units from the SVK Air Force HQ, Zvolen based command, control and reconnaissance wing, Prešov based helicopter wing, Kuchyňa based transportation wing, Sliač based tactical wing and Nitra based anti-aircraft missile brigade.
State Secretary Miloš Koterec observes anniversary of Carpatho-Dukla operation
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(6 October) On Tuesday State Secretary of the SVK MOD Miloš Koterec observed the 71st anniversary of the CarpathoDukla Operation at memorials in Dukla and Svidník. President of the Slovak Republic Andrej Kiska, Prime Minister Róbert Fico and Chief of the SVK General Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim arrived to pay tributes to the Dukla Pass heroes as well. “I am really pleased that the direct participants of the Uprising are here with us again. I bow before their heroism, courage and most importantly their deeds during the most complicated and most bloody battle of World War II on the territory of Czechoslovakia. Their determination to pursue their goal and to fight for themselves, their families and their country was admirable,” declared State Secretary Miloš Koterec at the Dukla Pass Memorial and awarded the veterans with SVK Minister of Defence Commemorative Medals.
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The State Secretary observed the events from before 71 years also during a ceremony taking place at the statue of Army General Ludvík Svoboda, as well as during a commemoration ceremony at the Red Army Memorial in Svidník, which commenced by a fly-pass of MiG-29 fighter aircraft. “Unfortunately, we must state that even after more than 70 years after the end of WWII peace is not a matter of course for many people. Therefore, I do believe that Dukla Pass Victims Day also serves as a message of our ancestors for present generations to value peace highly,” said Miloš Koterec. “At the Dukla Pass we observe the events not only from the military point of view, but from the point of view of the period of WWII and liberation of our homeland as well. It is indeed one of the events we must commemorate,” stated Chief of the SVK General Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim.
October 5 - 11, 2015