Troops practise transporting military hardware by rail
(23 October) Parts of the military hardware used by SVK troops during Exercise Ground Pepper at the Lešť Training Area made its way to respective military units by rail. The greatest advantage of this type of transport consists in the speed and cohesiveness of redeploying entire military units. At the same time, redeployments play an important part in training. “To move heavy military hardware on the rail lines to this extent has not been undertaken by our troops for a long time. However, one needs to realize that redeployments by rail feature in troop deployment plans as one of the main means of transport. Combat Exercise Ground Pepper, where soldiers exercised with their tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, Zuzana self-propelled howitzers, and other specialized vehicles, was a great opportunity to practise redeploying military hardware,” said SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. As part of the exercise, military hardware was moved from Pliešovce – Sása railway station back to its home units. This enabled soldiers to practise assembling military hardware, loading it onto wagons, and providing security for the transport. All redeployments of equipment and personnel were concluded on 24 October. “Transporting military hardware is always part of an exercise which itself does not end until military hardware has been properly maintained and parked. In doing so, we get to use one of the main means of transport for moving troops to the area of deployment and back home,” said 2nd Vice Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces, Maj Gen Pavel Macko.
● On 22 October, the SVK Embassy in Prague hosted an awardceremony where, on behalf of the SVK Minister of Defence, the Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces Lt Gen Milan Maxim awarded war veterans and members of the Czechoslovak Legion with the Commemorative Medals marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. ● On 23 October, the Director of the Military Police, Col Milan Hamar, presented the Military Police Bronze Medal, Class III, to the Commander of the Training and Support Forces, Col Martin Stoklasa, in recognition of his long-term co-operation in implementing joint tasks in favour of the SVK Armed Forces. ● On 21 – 23 October, a first-aid course was held at the Detached Workstation in Liptovský Mikuláš operating under the Training, Education and Specialized Preparation Section, Specialized Medical and Veterinary Activities Division, Surgeon General of SVK Armed Forces in Ružomberok. The course centred on first aid procedures, practical bandage techniques, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
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(21 October) The military exercise Ground Pepper 2014 met the expecta ons and proved that the Slovak soldiers can cooperate effec vely with troops from other NATO countries. This is the evalua on made by SVK Minister of Defence Mar n Glváč a er he watched combat firing prac ce in the military training area Lešť, being a part of the biggest mul na onal field training exercise held in Slovakia this year. “It is one of the three exercises of the SVK Armed Forces held this year, which were not considered in a long-term plan. Hence we gain capabili es that the ci zens of the Slovak republic would reasonably expect us to have and we are determined to con nue organizing such exercises,” said Head of the Defence Department. He also emphasized the quali es of the training area Lešť. “It is a unique training centre and every Euro invested in said centre will be well spent,” stated the Minister and added that he would inform SVK President and Commander-in-Chief of the SVK Armed Forces Andrej Kiska, who also graced the event with his presence, on the further moderniza on process. Besides combat firing, soldiers prac ced libera ng the cap ves and figh ng in a built-up area. “They are real-life combat opera ons and the troops perform tasks pursuant to Art. 5 of the Washington Treaty. The Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic train side-by-side with the other allied troops, so they can easily see what they can do. We will assess and evaluate the lessons learned and we will do our best to translate them into training in the future,” highlighted SVK Chief of the General Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim. As explained by Col Mar n Michalko, who was tasked with the control of the exercise, the purpose of Ground Pepper 2014 was to perform tasks on the territory of another country. “For NATO countries, being prepared and ready to operate in a completely different environment is a must. The main focus of the exercise was on protec on of a state border and on forcing out the enemy from a coali on state, so that the civilian popula on can live in a country where they do not have to put up with foreign armies,” he said.
Congrats to Jana Purdjaková
(20 October) SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč congratulated to Jana Purdjaková on her victory at the 2014 World Fitness Championships in Montreal. The member of the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica (MSC DBB) gained the world champion title in the Women´s Physique category up to 163 cm and at the same time became the absolute winner. “For her top performance, Jana Purdjaková deserves our admiration. She has proved to be among the world´s best performers. We are proud of our member of the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica,” said Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. For Jana Purdjaková, this has been her 10th title from the World Championships.
● On 24 October, the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, operating under the Martin-based Training Battalion, marked the end of the leadership module of the OR-6 NCO Course. A total of 77 professional soldiers, of whom 23 were servicewomen, had signed up for the course earlier in September. Since successfully passing the initial all arms tactical and physical tests, 74 participants have been following the course, with 73 participants now graduating from the leadership module. As part of the curriculum, the graduates will now undergo specialized training. ● During International Exercise Ground Pepper 2014, attended by troops from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and the USA, the spiritual needs of the exercising troops were taken care of by Capt. Ján Čupalka, Senior Chaplain of the Michalovce-based Mechanized Battalion, Lt Dávid Vargaeštok, Dean and Director of the Ecumenical and Pastoral Service Office in the SVK Armed Forces and Armed Crops, 1st Lt Dan Petříček, Chaplain of the 74th Light Motorized Battalion, Army of the Czech Republic, based in Bučovice. They worked together to celebrate Ecumenical and Catholic Masses in all camps where troops were stationed. On Sunday, 19 October, the trio was reinforced by Lt Col Juraj Sitaš, Military Dean of the Land Forces Headquarters Trenčín. ● For the Slovak military personnel to be rotating as part of Operation EUFOR-ALTHEA in December 2014 and subsequently in March 2015, pre-deployment training has been underway since mid -September at the training compounds of the Martin-based Training Battalion, conducted by its Peace Support Operations Training Unit (PSO TU). Week 1 focused on developing basic combat skills and upgrading the expertise in personnel recovery, and was followed by familiarization with the conflict´s historic milestones, the specifics of the operation, local ethnic cultures, language and religious differences. The training´s final stage saw the personnel engaging in Exercise CURIOUS COLLECTOR, conducted in English language. Those members of the SLOVCON to be assigned as part of NATO and EUFOR HQs and Commands were put through their paces to prove their readiness in a command-post exercise, entitled FINAL TEST, which was also conducted in English. A special inspection from the SVK General Staff – Strategic Crisis Management Centre confirmed that the SVK troops were well trained and would be a fully fledged contribution to the ongoing operation.
(22 October) The Security Council of the Slovak Republic and the SVK Government endorsed a purchase of two tactical transport aircraft Alenia C-27J Spartan. “It was the final stage of the process that started yet back in 2008, which we have informed about for a long time. After executing and signing the agreement, the first aircraft should be delivered in 2016 and the next one in 2017,” said SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. Defence Department has allocated financial resources for this modernization project. “It is by no means true that we would incur debts. The first installment is payable yet this year, the second one will be paid off in 2015 and the rest will be repaid in 2016,” highlighted the Minister. According to the Minister, currently the fine details of the contract are being negotiated with the contractor. “The price will be lower than the bid made at the
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Dog trainers up for joint training
(21 October) Military Police (MP) dog handlers and their military working dogs (MWDs) participated in a joint sustainment training programme, organized by the Canine Section, Vlkanová – Hromsek Training and Canine Centre. Operating under daytime and nighttime conditions within the premises of the Canine Section and the Primary School in Slovenská Ľupča, they handled, besides regular dog obedience drills, scenarios with intoxicating and psychotropic agents, explosives and precourser chemicals. This assignment, led by the SVK Armed Forces Chief of Military Working Dog Handlers, Capt Peter Šoltés, contributed to a higher level of readiness of both the MWD handlers and the MWDs in service with the Military Police.
time of a competitive tender process,” he stressed out. Thanks to the purchase of Spartan aircraft, the SVK Armed Forces will not lose a capability of transport aviation. The advantage is that the aircraft will be permanently available and readily deployable, which will ensure meeting the needs of the domestic and international crisis management. The aircraft are designated to transport materiel, personnel and even to perform firefighting tasks. Head of the Defence Department equally informed of the fact that the process of selecting personnel to fly Spartan aircraft has already begun in the Air Force. In that process, several criteria should be considered. “Only the pilots who will meet English language proficiency requirements and whose age will not hinder their career development prospects will receive training,” he made clear.
October 20 - 26, 2014