V4 exercise Autumn Challenge 2015 starts
tries (27 October) On Tuesday, 27 October, the international exercise of the V4 countries dubbed Autumn Challenge 2015 started in Krakow, Poland. It is directed by thee Polish Command of the land component, in the form of a comprehensive staff rehearsal. It is aimed at practicing and harmonizing the activities carried out by the members of the Operational Headquarters (OHQ), designated to control the V44 es European Battle Group. At the same time, the Operational Headquarters undergoes -by certification with the aim to verify preparedness to perform tasks during the stand-by ons period in the first half of 2016. The objective of the exercise is also to create conditions for the next scheduled exercise dubbed Common Challenge 2015 to be held in NoG to be vember. This certification exercise should conclude preparations for the V4 EU BG armarked to on stand-by starting from January 2016. The members of the SVK Armed Forces earmarked ech and Hungarian HQ Staff. Staff The team of fill the posts at the Headquarters take part in the exercise along with the Polish, Czech the SVK soldiers, under the lead of Col Ivan Pacho, Chief of the Combat Preparations Division at the SVK General Staff, is formed by the combined arms personnel. The team members, along with the other members of the SVK Armed Forces declared to the V4 EU BG, will also take part in the exercise Common Challenge 2015. ● On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII and 97th anniversary of the foundation of Czechoslovakia, a ceremonial concert took place in the music auditorium Rudolfinum in Prague, Czech Republic, on 28 October. The concert was attended by Chief of the SVK General Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim together with a delegation of the SVK Armed Forces. After the ceremony, Lt Gen Maxim left for the EU Military Committee session in Brussels.
Joint exercise Balaton (30 October) Within the exercise Balaton 2015 held in Hungary, the members of the SVK Armed Forces will provide the logistic capabilities like transportation of personnel and materiel, repairs and maintenance of the wheeled equipment or supplying potable water. The members of the combat service support brigade Trenčín and the 1st mechanized brigade Topoľčany will operate in the region of Káposvár by mid - December. They will harmonize their procedures with those of the troops from the other V4 countries to increase interoperability should the actual need arise for deployment of the armed forces to cope with the immigration crisis. “I would like to express my thanks to the Ministry of Defence for its immediate response to the requirement posed by Hungary. These soldiers will, together with the Hungarian, Czech and Polish personnel operating in the joint training centre, prepare all the necessary operations with respect to the current crisis. They will focus on how to deal with its negative impacts like illegal migration or the emerging security threats,” stated Robert Fico, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, who, accompanied by SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč and SVK Chief of the General Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim, graced with his presence the ceremonial parade on the occasion of sending our soldiers to the exercise Balaton 2015. “The exercise is the next one of the series of the activities we have undertaken so far, together with the police corps and firefighters, when we practised cooperation to deal with the crisis situations and emergencies,” stated Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. “The exercise will be beneficial also for our soldiers, who will hence gain new skills and capabilities, which they will share with their colleagues after their return home.” SVK CHOD Lt Gen Milan Maxim emphasized the importance of contribution of the exercise to the defence capacity of Slovakia. “The Armed Forces respond to the current security threats in our region. This sort of tasks is not what is usually expected of them, however, in view of the situation on the European borders, these tasks become an everyday reality. I am convinced our soldiers will gain a wealth of experience and they will draw on the lessons learned in the future, namely at training of our armed forces.
Tender cancelled
www.mosr.sk/ebulletin/
(27 October) The Aircraft Repair Plant Trenčín revoked invitation to tender for a strategic partner to acquire a long-term lease of the plant. Such decision was adopted by Chair of the Board of Directors of said company, based on the recommendation by the selection committee. There is no need for the employees to worry about losing their jobs, though. They were assured of that by SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. Ministry of Defence, which is one hundred per cent shareholder of said company, has developed the alternative options. Maintaining employment in the facility remains to be the primary goal, and it was also one of the main criteria in the selection process of the strategic partner. Towards the end of the year, the Minister plans a journey to the United States of America. “We will hold negotiations on a big and important contract in the field of aviation,” he explained, adding that he intends to meet with Head of the Ministry of the Interior to discuss possibilities of having helicopters repaired and maintained in the Aircraf Repair Plant Trenčín. The solution presented by Minister of Defence Martin Glváč in Trenčín was welcomed also by Viliam Jánošík, the representative of the trade unions of the company.
● In accordance with the Treaty on Open Skies, two reconnaissance flights over the territory of Slovakia were held in October. On 5 – 9 October, one reconnaissance flight was carried out by Ukraine, and another on 22 – 24 October by the Russian Federation using the OSDCAM4060 digital sensor. The reconnaissance flights were observed by inspectors from the Czech Republic and Poland. ● On 27 – 28 October, a specialized training of CSI technicians of the Military Police Investigation Section took place on the grounds of the Military Police Training and Canine Division Vlkanová-Hronsek. The participants familiarized themselves with new photographic apparatuses and applicable accessories, and rehearsed photographic documentation of trace evidence using the new photographic equipment.
EUMC session
(29 October) The Chief of the SVK General Staff together with his suite participated in the EU Military Committee (EUMC) session taking place in Brussels on 28 – 29 October, the last one headed by French Gen Patrick De Rousiers, whom from November 2015 replaces his Greek colleague Gen Mikhail Kostrakos. The meeting brought together also chiefs of defence (CHODs) of countries contributing to the EU missions. In his speech, Lt Gen Maxim supported efforts the EU puts in strengthening security and stability in its neighbourhood. He expressed his belief in the importance of a strategic dialogue and co-operation between the EU and NATO. With his Polish colleague Gen Gocuł, they talked about the international Exercise Autumn Challenge. Lt Gen Maxim also held talks with the Hungarian CHOD on deployment of one SVK Armed Forces unit to Exercise Balaton 2015, and in connection with the crisis situation on Slovenia’s borders, he assured the Slovenian CHOD of Slovakia’s preparedness to deploy a medical team together with a part of mobile field hospital. The next EUMC session at CHODs level will be held in Brussels on 17 May 2016.
● 19th Military Police Director Shooting Competition and 9th Lt Col Ľuboš Belák Memorial took place on the premises of the Military Police Training and Canine Division Vlkanová-Hronsek on 28 October. In the category of individuals, the winner was 1st Lt Marek Šúlek (Banská Bystrica Regional Police Corps HQ / BB RPC HQ), followed by SSgt Vladimír Fecura (Prešov Police Performance Division / PPD). In the category of teams, the best one was the team of BB RPC HQ, surpassing the team of Prešov PPD. WO1 Ondrej Blahýl (Institute for Detention on Remand and Institute for Execution of Prison Sentence) won the title of the quickest marksman. ● On 27 October, at Trenčín Garrison Club, the Military Activities Division of the Military Police held a specialized assembly directed at current migration topics, activities of the members of the Bureau of Border and Alien Police and activities of the Migration Office. The assembly was attended by members of the Police Activities Division, members of divisions of Police Enforcement and sections of the Military Police Crisis Management. ● On Wednesday, 28 October, 33 employees of the SVK MOD and personnel of the SVK Armed Forces participated in blood donation held at the SVK MOD Club. The mobile unit of the Central Military Hospital Ružomberok organizes blood donation at the ministry three times a year. ● On 28 – 29 October, Bratislava Garrison HQ (BA GAR HQ) organized skills-improvement training of professional soldiers designated as road traffic controllers. The goal was to prepare and train members of BA GAR HQ to provide and execute military law enforcement service on ground communications.
Commemoration ceremony
(30 October) Members of the Land Forces Headquarters and the Command Support Battalion expressed their respect and gratitude to all who sacrificed their lives in military conflicts, peacekeeping missions and in the line of duty.. In the presence of Deputy Commander of the Land Forces Brig Juraj Krištofovič and Mayor of the town of Trenčín Richard Rybníček, the commemorative ceremony took place on 30 October at Trenčín cemetery, where WWI soldiers are buried as well. The ecumenical ceremony was celebrated by Lt Col Juraj Sitáš, Ordinariate’s military dean. Lt Ondrej Rišian, dean of the Ecumenical and Pastoral Service, also attended. Laying the Chief of the SVK General Staff Wreath, Juraj Krištofovič paid tribute to the former Chief of Defence Maj Gen Marián Mikluš, who died at the beginning of this year.
Soldiers to train more together with the other security forces
(29 October) The joint exercise of the policemen, soldiers and firefighters was held in the 11 districts, with the checkpoints and monitoring points counting altogether to 126. One hundred and nineteen soldiers and five members of military police operated as
eBULLETIN MoD SR
part of the combined patrols, working side by side with members of the police corps. The exercise was aimed at testing the response time and at harmonizing the procedures of the respective departments. “We protect Slovakia, which is of fundamental importance for us. Our people must understand that the borders are effectively protected and monitored and that we are ready to take adequate measures in the case of illegal migration,” said SVK Prime Minister Robert Fico. “I have always declared that the soldiers shall undergo more training, also in terms of joint training with the other security forces, so that we are able to promptly respond to the security threats we face. The Armed Forces started to train jointly with the forces falling under the Ministry of the Interior yet back in 2014, in the context of the crisis in Ukraine. Within the exercise New Horizon we rehearsed how to cope with the problems that might occur,” stated SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč.
October 26 - November 1, 2015