First professional SVK Armed Forces unit marks its jubilee
(6 November) In the presence of the SVK Land Forces Commander, Brig Ondřej Novosad, and other guests, Martin Barracks saw the 20th anniversary commemoration of the foundation of the first professional unit of the then Army of the Slovak Republic – originally called the Rapid Deployment Battalion, later renamed the Captain Ján Francisci Immediate Response Battalion, today’s 11th Mechanized Battalion. In his speech, Brig Novosad, who had served with the battalion in the past, reminded that this Martin-based unit has, since its foundation in 1995, been a vehicle of new traditions and training procedures. In 1997, as the first unit subordinate to the SVK Land Forces, it was honoured to wear a green beret. It was the first one to fulfill the requirements to be incorporated into international military structures. The battalion reached the combat readiness to perform international crisis management tasks in accordance with NATO’s requirements on dealing with crisis situations as part of NRF 10. Since 1995, members of the battalion have participated in operations and missions abroad, such as AFOR, KFOR, UNMEE, UNDOF, UNFICYP, Operation Iraqi Freedom and ISAF. In 2003, members of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defence Company of the said battalion made up the core of the Slovak component of the first Czecho-Slovak CBRN Battalion deployed in Kuwait and Iraq. During the commemoration ceremony, the battalion’s best members were awarded with medals and memorial plaques. Also in attendance at the ceremony were former battalion commanders, including Col Martin Stoklasa, GS, today’s Commander of Prešov-based Mechanized Brigade, and Col Alexander Kollárik, Deputy Commander of Topoľčany-based Mechanized Brigade.
● The General Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces began the first November week with specialized skills enhancement training at the Garrison Range on Turecký Vrch Training Area. The training was aimed at improving the all-arms skills of the General Staff members in shooting and tactical drills. The tasking, which greatly contributed to enhancing the readiness of the General Staff members, was concluded with a march on the training area. In terms of technical and staff arrangements, the tasking was supported at a high standard by members of the Training Battalion Martin, led by Maj Nikola Vicena in cooperation with Maj Ján Kačala, of the Combat Training Division of the Strategic Planning Staff at the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces.
Prospects of cooperation (6 November) Cooperation between the SVK MOD and the U.S. Embassy in Slovakia is at a high level. This was acknowledged by SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč and the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Slovakia, Liam Wasley. Martin Glváč informed Liam Wasley on the NATO Counter Intelligence Centre of Excellence (NATO CI COE), which is to be established on the initiative of Slovakia and Poland. He also appreciated the U.S. contribution to the NFIU HQ to be set up in Slovakia. Chargé d’Affaires Wasley spoke highly of the SVK MOD’s modernization projects and was interested to find out about their continuation. As part of the SVK Armed Forces’ modernization, the Minister declared interest in further using the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. In this connection, Liam Wasley emphasized that the United States highly appreciates the modernization projects in Slovakia as an important message for NATO partners. He also thanked for the SVK Armed Forces’ participation in joint exercises and their cooperation in a U.S. convoy crossing the territory of Slovakia.
Minister in burned-down forest (5 November) SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč familiarized himself with the situation in the military forests near the town of Kežmarok struck by fire on Tuesday afternoon. The fire burned 200 hectares of forest and approx. 100 hectares of young tree cover. The Minister emphasized that after the investigation into the fire he will initiate public prosecution. “The damage is extensive,” he remarked and thanked all units participating in extinguishing the fire. According to Ján Jurica, Director General of the SVK Military Forests and Estates, not all results of the investigation are available at the moment, but the most probable cause was a human error. The entire young forest, which was planted by the SVK Military Forests and Estates to restore the area destroyed in the 2004 disaster, burned to the ground. The fire-fighting response has brought together 130 firefighters, 40 pieces of equipment, 2 SVK Armed Forces helicopters, 2 Interior Ministry helicopters, Military Forests Authority employees, and volunteers.
● On 2 November, the Director of the Military Police, Col Milan Hamar, awarded the Military Police Medal (in Bronze), Grade III, to Col Ľubomír Gacko, Deputy Commander of the SVK Land Forces, for his significant contribution to cooperation with the Military Police. On 6 November, he awarded the Military Police Medal (in Bronze), Grade III, to Col Miloš Mosný, GS, and Col Ivan Pach, GS, for their significant contribution to cooperation with the Military Police. On the same day, he also presented a Letter of Appreciation to Maj Milan Cerovský, Chief of Investigations Section, for his service with the Military Police, particularly in recognition of his tour of duty with the United Nations Truce Supervision (UNTSO) Mission. ● After more than 35 years of service, Col Juraj Grivna, Chief of the SVK Air Force Use and Development Planning Division, concluded his active duty career. He was given farewell by Brig Gen Jiroslav Korba, Commander of the SVK Air Force. The commander thanked him for his excellent work in the long term, wished him every success in his personal life, and awarded him with the Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces Remembrance Medal, Grade II. ● On 3 November, a first aid course for drivers was held at Liptovský Mikuláš-based detached workstation operating under the Training, Education and Specialized Preparation Section, Specialized Medical and Veterinary Activities Division, Office of the SVK Armed Forces Surgeon General, based in Ružomberok. Another first aid course, aimed at providing first aid and practical rehearsals of bandaging techniques and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), was held on 3 – 5 November.
(8 November) The State Secretary of the SVK Ministry of Defence, Miloš Koterec, accompanied by the 2nd Vice Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces, Maj Gen Pavel Macko, attended a commemoration ceremony to mark Veterans’ Day in Čuňovo at Bratislava. The commemoration ceremony took place at the Fallen Royal Air Force (RAF) Members’ Memorial, which pays tribute to the memory of a five-member Wellington bomber crew (serial number MF 458-A) of No. 40 Squadron RAF.
In memory of J. Stank
(2 November) To mark All Souls’ Day, SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč and Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces Lt Gen Milan Maxim attended a commemoration ceremony dedicated to the memory of the deceased Slovak Minister of Defence Jozef Stank at the Ružinov Cemetery, Bratislava. Jozef Stank served as an MP at the Federal Assembly while acting in the capacity of Chairman of the Committee on Oversight of Investigation into the 17 November events. From January 1998 to October 2002, he served as the Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic. Until 2004, he held the post of Chief of the Office of the President of the Slovak Republic. He died of a serious disease on 7 March 2005 and did not live to see his 65th birthday.
● On the first Monday in November, SSgt Zoltán Varga assumed the post of Commanding NCO of the 13th Mechanized Battalion Levice. He had previously served as the commanding NCO of the 1st Mechanized Company, 13th Mechanized Battalion. The ceremony was attended by the outgoing commanding NCO, SSgt Miroslav Štadler, who serves as the commanding NCO of the 1st Mechanized Brigade Topoľčany.
First successful Slovak graduate of Commando Course
www.mosr.sk/ebulletin/
For the first time in history, a member of the SVK Armed Forces has successfully completed the Commando Combat Course organized by the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR). Together with another 91 soldiers, Sgt Peter Sedliak, of the Mobile CIS Base Ružomberok, passed the selection procedure and underwent theoretical training. Only 15 participants qualified for the main and hardest part, which tested their physical fitness, endurance and psychological resistance. Eight servicemen successfully completed the course and received, inside the crypt of the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror in Prague, certificates, badges, insignia and commemorative coins
Tribute to fallen veterans
from the hands of Lt Gen Jaroslav Klemeš, direct participant of the Platinium Paradrop, Maj Gen Peter Mikulenka, Deputy CHOD of the ACR and Director of the Joint Operational Centre, Czech MOD, Brig Ondřej Novosad, SVK Land Forces Commander, and Brig Ján Kožiak, Commander of the Training Command – Military Academy Vyškov. SFC Lukáš Malý, of Hranicebased 7th Mechanized Brigade (ACR), has become the best graduate with a right to carry the FS Commando Knife. The Commando Course builds on the original Scottish course which our soldiers underwent during WWII. The SVK Land Forces have been dispatching soldiers to participate in the course since the autumn of 2014.
eBULLETIN MoD SR
Visit to Montenegro
(4 November) The State Secretary of the SVK Ministry of Defence, Miloš Koterec, met with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro, Bojan Šarkić. During the meeting, they assessed bilateral relations and discussed options for defence cooperation. The SVK delegation reaffirmed its support for Montenegro’s Euro-Atlantic integration ambitions. “The changes Montenegro has been undergoing as part of its accession process to NATO present an opportunity for stepping up our support not only in the political field but also in the military one. The State Secretary and I identified several concrete areas where the sharing of our expertise is most needed,” said M. Koterec after concluding his visit. Another step forward in developing relations will be the visit of Minister of Defence Martin Glváč to Montenegro, which is to build on the talks with the Minister of Defence of Montenegro, M. Pejanović-Đurišić, earlier in July in Bratislava.
November 2 - 8, 2015