Anti-tank Guided Missile Fires Gunner operators of mechanized battalions participated in the anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) fires training in Kamenica nad Cirochou. In charge of the training was the Commander of the 21st Combined Mechanized Battalion Major Marián Makay.and among the attendees were battalion and units gunner operators directly subordinated to the 2nd Mechanized Brigade together with members of the 1st Mechanized Brigade based in Topoľčany. The objective of the exercise fires was a training of gunner operators of the Infantry Fighting Vehicles (BVP-1) and Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (BPsV) with the focus on operating the homing system ATGM 9M14M MALJUTKA. The practical training was focused on perfecting the drills and skills of professional soldiers in shooting preparation and operation of various weapon systems. ● On 25 November, the essential combat skills of the members of the Command HQ of the Land Forces of the AF SR were put to the test. After writing the test, nearly one hundred soldiers were transferred to the command support battalion in Trenčín to continue with the practical part of the testing. The members of the Command HQ verified their preparedness in the field of chemical, biological and radiological protection, and in the field of medical and shooting preparation. ● In the third week of November, the members of the 12th mechanized battalion Nitra took a specialized course Combat shooting of Military Police 3rd grade in the Training centre and military police cynology Vlkanová – Hronsek. They are being prepared to perform tasks beyond the territory of the Slovak Republic in ISAF operation. They are to deploy to Afghanistan before the end of this year.
Agreement with Serbia (November 28) The Ministry of Defence of the SR will prepare, execute and deliver an intergovernmental agreement on coopera!on with the Serbian Defence Department. The Minister of Defence of the SR Mar!n Glváč and the Serbian Ambassador Šani Dermaku informed thereof on their bilateral mee!ng. The na!ons concerned will deÞne in the Agreement the general framework for the defence coopera!on. “The Agreement is par!cularly signiÞcant in terms of modeling the dynamics of rela!ons between our countries, but it is also the exis!ng coopera!on between our na!ons that I would like to underline in this context. The Slovak and Serbian troops operate together in UNFICYP mission in Cyprus, and they feel very posi!ve about such coopera!on,” stated the Minister. The Serbian Ambassador appreciated Slovakia giving support for the integra!on efforts of his country. Equally, he appreciated the principled stand and official posi!on of Slovakia on Kosovo. He conÞrmed his determina!on to seek further possibili!es of defence coopera!on and coopera!on in the Þelds of technology, educa!on and training. The Minister Glváč stressed that the Slovak Republic views Serbia as its major and important partner in the Balkans.
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(November 27) The U.S. Ambassador Theodor Sedgwick presented Commenda!on Medals to the six Slovak EOD specialists who have operated in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan since 2010. The other two were awarded with the Bronze Star. The ceremony was held in the Na!onal EOD Centre in Nováky in the presence of the Chief of the General Staff of the AF of the SR Lieutenant-General Peter Vojtek, the U.S. Defence A%aché to the SR, Lieutenant Colonel Mathew D. Atkins and the U.S. Air A%aché to the SR, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew J. Taylor.
From 26 to 29 November, members of the Stationary base communications and information systems participated in NATO’s multinational cyber defence exercise „Cyber Coalition 2013“. The exercise was aimed at training of a joint format when responding to incidents, sharing NATO information, and of cooperation. The subject of the exercise was infiltration of a malware program to a simulation infrastructure, which would spread through electronic communication, and be executed at a workstation. The exercise was conducted in cooperation with the National Security Authority, CSIRT.SK, NATO NCIRC TC and the LEGAL team.
● The initial specialized training of professional soldiers in the field of medical expertise OR-2, practical part, was held at the section of the training, education and specialized preparation of the division of the specialized medical and veterinary activities of the Surgeon General’s Office Ružomberok, detached in Liptovský Mikuláš. The training was aimed at performing first aid as a part of medical services within the unit, at medical evacuation of the wounded and sick and at the control and management of the activities of the subordinated specialists of the medical service. ● On 25 November, Defence Attaché of the US to Slovakia Colonel Matthew D. Atkins, accompanied by Air Attaché of the US to the SR Lieutenant Colonel Andrew J. Taylor, made a visit to the Slovak Air Force. In Zvolen, they were welcomed by the Commander of the Air Force Brigadier General Miroslav Korba and by the Commander of the mixed wing Sliač Colonel Vladimír Lisý. The program continued at the Sliač Air Base, where they were taken on a tour of the flight simulator facilities and further were briefed on the activities of the unit. Equally, they had an opportunity to see the aviation equipment. The Headquarters of the Air Force and the Sliač Air Base were also visited by the Command Chief Master Sergeant Gregory Smith, the US Special Operations Command Europe, who, on his tour of the facilities, was accompanied by the Chief of the NCO of the Slovak Republic Armed Forces, Command Sergeant Major Vladimír Beluš.
Training in Cyprus
On 26 November, in the United Nations Protected Area in Nicosia, the members of the Mobile Force Reserve underwent their training under the lead of the Slovak Military Police personnel operating in the Force Military Police Unit in UNFICYP mission. Prior to the practical training, the MFR members from the British, Argentinean and Slovak contingents did the theoretical part of the training, where they were given introduction to the issue of crowd control, with a focus on the tactics and activities an individual should undertake.
● On its session held on 26 November, the Committee of the Commander of the Land Forces of the AF SR to select the best enlisted man and the best non-commissioned officer in the present training year concurred that the best enlisted man in the Land Forces in the training year 2013 is Corporal Pavol Partilla from the reconnaissance company of the 2nd mechanized brigade. Staff Sergeant Jozef Alexovič from ISTAR Company of the 2nd mechanized brigade became the best non-commissioned officer in the Land Forces in the training year 2013. ● On, 28 November, the 8th annual session of the Slovak Soldiers’ Association was held in the premises of the garrison club Trenčín. Among the participants there were also the former Chiefs of the General Staff of the AF SR Colonel General Jozef Tuchyňa (Ret.) and Major General Marián Mikluš (Ret.) The standing Chairman of the Association Michal Bohunický summarized and evaluated the work done for the past four years. The most active members of the Association were presented with the award Star of the Slovak Soldiers’Association. Colonel Tomáš Švec (Ret.) was elected the new Chairman of the Association.
Medals for Specialists
They Fought Against Malware
Members of the Garrison Headquarters Bratislava contributed to the pre-Christmas atmosphere of the Main Square in Bratislava. The Military music band of the AF performed a concert under the baton of their Commander Major Peter Apolen in a programme called „Christmas in the Town“.
Reserves Workshop
(November 27) The Institute for Security and Defence Studies MoD SR in cooperation with the UK Defence Attaché Office organized international expert workshop on the active reserves. Presentations of the Great Britain, Switzerland, USA, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia were heard at the workshop, which described approaches to the concept of reserve forces and addressed the challenges associated with the implementation of the reserves system. Many NATO and EU member states attach growing importance to the active reserves, particularly in the context of limited resources. The active reserves system must take into account specific national conditions. However, the Allies deal with similar problems, from the determination of the role of the reserves in the structure of the armed forces and the adjustment of the ratio between regular and reserve forces, legislation, to creating motivational conditions. The reserve forces model is also influenced by the security culture of each country, the level of international ambitions, the support of armed forces and citizens’ preparedness for defence.
eBULLETIN MoD SR
November 25 - December 1, 2013