Academies will Cooperate (February 14) The Armed Forces Academy of General M. R. Štefánik will closely cooperate with the Military Academy of the Bundeswehr, based in Hamburg, in the field of military education and research. It follows from the agreement signed by and between the rector of the AFA Brigadier General Boris Ďurkech for the Slovak party and the commander of the Military Academy of the Bundeswehr Major General Achim Lidsba for the German party. “Our cooperation with the Military Academy in Hamburg is a long term one and we view the Military Academy as one of our strategic partners,” said the rector of the AFA. The agreement sets a framework for a mutual exchange of tutors in the field of preparation of personnel in courses, and for the joint participation in scientific projects or for cooperation in the field of using the simulating technologies. The heads of the military academies executed the agreement on cooperation in the field of education and research in the presence of the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of the SR Miloš Koterec and the German Ambassador Michael Schmunk. They both emphasized an excellent cooperation between the academies.
●
On 10 February in the premises of the 21st Combined Mechanized Battalion Trebišov, a military parade was held on the occasion of handing over the position of the Commander. Lieutenant Colonel Róbert Funtaľ has become the new Commander. He assumed the position from the Deputy Commander of the 21st Combined Mechanized Battalion Trebišov Major Marián Makay who commanded the battalion during the last eight months, when the position was unoccupied.
● From 10 to 12 February, members of the G10 and I10 professional training of military expertise participated in live-firing exercises with hand weapons in the premises of the Barrier shooting-range Sučany. They carried out preparatory and firing exercises from the submachine guns models 58 and 61, pistol model 82, universal machine gun model 59 L, SVD sniper rifle, and RPG-7, RPG-75. The preparation will continue from 18 to 20 February with a final exercise in PC Sučany.
Kuzmina Sixth (February 11) The Minister of Defence of the SR Marn Glváč congratulated biathlete Anastasiya Kuzmina to her sixth place in the women’s 10 km pursuit race. The member of the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica finished second in the same event 4 years ago at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. „Nastya Kuzmina has united all Slovaks watching her performance on TV, and certainly wishing her to win another medal. It was obvious that she gave everything she got on the track for the sixth place. We are proud on the member of the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica,“ said the Head of the Defence Department Mar n Glváč. Anastasiya Kuzmina has been an athlete of the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bys ca since 2009. At the last Winter Olympics in Vancouver, she captured gold in the sprint, and silver in the pursuit race.
Žampa Fifth www.mosr.sk/ebulletin/
(February 14) The Minister of Defence of the SR Marn Glváč congratulated Adam Žampa, an alpine ski racer of the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica, to his 5th place at the Sochi Winter Olympics. “I am pleased that a er congratula ng Anastasiya Kuzmina, I can congratulate another successful athlete of the Sports Military Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica. The best me in the slalom, which resulted in the fi h overall place in the super combina on at the Olympics, is a huge success,” said the Head of the Defence Department.
● On 12 February, Director of the Office of Central Logistics Ing. Jozef Drozd, accompanied by Chief of the Section of Armaments, Operation and Maintenance Lieutenant Colonel Anton Čintalan, made a visit to the Repair and Maintenance Battalion to negotiate the issue of supply and delivery of spare parts. Commander of the Repair and Maintenance Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Ličko introduced to the guests the role and main tasks of the battalion. The briefing was subsequently followed by the discussion on enhancing efficiency of the system of supplying spare parts. ● On Thursday, 13 February, Colonel Ing. Ivan Sálaši, Director of the Personnel Office of the AF of the SR, evaluated the training year 2013 at the Commanders’ meeting in the premises of the AFA of General M.R. Štefánik in Liptovský Mikuláš. He evaluated the performance of the main tasks, and the tasks in individual fields, with the focus on the work with military personnel, and set the key tasks for the training year 2014. For the work done in the last training year, he awarded the selected members with commemorative badges and coins. ● On 11 – 12 February, in the premises of the National EOD Centre Nováky, the crime scene technicians from Military Police underwent the training aimed at the fundamental characteristics of explosives and ammunition. EOD experts explained to the crime scene technicians the composition of individual types of ammunition, the characteristics and composition of explosives. They briefed them on handling the explosives and ammunition to prevent damage to health, accidents and other undesirable effects. During the training they further addressed the issue of marking the practice ammunition, non-lethal training ammunition, live ammunition and explosives. ● On 13 February, based on the request of the Military Unit 5728 Nováky, the Chief Cynologist of the MoD of the SR, and cynologist from the Cynology Department of the Military Police Directorate, re-examined the service dogs of the mentioned unit, which did not have a valid qualification for the category of patrol dogs in compliance with Directive 62/2007 of the MoD of the SR on cynology. After re-examination, their qualification for the category was extended until the next specialised cynology course.
Negotiation in Tbilisi On 11 -12 February, the NATO Military Committee meeting was held in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Slovak Republic was represented by Major General Miroslav Kocian – Military representative to NATO and EU in Brussels. The military representatives of the armed forces from NATO countries reported on the progress made by Georgia in transforming its armed forces with the aim to achieve its ambition to join the Alliance. The Georgian party presented its transformation efforts aimed at a gradual reform of its armed forces so that these meet NATO standards. The accession of Georgia to NATO and EU remains the top priority for the foreign policy of Georgia. General Knud Bartels, Chairman of the Military Committee, repeatedly acknowledged the success Georgia has achieved and expressed his view that Georgia, being on the road to NATO accession, is close to become a member of the most important military alliance. He reminded, however, that the decision on accession does not fall within the competence of the Military Committee, but it is the North Atlantic Council that will eventually decide. The next meeting between NATO and Georgia will be held on 20 June in Brussels.
Grant Program of MoD SR In 2014, just as in previous years, the Ministry of Defence of the SR will support the interesting projects of the non-governmental and non-profit organizations, aimed, for example, at increasing public awareness about NATO and EU, at educating the citizens with a focus on patriotism, at preparation of the Slovak citizens for defence of their republic, at support of the cultural, spiritual and social welfare of professional soldiers, reserves and veterans, as well as support of the young people displaying a sporting talent. Nearly 100 000 EUR have been earmarked for grants. The minimal amount of the grant has been set on 500 EUR and the upper limit is 99 580 EUR, The non -governmental organizations may apply for grants to support educational activities, sporting events, civil defence and sporting events, as well as cultural or social events. Equally, they can apply for grants in support of projects aimed at protection and development of historical and cultural heritage, with a focus on military history. The deadline to submit applications is 31 March 2014. Detailed information is to be found on a webpage of the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic http://www.mosr.sk/data/files/2921.pdf.
Military Police Preparing in Liptov (February 13) Currently, the military policemen take the course ISOC (the International Staff Officers’s Course) in the AFA in Liptovský Mikuláš. In particular, the course for the military policemen is aimed at the work in NATO multinational military police battalion operating under the lead of Poland, its members being military policemen from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Croatia. ISOC, organized in Liptovský Mikuláš, provides staff training for officers in the English language. In Liptov, three eleven-week
eBULLETIN MoD SR
courses are held every year in Liptov. Each of the courses is attended by twenty participants from NATO or Partner countries. Thanks to the courses, they gain theoretical knowledge of the organizational structure on the tactical level of command, they get to know the fundamental principles of planning the operations across the broad operational spectrum and they master the skills necessary to apply the staff procedures as used in multinational environment in various NATO-led military operations.
February 10 - 16, 2014