8th Slovak International Air Fest SIAF 2018
No. 36 ● Vol. VII ● www.mosr.sk/ebulletin/
(1 September) Slovak Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš opened the 8th Slovak International Air Fest SIAF 2018 at Sliač Air Base. For the first time visitors to SIAF 2018 got a more close-up experience of the C-27J Spartan transport aircraft in service with the SVK Air Force, and the 8×8 IFV prototype was on display on Sunday 2 September. The theme of this yearʼs Aviation Days is the centenary of the Czechoslovak Air Force. On the latest additions to the SVK Air Force inventory, Slovak Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “That we now have more new assets in service with our Air Force compared to last year is positive news for the citizens of the Slovak Republic. As well as fielding another two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, we have also put two C-27J Spartan airlifters into service. Thanks to them, our soldiers are better equipped to respond to crisis situations wherever it is needed.” In his statement on SIAF 2018, SVK Chief of Defence Lt Gen Daniel Zmeko remarked that over 500 SVK personnel had supported the airshow, with 151 air and ground-based assets being displayed at Sliač Air Base. “Let me thank everyone organising this event for supporting the SVK Armed Forces in presenting their capabilities as well as our pilots in demonstrating the art and mastery of their flying skills,” he added. ● 37 SVK Army personnel took part in Ex JOINT FIRES II 2018 on Hradiště Military Area (CZE) on 20-31 Aug 2018. Taking place for the second year in a row, the international exercise is a training activity for fire support units from the SVK and POL Armed Forces and the Army of the Czech Republic.
74th SNP anniversary (29 August) Slovak Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš attended nation-wide commemorations of the 74th Slovak National Uprising (SNP) in Banská Bystrica. Also in attendance were the three highest constitutional representatives, participants of the anti-Nazi resistance, and other guests. Before the official commemorations a wreath-laying ceremony took place at the Romanian War Cemetery in Zvolen, where Minister Gajdoš and the Romanian delegation, led by State Secretary of the Ministry of National Defence Nicolae Nasta, paid tribute to the memory of over 10,000 Romanian soldiers who made the most consequential contribution to liberating Nazi-occupied Slovakia at the end of WWII. Earlier on 27 August, Peter Gajdoš also paid tribute to the SNP participants in Bratislavaʼs SNP Square. That day SVK MOD service personnel and employees gathered to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the SNP and the 26th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic. The SNP anniversary and Constitution Day were also marked across garrisons.
8x8 IFV on public display (1 September) The MOD showcased the 8×8 IFV prototype at two h i g h v i si b i l i t y events during the first September weekend. It was on display at the SVK Parliament Building during this yearʼs Parliament Open Day in Bratislava on Saturday and at the Slovak International Air Fest SIAF 2018 at Air Base Sliač on Sunday. Earlier on 29 September, the IFV prototype was introduced to the public at the nation-wide SNP commemorations in Banská Bystrica.
Strengthening of Op ALTHEA (30 August) Slovakia plans to strengthen EUFOR Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina with new capabilities to help stabilise the Western Balkans. This announcement was made by Slovak Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš after the informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Vienna. Minister Gajdoš said: “This time there wonʼt be any change in the staff levels, but the current mandate will be altered to allow two Slovak servicemen to undertake reconnaissance and intelligence duties.” During the meeting in Vienna, Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) was a resonating issue with all, with much of the current focus on PESCO projects as well as the rules for Third States participation in PESCO projects. Slovakiaʼs EuroArtillery Indirect Fire Support project is being implemented as part of the initial collaborative PESCO projects. The future of Op Sophia was on the agenda too, especially the relocation of migrants rescued in the waters of the Central Mediterranean Sea. On Op Sophia, the Slovak delegation recognised its decisive role in enhancing maritime security in the Central Mediterranean Sea and contribution to containing illegal migration. On the transfer of disembarked migrants from one to another EU Member State, Defence Minister Gajdoš noted that it is important to preserve the principle of voluntariness.
New Dress Regulations
● The EOD Specialists Course for members of the SVK Armed Forces culminated with final practical tests at the Training Centre Lešť in the last week of August. The course was for the first time organised independently by the National Centre EOD and CBRN Nováky. ● Lt Col Gerard Walsh, Commander of the US Armyʼs 415th Civil Affairs Battalion, visited the CIMIC and PSYOPS Centre in Martin on 22 Aug 2018. One of his Civil Affairs Teams, led by Civil Affairs Team Chief Capt Ryan Kidlow, has been deployed in support of the Centre to help bolster CIMIC capabilities in the SVK Armed Forces. ● On Saturday 1 Sept 2018, the Slovak Soldiers Association along with the MOD and SVK Armed Forces organised the 23rd Mount Kriváň International Military Hiking Event. It attracted 1,150 hikers, including representatives of military organizations from the V4 countries. ● 79 soldiers successfully participated in the FATRA MARCH 2018, a long-distance march with the trail length of 34km and a height difference of 2,600m. The activity was organised by the Training and Mobilization Manning Base, working in cooperation with the Military Support Foundation and the CIMIC and PSYOPS Centre Martin. ● Alexander Slafkovský, sportsman of the Military Sports Centre Dukla Banská Bystrica, won the silver medal in the C1 discipline at the 2018 ICF Water Canoe World Cup in Tacen, Slovenia on 1 Sept 2018. ● Peter Žiška, of the Armed Forces Academy Liptovský Mikuláš, and Pte Simona Bugošová, of the 21st Combined Mechanised Battalion Trebišov, won the SVK Armed Forces Summer Biathlon Championships in Trebišov. ● The SVK MOD urges drivers to take caution as there will be 38 Allied military road movements across Slovakia in the period between 3-9 Sept 2018. They will mainly involve US and POL troops. This week SVK Army convoys will move along the route Rožňava – Zemianske Kostoľany, as well as transporting oversized cargo along the routes Sereď – Michalovce, Nitra – Nemecká, Martin – Training Centre Lešť. There will also be railway movements of Allied troops along the route Levice – Sása Pliešovce.
(28 August) The SVK MOD introduced new Dress Regulations for the Armed Forces as of 1 September 2018. As well as being issued with 2 Combat Dresses, service personnel are also issued with 1 Service Dress (Army Green/Air Force Blue Day Uniform with jacket and tie). Up until now, however, the Service Dress has not been issued to all service personnel automatically. The MOD leadership has allotted a total of €13 million to purchase new clothing items and make sure that soldiers are dressed properly. Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “We want to set the system so as to give soldiers what they are entitled to in line with applicable Dress Regulations and make sure that they are issued with everything they need for service and performing their duties responsibly.” He reminded that the MOD is also taking measures to stop the misuse of the SVK military uniforms by the ʽSlovak Recruitsʼ paramilitary organization and other similar organizations. However, this does not apply to hunters and fishermen who use older types of field uniforms that are no longer used by the armed forces. General Secretary of the Service Office Ján Hoľko added that the MOD has contracted the deliveries of clothing items worth €10 million for this year. €4m worth of clothing has already been delivered to Army warehouses. However, some clothing items will be issued only temporarily to soldiers for the duration of their active duty service. “This measure will save approx. €1.5m a year,” explained the General Secretary. He added that today the overall price of personal clothing averages out at about €3,000 per serviceman/servicewoman and will be increased by €500.
A life saved in Afghanistan (31 August) MSgt Radovan Januška, member of the SVK Military Police and the Slovak Contingent Resolute Support (RS) in Afghanistan, saved the life of a US citizen in Afghanistan in the last week of August. On finding a civilian contractor lying unconscious on the floor of a bathroom in a building on base, MSgt Januška immediately administered first aid to him and put his body in a stable position before alerting the ROLE 2 hospital at HKIA. “I am convinced that his act of saving a life sets an example worth following by every member of the SVK Armed Forces,” said Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš, appreciating the prompt action of MSgt Januška.
Slovakia assumes full responsibility for Sector 4 of UNFICYP (31 August) The Slovak Republic will take over Sector 4 of UNFICYP as one Troop Contributing Country (TCC) on Saturday 1 September 2018. This will occur in an effort to put the UN Policy on Cyprus into practice, which envisages greater homogeneity in the Sector and means that Slovak personnel will take over all positions previously staffed by the other TCCs, i.e. Hungary, Serbia and Ukraine. Applauding the joint efforts of all TCCs in Sector 4, SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “I want to say Thank You to our Hungarian, Serbian and Ukrainian colleagues for our yearslong cooperation. Together we have taken part in bringing peaceful life back to the inhabitants of a divided Cyprus and together we have contributed markedly to boosting security in
eBULLETIN SVK MoD
this country.” Praising the coexistence and teamwork of all TCCs in Sector 4, SVK Chief of Defence Lt Gen Daniel Zmeko said: “Slovak soldiers have led Sector 4 in collaboration with other Troop Contributing Countries since taking command of Sector 4. For both Parties, we have been an excellent example of coexistence and how to resolve problems in a peaceful way. I believe that as one Troop Contributing Country we will go on performing our duties up to the set standard in the spirit of the UN Charter.” The SVK CHOD, too, thanked members of the Hungarian, Serbian and Ukrainian Armed Forces for their cooperation in Cyprus so far. The total SVK deployment to UNFICYP is to gradually rise from 141 to 243 personnel.
27 August - 2 September 2018