10 Years of Ordinariate (March 5) On Tuesday the Ordinariate of the Slovak Armed Forces and Armed Corps celebrated the 10th anniversary of its founding. A conference was organized at Hotel Bôrik in Bratislava. Monsignor František Rábek, the Ordinary of the Slovak Armed Forces and Armed Corps, along with Mario Giordano, the apostolic nuncios in Slovakia acknowledged and thanked all those who had assisted in developing the Ordinariate throughout the years. The MoD State Secretary Miloš Koterec addressed the conference on behalf of the MoD, while Monsignor Stanislav Zvolenský spoke for the Conference of Bishops of Slovakia. A speech was also given by Robert Kaliňák, the Minister of Interior, who later accepted St. Sebastian's Medal of the 3rd Order handed over by Bishop Rábek. ● For two weeks members of the Prešov Military Police (MP) unit have trained for their mandate in the UNFICYP mission in Cyprus. The training was organized by the MP Training Center in Vlkanová – Hronsek. Military policemen refreshed their skills in crowd control, shooting, securing the crime scene and psychology. The training conducted in English was led by Sergeant 1st Class Jozef Kmeť, member of the Toľpočany MP unit and a former U.N. peacekeeper. ● An international training of personnel preparing to deploy to the UNFICYP mission in Cyprus was also held at the Training Battalion in Martin, at the military training area in Sučany and in the Center for Simulation Technologies at Lešť. Nine soldiers from the Hungarian armed forces, two soldiers from the Serbian armed forces and one member of the Croatian armed forces were supplemented by ten selected soldiers belonging to the Slovak contingent . Future Sector 4 Command members were thus provided an opportunity to get to know each other and built interpersonal relations needed for closer future cooperation.
V4 Battle Group A Step Closer (March 6) It is high me the V4 Group countries reach a decisive decision on capabili es necessary for the planned common Ba le Group (BG), said Defense Minister Mar n Glváč at the mee ng of V4 defense ministers in Poland. The mee ng also included the French defense minister and the German State Secretary. The concept of establishing the V4 EU BG in a stand-by mode by the first half of 2016 has been officially declared last year in April. In the EU BG each of the V4 members should take over a certain capability in the capacity of a leading na on. Slovakia stands prepared to take responsibility for the radiological, chemical and biological (CBR) defense capability. According to the preliminary agreement, we would contribute one mechanized company, one Military Police unit, two EOD teams, one transport management team, and a logis cal support unit, plus medical and command personnel. The joint BG exercise is planned for the second half of 2015. Slovakia will contribute 400 soldiers, Hungary 460, the Czech Republic 750 and Poland 1.200 troops. According to Glváč, the EU BG is a flagship project of the V4 regional grouping, and as such it must not fail. “We ought to start looking beyond 2016 and try to iden fy the next step – the next large and poli cally visible project that will significantly improve our defense capabili es and interoperability,” he said, adding that the V4 countries should also find ways how to make this regional group, or at least some of its components viable in the long run. Next on the mee ng's agenda was the discussion on the agenda of the European Council session, which ought to focus on the development of the European defense and military capabili es. “Defense in Europe had been previously affected by austerity and budget cuts. I truly hope that the European Council session will boost the discussion on this topic and provide a strong development impulse,“ said Glváč. The Slovak and Polish defense ministers signed a bilateral memorandum on the coopera on of Slovak and Polish Special Forces. Defense ministers of the V4 Group countries also signed a document that formalizes the intent of V4 members to establish a common EU Ba le Group in 2014, opera onal in a stand-by mode by the first half of 2016, with Poland as the leading na on.
● Eighteen professional soldiers of the Slovak Armed Forces classified as G10 (mechanized specialization) conducted a demanding exercise at the garrison training area in Sučany to conclude the six-week training at the Training Battalion. The main task of the exercise was to verify their tactical skills.
Mali Is A Matter Of Concern (March 7) The MoD does not rule out future involvement of our soldiers in Mali, said Defense Minister Martin Glváč following a meeting of defense ministers of V4 countries and France, and the German State Secretary. The actual deployment will, however, depend on the needs and requirements of the European Union, which oversees the EUTM operation. “We have offered to deploy our troops but in the first contingent the capabilities, which we had offered, were already covered. Should it become necessary to add to those capabilities, we stand ready to do so,” said Glváč. Slovakia could contribute mainly by deploying military mentors to train local forces. Glváč was briefed on the current situation in Mali by the French Defense Minister. “We were given a comprehensive briefing. Mai is definitely a matter of concern for Slovakia and Europe in general, since it is a stronghold for terrorists, drug and military hardware traffickers — the actual discoveries on the ground have justified the deployment of the French and allied troops in Mali,” said Glváč.
● Representatives of nations participating in the international Capable Logistician 2013 exercise, which will be held in June in Slovakia, met at the Sliač airbase to inspect the airport which will serve as the home base for all airplanes taking off and landing during the exercise. The official program included the demonstration of proper container manipulation. ● The shooting range in Ruská Nová Ves hosted the handgun shooting drill conducted by members of the Prešov Helicopter Wing. Professional soldiers from the Helicopter Wing of ColonelGeneral Ján Ambruš tested their skills not only shooting handguns and semi-automatic weapons in a classical stance, but also shooting at disappearing and moving targets from vehicles with handheld weapons and vehicle-mounted machine-guns. ● On Monday, March 4, 2013 Col. Martin Stoklasa, the Training and Support Forces Acting Commander thanked Lt. Col. Zdenko Hilčík for his work as the Chief of Personnel support of the Training and Support Forces Command, the job Lt. Col. Hilčík has held until Feb. 28, 2013. Since March 1 he works in the same position at the Land Forces Command. ● The Ammunition Testing Center in Nováky organized a course for materiel officers dealing with ammunition (ZT-5) with the goal of providing initial specialized short-term training; educating and preparing employees and professional soldiers for work with ammunition and explosives. The course graduates will be able to utilize the acquired base certification within the MoD and also in the civilian sector. ● On March 5, 2013 a delegation from the NATO Center of Excellence for Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear (CBRN) Protection located in the Czech town of Vyškov paid a visit to the Training, Analytical and Supply Center of CBRN in Čereňany. They were welcomed by Col. Martin Stoklasa, the Training and Support Forces Acting Commander. Higher officers from 10 countries were presented the demonstration of the means of personal protection. ● On March 5 and March 6 pilots from the Prešov Helicopter Wing of Colonel-General Ján Ambruš tested their combat air-toground shooting skills at the military range in Kamenica Nad Cirochou - Valaškovce. The live ammunition drill was preceded by thorough preparation of both the pilots and the ground personnel. The targets of the combat drill were met in full.
She Who Had Raised Soldiers (March 8) On the occasion of the International Women's Day Defense Minister Martin Glváč awarded a Commemorative Plaque to Zuzana Fojtíková - the mother of four soldiers who have served in military missions abroad. Brothers Milan, Miroslav, Jaroslav and Vladimír had served during the nineties in the UNPROFOR and UNTAES missions in Balkans; the UNMEE mission in Eritrea, and in ISAF in Afghanistan. Among them they have served 13 years in foreign missions. “Ms Fojtíková had raised four sons who served well in our armed forces at home and abroad. I believe she is the only woman to contribute to our armed forces in this way. I consider it my obligation to congratulate her on the occasion of the International Women's Day in person,” said Glváč. Only one of the Fojtík brothers - Milan, the oldest - still serves in the military, in the Engineering Battalion in Sereď. Ms Fojtíková will turn 70 this fall.
Bundesheer Commander On Official Visit to Slovakia
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(March 7) The Chief of the General Staff of the Austrian armed forces (Bundesheer) General Edmund Entacher visited Slovakia to discuss matters of mutual interest with the Chief of the General Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces (OS SR) Lt. Gen. Peter Vojtek. The agenda included the current world affairs, activities in the regional defense initiatives and involvement in the international crisis management operations with special emphasis on the ISAF mission
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in Afghanistan. Lt. Gen. Vojtek informed his Austrian counterpart on the strategic defense review presented in the White Book on Defense of the Slovak Republic. Also discussed was the cooperation between OS SR and Bundesheer in military training and courses, and the option of using our training facilities. Gen. Entacher also met with the MoD State Secretary Miloš Koterec before traveling to Nitra to visit the Air Defense Rocket Brigade.
The visit to Slovakia was Gen. Entacher's last trip abroad in his current job as the Chief of the General Staff of Bundesheer. Lt. Gen. Vojtek acknowledged 45 years of Gen. Entacher's service in the Austrian armed forces and awarded him the Commemorative Medal of the Chief of the General Staff of the 1st Order, thanking him for support and excellent cooperation in the past years, and wishing him the best of luck in years to come.
March 4 - 10, 2013