Slovak Soldiers Honored by the Dutch
Slovaks and Czechs Will Deepen Ties
The professional attitude and personal responsibility shown by Slovak soldiers while on duty in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan were highly praised by their Dutch commanders. The Dutch Ambassador to the Slovak Republic, H.E. Daphne Bergsma decorated them with ceremonial plaques. The honors were accepted by Captain Stanislav Andrejko, Sr. Lt. Sergej Masica, Staff Sergeant Vladimír Suslo and Sergeant Major Tomas Hvostik. The fifth nominee, Staff Sergeant Adrian Artimovic, could not attend the ceremony. As the Ambassador pointed out, Slovak soldiers in ISAF have established excellent relationship with the local citizens of Afghanistan, and have shown high professionalism and reliability in fulfilling their tasks. The honored members of the Slovak Armed Forces were on duty in 2010 in the last rotation of a joint Dutch-Slovak Training and Liaison Team operating in the Uruzgan province. ● Tactical military exercise STILL SUPPORT 2012 was held from June 11 to June 14 for the members of the NSE (National Support Element) for NRF 2013. The exercise took place at the military training area Turecký vrch and was led by Col. Jan Zarnovicky. ● Members of the Military Board of the Commander of Ground Forces met on June 15 to discuss current tasks assigned to the Ground Forces. The meeting, which comprised commanders of units and staff, was headed by the Commander of the Ground Forces, General Major Ján Salaganič. ● On June 15, 142 male and 7 female new professional soldiers graduated from the Training Battalion in Martin. During the ceremony, attended by the Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Peter Vojtek, military badges were awarded to the best soldiers excelling in the competition Best Soldier of the Training and Support Forces for the period 2006 - 2011.
(June 14) The Slovak Republic will deepen collaboration with the Czech Republic in defense. Such is the key message of a declaration signed in Prague by Ministers of Defense Martin Glváč and Alexandr Vondra. The goal is to use the available financial resources more effec‐ tively in building defense capabilities of both countries. Ministers of Defense have mandated the develop‐ ment of interoperability and compatibility of military capabilities of Slovak and Czech Armed Forces. In this regard both countries have pledged to select projects suitable for joint development and acquisition. Com‐ mon interests also cover airlift in deploying and sup‐ porting troops in international operations. Experts from both countries shall assess opportuni‐ ties for harmonizing requirements for procurement using the services of the NATO Agency for Maintenance and Support (NAMSA). Opportunities for cooperation could also be identified in the mutual exchange and sharing of service parts pertaining to equipment used by both sides. Slovak and Czech experts shall further assess the option of jointly procuring and storing ammunition. Cooperation of both countries should also intensify in the area of education and training. For example, stu‐ dents could take part in short‐term courses in areas where the other party enjoys a position of proven excellence or exclusiveness. Within the frame of train‐ ing, both countries could make available their simula‐ tors and other training equipment, as well as training facilities.
Open Doors at the MoD An OPEN DOORS DAY AT THE MOD will be held on June 23, 2012. Visitors will enjoy perfor‐ mances by the Armed Forces Military Band, children’s dance ensembles, eye‐catching dis‐ plays of Military Police activities, dog training, close quarters combat, weapon handling, a show by the Honor Guard and plenty of other activities to witness and participate in from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The atmosphere will be further enhanced by static displays of military equipment and hardware. Visitors will have a chance to meet the Minister in his office. Come join us for plenty of attractions and competi‐ tions for children and a tasty military goulash prepared on the spot!
Changing Guards in ISAF Following a briefing on activities performed by our soldiers operating at the Tarin Kowt military base and in the Uruzgan province more generally, a delegation of commanders of various units of the Slovak Armed Forces responsible for training headed by Colonel Karol Navrátil, Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade, moved on to Kandahar and inspected Slovak troops on the KAF base there. The Commander of the brigade, which is currently the largest in this military operation, was briefed in detail on progress achieved during the past 6 months by Slovak engineers of the Multi-
functional Engineering Company. The rotating company members are leaving their successors six new projects to work on in the upcoming months. Lt. Col. Miroslav Olle, commander of Slovakia’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) National Center was briefed on the activities of the members of the emergency EOD team participating in the CJTF PALADIN South group. The group’s Commander, Lt. Col. Charles Phillips, decorated members of our national EOD team with medals. th Soldiers from the 17 ISAF rotation will be awarded medals for service in the military operation on June 29, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. on the main town square in Michalovce.
Activating CBRN JAT - NRF 2012 (June 14) Chief of Operations of the General Staff Brig. Gen. Jindřich Joch activated designated Slovak Armed Forces specialists to the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Joint Assessment Team – (CBRN JAT) within the frame of
The CBRN JAT is a NATO quick-response team,
the Radiological, Chemical and Biological Protection
which provides expert consultancies to NATO
Battalion and members of the Hungarian
commanders upon request. The Armed Forces of
Forces. Certification focused on meeting the tasks of
the Slovak Republic as the lead nation of the
activation, preparedness for deployment and actual
CBRN JAT organized from June 14 – June 22,
deployment of CBRN JAT in operations anywhere in
2012 in Bratislava a joint certification of the
the world. Activities will culminate at the end of Sep-
CBRN JAT, which will comprise members of the
tember with the participation of a part of the CBRN
the NATO Response Force (NRF 2012), which
General Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces, the
JAT in the international exercise EADRCC –
enters stand-by from July 1 - December 31, 2012.
Land Forces Command, the Air Force Command,
GEORGIA 2012 in Tbilisi, Georgia.
eBULLETIN MO SR
June 11 – June 17, 2012
Armed