Slovak Sands 2012
(August 12) The Slovak region of Záhorie witnessed the largest European display of historical military vehicles on sands. More than 600 collectors participated in staged battles featuring around 250 reconstructed military vehicles and guns. The event, organized by the Slovak Sands Association under the auspices of Defense Minister Martin Glváč, attracted some 5 000 visitors, addressed on the spot by the MoD State Secretary Miloš Koterec. “Military history enthusiasts from Austria, Germany, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Russia, Hungary and Slovakia came to join the fourth annual show, whether with their historical military vehicles or just in their historical uniforms. Slovak Sands have become a truly prestigious European event and I believe that with a little help from our partners, we will continue next year,” said Ľudovít Francl, the main organizer and the Chairman of the Slovak Sands Association, and the President of the Association of Slovak Historical Vehicles Collectors. On Saturday the laureates of the Best Reconstructed Military Motorcycle, Automobile and Armed Vehicle competition as well as the winner of the Best Military Camp competition were announced. The Prize of the Defense Minister in the Automobile category was awarded to Petr Plachecký from Liberec (Mack NO 6 vehicle made in U.S.A. and used in WWII). The winner of the Best Military Camp competition was the 1st Czechoslovak Armed Brigade at Dunquerqe. This year´s Slovak Sands were dedicated to Gen. Anton Petrák, a hero of the antifascist movement who would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year (see article below).
● On August 3, 2012 Lt. Col. Tibor Meliš was officially introduced in Trenčín as the new Chief of the Common Center for Material Management of the Operations Support Staff. Chief of the Operations Support Staff Brig. Gen. Juraj Krištofovič, who witnessed the ceremonial act, thanked the outgoing Col. Miloš Sopko and wished him success and energy in civilian life. Krištofovič also wished the new Chief a lot of courage in fulfilling the demanding tasks of the Center .
ISAF at the Palace (August 6) The President of the Slovak Republic and Supreme Commander of the Slovak Armed Forces Ivan Gašparovič invited Defense Minister Mar n Glváč to the Presiden al Palace to discuss defense issues, including a proposal to change the mandate of the Slovak troops in NATO’s ISAF opera on in Afghanistan. Minister Glváč also informed the President on a plan to provide Slovak troops to the over-the-horizon forces for the EUFOR ALTHEA opera on in Bosnia and Herzegovina from January 1 to December 31, 2013.
Yes We Can!
The Ministry of Defense has terminated the unprofitable Automobile Liability Insurance Framework Agreement executed by the previous MoD leadership. “We have signed an Agreement on the termina on of the said contract on August 7, 2012. Yes, we can save money by nego a on and transparent ac on,” said Minister Glváč at a press conference on Friday. Should the MoD fail to find a new partner for automobile liability insurance by the end of 2012, the Ministry has a plan B. “My predecessors argued that by making this case public, I have scored my own goal. Following our agreement with the Allianz insurance company, I proudly announce my inten on to shoot more such own goals and save taxpayers as much money as possible,” said Glváč. The overpriced Framework Agreement worth 9 million euros was signed by the former MoD leadership nine days a er the Parliamentary elec ons, on March 19, 2012. The contract contained overpriced liability insurance rates, and according to the condi ons set within, the MoD was not allowed either to reduce the rates, or to apply for bonuses. Moreover, the evalua on criterion “ me of delivery of services – se lement of claim in days“ set in the tender, was not included in the final dra of the contract.
eBULLETIN
● The MoD continues to provide internships for university students who are interested in defense issues. In the past four weeks Katarína Kertýsová interned with the Office of State Secretary Miloš Koterec. Kertýsová is a university graduate majoring in international relations and the French language at St. Andrews, Scotland. After the summer she will continue her studies at the School of International Affairs in Paris. One of the first university graduates - interns at the MoD was Mário Nicolini, the current advisor to the State Secretary; in 2000 he interned with the then Division of Integration and Security Policy. In the course of the last couple of years more than 30 graduates interned with the MoD. ● From 6 - 10 August, 2012 members of the September rotation of the Military Advisory Team for Battle Provision of Maintenance and Repair of D-30 howitzers (CSS MAT D-30) and the members of the December rotation of CSS MAT IV participated in a combat shooting exercise of the 3rd degree. At the Hronsek shooting range they honed their skills in using primary and secondary weapons before their actual deployment to the ISAF operation in Afghanistan. In September the Slovak Armed Forces will deploy under a new mandate approved by the Slovak Parliament a new contingent to the ISAF operation, which will support our Australian partners in mentoring the Afghan National Army troops in maintaining and repairing D-30 howitzers. In compliance with the operational order of the Training and Support Forces Commander, the training of this contingent is the sole responsibility of the Commander of the Training Battalion in Martin. ● Unconventional work has been ongoing at the Training Facility in Zemianské Kostoľany, where several pieces of old military equipment are decommissioned to become unique exhibits of the Military Historical Institute in Bratislava. Namely: the BRD M1 armed personnel carrier, the T-34/85 tank and the 85 mm Mark 44 anti-aircraft canon. ● The Vojenská osveta (Military Education) publication offers information in the area of education and tradition for a broad spectrum of professional soldiers, employees and social-science seminar leaders. The electronic version of this year’s second issue of Vojenská osveta can be found at: http://www.mil.sk/28254/vojenska-osveta-2/
Winds of Change (August 9) Last week the Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Peter Vojtek continued his field visits dedicated to informing professional soldiers on the envisioned changes in the military social security system. On Wednesday Vojtek visited the Sliač air base where he engaged soldiers in debate on ideas how to amend the Act on the Service of Professional Soldiers and the Act on Social Security of Policemen and Soldiers. The auditorium included troops from the Air Command, the Command, Management and Reconnaissance Brigade in Zvolen, the Sliač air base, and also the Zvolen garrison pensioners. On Thursday Vojtek discussed the matter with the professional soldiers of the Prešov helicopter wing. On August 9, Vojtek also visited the Rocket Command Unit in Rožňava. As he emphasized, the envisioned changes in the Act No. 346/2005 should significantly address the flaws, that have manifested themselves in everyday life in the course of the 7 past years.
A Vital Drop of Blood (August 8) Twenty blood donors, among them the Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Peter Vojtek, donated this most precious liquid during the annual Blood Drive event commemorating the Slovak National Uprising (SNP), organized in Čierny Potok in the Rimavská Sobota district. Lt. Gen. Vojtek is the possessor of Dr. Jánsky´s Plaque and has donated blood more than 40 times. Although the Čierny Potok municipality counts only 162 souls, this year's event is already the 7th in a row. This time it was dedicated to the memory of Brig. Gen. Imrich Gibala, the SNP participant who died on March 25, 2012 in Banská Bystrica.
Gen. Anton Petrák Lives in Our Hear ts
(August 10) Commemorating the 100th anniversary Museum in Bratislava. In October a book entitled of the birth of Gen. Anton Petrák a plaque dedicated Englander dedicated to Anton Petrák will be pubto this war hero was unveiled in downtown Bratisla- lished. Gen. Petrák died on February 7, 2009. va. The Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Peter Vojtek addressed the gathered crowd. Gen. Anton Petrák is the only Slovak citizen to have been awarded the Order of the British Emperor. In 1996 Petrák was honored for his activities as a member of the Czechoslovak Exile Army in Great Britain. The commemorative plaque should also remind people of the pain that Petrák suffered during the reign of the Communist regime. He was convicted in staged political processes and jailed for five years. A permanent exhibition devoted to the memory of Gen. Anton Petrák will be opened in the Historical
MoD
August 6 - 12, 2012