New challenges from Trenčín (2 September) The exhibition premises of JSC EXPO Centre, hosted the 3rd International NATO EOD Demonstrations and Trials 2014 event on 30 September – 2 October in Trenčín. Bringing together 44 exhibitors from 16 countries, the exhibition, organized by the Trenčín-based International Centre of Excellence for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (COE EOD), is held biannually and serves as a joint platform for companies, research and development institutions, and training centres to showcase their line of EOD solutions. For the professional community and the defence industry experts, it was a demonstration of the latest technological advances in the field of ordnance detection and disposal. Supported by the NATO Division for New Security Threats, the Trenčínbased exhibition together with its side events, which covered a series of seminars and conferences, is an illustrative example of multinational co-operation in an effort to deliver interoperability. ● On 29 – 30 September, the State Secretary Miloš Koterec made a visit to Latvia and Lithuania. He met with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia Janis Sarts and Vice Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania Marijus Velička. They confirmed their commitment to intensify bilateral relations, namely in the field of education, training and modernization of the armed forces, as well as in the field of cooperation of national defence industry facilities. During the visit of the State Secretary, the NATO Centre of Excellence for the strategic communication was officially opened in Riga.
Congratulations to Mr. Stoltenberg (1 October) SVK Minister of Defence Mar n Glváč congratulated to the former Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, upon his assump on of du es as NATO Secretary General. “In your highly responsible mission, I wish you much success in performing your du es that this significant appointment brings with itself in today´s complicated interna onal situa on. I believe that together we will succeed in implemen ng the crucial decisions of the Wales Summit so as to facilitate the adjustment of the Alliance to the changed reality and work towards the stabiliza on of the security situa on along its borders,” stated the Minister. Earlier this May, Mar n Glváč met with Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, the then NATO Secretary General Elect, during his official visit to Norway. Jens Stoltenberg has succeeded Anders Fogh Rasmussen a er his more than a five-year term of office as NATO Secretary General.
BSA and SOFA welcomed (30 September) The signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) between the United States and Afghanistan, which establishes the legal framework for the launch of a new mission in Afghanistan as early as next year, and the signing of NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) have been hailed as posi ve developments. The adop on of the agreements is the key to launching a new NATO non-combat mission a er 2014, with Slovakia, too, set to join the ini a ve. “At the NATO Wales Summit we declared that we remain commi ed to helping Afghanistan and will join NATO's Opera on Resolute Support as soon as all the formal steps have been taken,” said SVK Minister of Defence Mar n Glváč. As part of the new mission, up to 66 SVK Armed Forces members are expected to deploy on opera ons in Afghanistan on a 6-month rota onal basis. “This will depend on the realis c requirements and the approval of the mission mandate by the SVK Na onal Council,” emphasized the Minister. Under the new NATO noncombat mission arrangements, our troops will be tasked with mentoring and suppor ng the Afghan Naonal Security Forces (ANSF).
● By taking military oath and by a graduation ceremony, 155 new professional soldiers completed their preparation for the service in the SVK Armed Forces on 3 October in the Training battalion based in Martin. The graduation ceremony was held in the presence of the 2 Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces Maj Gen Pavel Macko, SVK Land Forces Commander Brig Gen Ondřej Novosad, Chief NCO of the SVK Armed Forces Sergeant Major Vladimír Beluš, commanding noncommissioned officers from the operational HQs and other guests. The best graduate award went to 1st Degree Private Martin Daniel from the Armed Forces Academy of Gen M. R. Štefánik in Liptovský Mikuláš. ● On 1 October, Col Štefan Blahušiak was appointed Director of the Language Institute and Maj Ľubomír Šteiner was appointed to the position of Head of the Teaching Division – Deputy Director. The personnel orders of the SVK Armed Forces’ Personnel Office Director were announced in the presence of Chief of the Personnel Management Division of the Operations Support Staff of the GS AF SR Col Maroš Brláš, the SVK Armed Forces’Personnel Office Director Col Ivan Sálaši, members of the Language Institute and participants of the language courses in Liptovský Mikuláš. Col Ing. Patrik Adamec received acknowledgement for the job well-done in the position of Director of the Language Institute in 2011 – 2014. ● The CBRN “Toxic Valley 2014” exercise of the chemical, biological and radiological defence specialists was held from 21 to 26 September. In the exercise took part nearly 120 training participants and observers from 7 NATO countries, CBRN CoE Vyškov, EOD CoE Trenčín and representatives of the National Crime Agency of the SVK Ministry of the Interior. The sampling teams got the opportunity to compare their standard operational procedures. Commanders of the teams involved as well as the observers from the Indiana National Guard, USA, expressed maximum satisfaction with the level of the training and with the conditions and possibilities offered by the CBRN Training and Testing Centre. ● On 26 September, the 7th annual shooting competition was held in the garrison training area and a firing range Ruská Nová Ves. Besides the Challenge Cup of a Commander of the 2nd mechanized brigade, a journalists’ competition was organized, called Bull’s-eye. 17 teams of three competed in shooting disciplines using short and long rifles. The team of the 22nd mechanized battalion Michalovce ended first. Among the journalists, it was Renáta Cenková who notched up an overwhelming success.
Tribute to RAF pilots
(2 September) A remembrance ceremony was held in Čunovo to pay tribute to the ultimate sacrifice of the crew members of Wellington bomber MF 458 'A' of the 40th squadron of the Royal Air Force which was shot down 70 years ago, on 5 October 1944. The ceremony was graced with the presence of Lt Gen Milan Maxim, Chief of the General Staff of the SVK Armed Forces; Andy Garth, British Ambassador; Col Andrew Shepherd, UK Defence Attaché and the representatives of the defence department, military attaches and relatives of the 5 members of the crew. The newly appointed British Ambassador Andy Garth expressed his acknowledgement to the Slovak Department of Defence for a dignified course of the ceremony, with the Guard of Honour of the SVK Armed Forces contributing to the solemn atmosphere, as well as the military music band and a fly-past of L410 aircraft of the Slovak Air Force.
Military Police Conference
On 23 – 25 September, the Annual NATO Military Police Chiefs Conference (MPCC) was held in Berlin, with the aim to evaluate the activities organized in the past year and to develop a plan of further cooperation. The Conference saw 47 representatives of military police from 27 NATO and PfP countries and 15 members of military police operating in NATO structures. Slovakia was represented by Director of Military Police Col Milan Hamar and Head of the Training Section of the Training and Cynology Division Vlkanová – Hronsek Capt Pavol Sálus. At the conference, the activities of the multinational MP battalion (MNMPBAT) were presented and the intention to create a task force on the level of brigade was declared. A remarkable progress was achieved in the field of creating and endorsing doctrines for the MP activities in a multinational environment. At the end of the conference, Commander of the Canadian MP and Chair of MPCC Col Timothy Grubb expressed his acknowledgement to all who have contributed to the development of the international Military Police community during his 3-year term as Chairman.
Air Force Exercise MACE XVI under NATO flag in Slovakia
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(29 September) Breaking through the air defences by tactical aviation engagements and air combat operations involving fighter aircraft were among the operational assignments undertaken by 660 troops from 14 NATO and 2 Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries at what was the largest international exercise to have been held on our territory. The exercise tested the joint procedures for planning and engaging tactical aviation in breaking through the air defences, combined with electronic jamming operations. “It’s not only about pilot training and flight skills but also about air defence. I believe this is another proof that we are able to host large-scale exercises and thus participate in international structures,” said Minister of Defence Martin Glváč. The entire fleet of aircraft was supported by Sliač Airbase.
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The command component, where all the situational developments were being updated, was located in Zvolen, and ground equipment was deployed at the Lešť Training Area. The main focus of the exercise was to break through the adversary’s air defences while employing fighter aircraft from NATO countries and aircraft with jammers on board. Apart from the aircraft in service with the SVK Air Force, Exercise MACE XVI saw a great line-up of aircraft operating together, including F-16 jet fighters (Belgium, Denmark, Norway), DA-20 Falcons (Norway), Learjet 40s (Germany), RAFALEs (France), Gripens (Sweden), EA 18Gs (USA), C 130Js (Denmark) and Typhoons (Spain). Slovakia has so far hosted the MACE exercise series twice, first time in 2012 and now in 2014.
September 29 - October 5, 2014