100 members of armored-mechanized guards brigade depart for NATO mission in Poland

In conjunction with NATO’s Forward Presence mission, 100 members of an armored-mechanized guards brigade (2. HRVCON eFP ) departed for the Republic of Poland today.

The send-off ceremony at the barracks of the 5th Guards Brigade “Slavonian Hawks” in Vinkovci was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Damir Krstičević as well as the Croatian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff, General Mirko Šundov.  

“The Croatian military must be permeated with symbols and values from the Homeland War, which is the foundation of the modern Croatian state and Croatian veterans are the cornerstone,” said Minister of Defence Damir Krstičević. He added that in the years following the Homeland War “by discontinuing material rights, guard duty bonuses, bonuses for work on the terrain and neglecting the system” an erosion of the victorious spirit of the Croatian military was allowed.

“A direct consequence of those measures was a decreased interest of our youth in the military,” said Krstičević and pointed out that slowly soldiers are regaining material rights that were taken from them.

According to the minister once soldiers complete a two year contract they will be offered contracts for an undetermined amount of time. Furthermore, the military is being returned to cities, which, he said, is their place, and by the end of the year members of the legendary Pumas brigade will be returned to Varaždin while a company of marine specialist infantry will be organized in Ploče.

Krstičević also mentioned the purchase of F-16 fighter planes from Israel, saying that it is a historic decision by the government.

“Our dream is that in the year 2020, when we chair the European Union for the first time and celebrate 25 years since the “Storm” military-police operation, we will see the first two planes  in the Croatian sky in the hands of Croatian pilots, then six more planes in 2021 and the year after that another four,” he said, adding that the decision to purchase the planes demonstrates the responsibility of the government towards future generations and it has a significance for Croatian society on the whole. He said that this does not only mean a gain for security and defence, but also opening the door to intensifying economic, scientific and strategic cooperation with Israel.

Croatian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff, General Mirko Šundov, said that the aim of the departure of the 2nd Croatian contingent to Poland is to strengthen collective deterrence and defence on the eastern wing of the NATO alliance.

“The strengthened forward presence of NATO confirms and demonstrates the unity of member states and the strong trans-Atlantic connection,” said General Šundov, adding that with its participation in these activities, the Republic of Croatia is confirming its solidarity toward partners and proving itself to be a reliable member of the alliance dedicated toward mutual goals.

The occasion was also used to mark the 11th anniversary since the organization of armored mechanized guards brigades. Wreaths were laid at the monument to members of the 5th Guards Brigade that gave their lives during the Homeland War. At the chapel within the base, military chaplain Marko Medo served mass and blessed the cornerstone that was laid for a new chapel at the end of the ceremonies. Awards, citations and promotions were presented while within the base a tactical technical exhibit of weapons and equipment was on display.

Attending the ceremonies were family members of soldiers departing for the mission in Poland as well as representatives of local government led by Vukovar-Srijem County prefect Božo Galić.

Source: HRT