20.03.2022.

Future officers continue to achieve success in sports arenas

Extensive education in natural and social sciences and a number of optional subjects aim to improve the intellectual level of Military Grammar School students and prepare them for successful studies at the Military Academy. But unlike most civilian schools, the Military Grammar School devotes special attention to fostering physical culture. Military educational institutions encourage cadets and students to engage in various sports, and exceptionally gifted students are given the opportunity to do sports and take part in competitions at home and abroad.

Typical examples of that are Luka Babić, Uroš Antonić and Veljko Jovićić, the third-year Military Grammar School students who manage to have good grades, devote themselves to martial arts and at the same time achieve notable results in competitions.

Seventeen-year-old Luka, who was born in Pančevo, says that he has loved taekwondo since he was a child, and he especially likes the dynamics of the sport.

- When I was younger, I was interested in martial arts. I followed judo, karate, taekwondo. I liked taekwondo the most because of the graceful movements and it seemed interesting to me - said this student.

He manages to devote himself both to taekwondo and school. Luka explains that good organization is the key.

- Good organization is the key to being successful at sports, that is, to being able to go to competitions. Being a good student is a prerequisite for all that. I competed in national championships, and in October 2021, I took second place - he said, adding that in 2015 he was the first in the Balkans.

Luka does not intend to stop doing taekwondo, and he hopes that he will be able to secure a place in the Serbian national team, because, he says - anything is possible.

He enrolled in the Military Grammar School, wishing to one day become an officer, and realized that it was perfect for him. He enjoys life in the boarding school, because he has made a lot of good friends there, and with good organization, Luka adds - his free time "does not suffer". The Military Academy is an inevitable choice for him.

- I see myself in the special forces. I think I am ready for it and I can do it. I think that one must feel and want this. We acquire vast knowledge at the Military Grammar School, but we also mature very quickly. I spend more time with my peers and I think that is a great advantage of this school - he said.

On the other hand, his peer Uroš has been doing judo for 12 years, i.e. he took up the martial art when he was five.

The third-year Military Grammar School student, who was born in the area of Sremska Mitrovica, explains that the love for this sport runs in the family, since his closest family members also do judo.

- My mother used to win medals at important competitions and my father is a judo coach. Because of them, I took up this sport and I fell in love with it – says the seventeen-year-old.

He chose the Military Grammar School because he likes dynamic environments, and does not hide his love of uniform, and he is the first person in his family to decide to pursue this honourable profession. Uroš manages to keep a balance between good grades, free time and judo.

- It is not difficult to coordinate everything, because I am good at managing my time. I manage to fulfil all my school tasks and go to training sessions and competitions. Hard work is accompanied by success in school and out of school, but it is not hard to manage all that - Uroš explains.

He says that his greatest success so far is second place won in the state judo competition, but he is sure that he will participate in bigger competitions in Serbia. His desire is to secure a place in the military national team, but also in the civilian one.

What comes next, he says, is the Military Academy. He would like to become a pilot, and if that wish does not come true, he would like to be a member of the special forces or infantry. He also encourages all interested young people to apply for military schools.

- If they don't have a try, they will regret it ... The grammar school is different from other schools and it is a good indicator of success in life. They should give it a try - says Uroš.

Along with Luka and Uroš, Veljko has excellent grades in school and is successful at Jiu-Jitsu. He took fifth place at the World Cup in Bucharest. As a boy, he wanted to take up some martial art, and in the end, in addition to karate, he decided to take up Jiu-Jitsu.

He did not only want to be good at sports, but in the academic field as well, so that had a crucial role in his decision to apply for the Military Grammar School. He also liked the fact that he didn't have to give up his love for sports competitions. Although he has a lot of responsibilities in the Military Grammar School, he does not regret enrolling in the school, because with good organization he manages to keep balance between everything.

- I made some inquiries and learned that I would be able to continue competing and doing the sport I wanted, so it was an extra incentive. It's all a matter of organization. If you are well organized, if you have a plan on what you do, how and when you do it, everything can be achieved, both good grades and good results - says this seventeen-year-old from the Guča area.

He says that he is looking forward to applying for the Military Academy and that he will enrol in the Military Aviation programme of study, but that there are other programmes that interest him as well.

- I would like to be a member of a special brigade one day. I am drawn to the challenge of that career. The military is an elite part of society, and those brigades are an elite part of the armed forces - says Veljko.

If you wish to follow in the footsteps of Luka, Uroš and Veljko, all details regarding the Competition for enrolment in military schools are available at the following link: https://www.mod.gov.rs/cir/konkursi-za-upis-u-vojne-skole