23.08.2024.

Ceremony to mark admission of 183 non-commissioned officers to professional military service

Today, Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić attended a ceremony held in the “Field Marshal Živojin Mišić” barracks in Valjevo, to mark the admission of new non-commissioned officers to professional military service. The newly-admitted NCOs are the 23rd class of candidates who have completed the Basic NCO Course and the first class of graduates who have completed the Non-Commissioned Officer Course for civilian candidates. Deputy Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff Lt. Gen. Želimir Glišović was also in attendance at the ceremony.

A total of 183 candidates have been admitted to professional military service as non-commissioned officers with the rank of sergeant.

Minister Gašić addressed the audience saying that he was proud and satisfied to be standing in front of a formation of new non-commissioned officers of the Serbian Armed Forces, because he could see on their faces that they were determined and conscientious people who had chosen the most honourable calling - serving their country.

- Many of you have joined the military as professional soldiers to prove to your superiors your professionalism and readiness to become leaders of the Serbian Armed Forces over many years of great effort, work and commitment. First, you successfully completed the Leadership Course, and then, having proven yourselves further, you earned your place in the 23rd class of the Basic NCO Course. Your becoming sergeants is a reward for everything you have accomplished so far. Among you are also the first class of graduates who have completed the Non-Commissioned Officers Course for civilian candidates. Driven by the desire to become part of the bulwark of Serbia's defence and to be given the honourable title of leader, you have risen to the challenges of intensive training and earned your first ranks - emphasized the Minister of Defence.

Addressing the NCOs standing in formation, he emphasized that by now they “must have heard many times that they are the backbone of our military” and said that “this is the truth that they should repeat to themselves every day”.

- You are not only the backbone but also the foundation of the defence system. Soldiers’ discipline and motivation depends on you. Individual training rests upon your knowledge and skills. And that is why you must be a support to your superiors and a role-model to your subordinates at all times. Your knowledge, behaviour, appearance and attitude will be a standard for every soldier who sets his or her eyes on you. Therefore, your standards should be high because that is the only way for our military to get better and stronger - emphasized Minister Gašić, adding that they are being awarded their first NCO ranks at a time when so much more is being invested in the Serbian Armed Forces than in decades before, because new weapons and equipment are being acquired, investments are being made in the infrastructure and efforts are being made to improve our service members’ living standards as much as possible.

Minister Gašić told the new NCOs that their task, in addition to doing their job conscientiously and professionally, would also be to continuously improve themselves.

- Refresh, extend and broaden your knowledge. Increase your proficiency levels and hone your leadership skills. May the patriotism and heroism of outstanding military leaders and non-commissioned officers in Serbian history always inspire, encourage and strengthen you in all military and life situations, so that you can uphold the honour and reputation of the Serbian NCO corps and fulfil all your tasks responsibly. Dear families, relatives and friends of our sergeants, you have plenty of reasons to be happy and proud today. I am sincerely happy for you and grateful for the support you have provided to these young people in their careers so far and during their training. I know how important it has been and will be for them in their future service – said Minister Gašić and expressed his hope that the new NCOs’ memory of today would never fade.

After reading the orders promoting the new NCOs to the rank of sergeant, Minister Gašić presented awards to the three top-ranking graduates of the Basic NCO Course – the best in class Sergeant Petar Bošković, the second best Sergeant Slobodan Đorđević and the third best - Sergeant Marko Todorović. The Minister of Defence also presented awards to the top three graduates of the Non-Commissioned Course for civilian candidates - sergeants Vladimir Davidović, Brankica Ristić and Milica Milojević.

Addressing the audience on behalf of the 23rd class of the Basic NCO Course candidates and on behalf of the first class of graduates who have completed the Non-Commissioned Officer Course for civilian candidates, Sergeant Bošković, the best in class, said that with joint effort, commitment, great desire and love for the homeland they had managed to overcame various challenges during the course of their training so that today they would stand with dignity, holding their heads high.

- Serbia is a country of wonderful culture, glorious history, honourable past, brave and proud people. We, our country’s youngest non-commissioned officers, have developed and strengthened by learning, we have pushed our limits and striven to be better every day. For us, this is not just a ceremony, but taking responsibility for improving ourselves in our future work. The most beautiful, but also the most difficult part is yet to come. New challenges, tasks and responsibilities, new obstacles, tests and assessments, new successes, small and big victories await us. We promise that we will perform our new duties honourably and responsibly, as only non-commissioned officers of the Serbian Armed Forces know how - said Sergeant Bošković.

At the end of today's ceremony the new non-commissioned officers of the Serbian Armed Forces held a parade and a cultural and artistic programme was performed.

The ceremony was attended by the Commander of the Training Command, Major General Zoran Nasković – the commander of the ceremony, the Deputy Army Commander, Major General Zoran Dragićević, the Head of the Operations Department, General Staff, Major General Tiosav Janković, the Head of the Development and Equipping Department, General Staff, Brigadier General Milan Popović, the Commander of the 250th Air Defence Missile Brigade, Brigadier General Novica Gogić, Sergeant Major of the Serbian Armed Forces Nenad Stević, Bishop Isihije of Valjevo, members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, representatives of the local self-government, companies and families and friends of the newly promoted non-commissioned officers of the Serbian Armed Forces.

According to the commander of the “Sergeant Milunka Savić” NCO Training Centre, Colonel Predrag Vasović, several thousand trainees - professional soldiers and civilian candidates – have been trained in that centre.

- At today's ceremony, non-commissioned officers, who had successfully completed several months’ training in the Serbian Armed Forces’ training centres and units, were promoted. The new non-commissioned officers report to the duties they have applied for, that is, they have been trained for, as early as Monday - says Colonel Vasović.

Sergeant Vladimir Davidović, who has finished the Non-Commissioned Officer Course for civilian candidates top of the class, says that he wants to serve Serbia and further his career.

- Being a non-commissioned officer is an honourable and noble job in the Serbian Armed Forces. I am satisfied with the experience and training I have received, I have beautiful memories and I have made wonderful friendships for life - stressed Sergeant Davidović.

Sergeant Brankica Ristić, the second best among graduates of the Non-Commissioned Officer Course for civilian candidates, says that she applied for the said course because “it is a great honour to be an NCO of the Serbian Armed Forces”.

- Apart from that, there are numerous benefits that this profession offers, such as a secure and stable job. The course was very dynamic, it had both difficult and beautiful moments, but in the end it has all paid off - said Sergeant Ristić.