16.12.2016.
December class of soldiers took the oath
The first generation of soldiers who do voluntary military service according to a new six-month-long model took the oath today in three training centres of the Serbian Armed forces.
In the 3rd Training Centre in Leskovac the oath was taken by 98 soldiers including 10 women.
Congratulating the soldiers and their families, Defence Minister Zoran Djordevic said that a military uniform is deeply instiled in the tradition of our nation.
“By this act you have accepted an honourable challenge to step into in the military line and be the pride of Serbia”, Djordjevic stressed.
He said that Serbia faces today complex relations in the sphere of national, regional and global security.
“Facing these challenges, the members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces work in order to enable our citizens to build their future in security and peace”, Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic emphasized.
According to a new concept, voluntary military service will last six months, and boys and girls will spend the first three months doing the basic training in training centres whereas the other part of military service will include collective training in units of the Serbian Armed Forces.
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The Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic with associates attended the ceremony on the occasion of taking the military oath in the barracks “Aerodrom” in Sombor.
The oath was taken by 140 soldiers on voluntary military service, and the ceremony in the barracks in Sombor was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, local authorities, the Ministry of Interior, religious communities and friends.
“This military line in Sombor and the same ones in the centres in Valjevo and Leskovac, are clear proof that the citizens of Serbia love their Army, the young people appreciate the challenges of a military profession and a military uniform is deeply instiled in the tradition of our nation”, General Dikovic stressed.
Addressing the youngest generation of soldiers, Chief of General Staff emphasized that they have taken a solemn oath to their country in front of Serbian flag and their parents, friends, officers, sending the message they should be proud of taken oath and carry it in their hearts forever. Furthermore, he stressed that there will always be place for those among them who, after the completion of military service, would like to become professional soldiers.
In 2nd Training Centre in Valjevo the military oath was taken by 111 soldiers including 21 women. Taking the oath ceremony was attended by State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Nenad Neric, Serbian Armed Forces Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic, representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Serbian Orthodox Church, local authorities, relatives and friends of soldiers.
Congratulating the young soldiers on taken oath, General Draganic told them that the memory of this day will always fill them with pride because they have accepted an honourable duty to serve in the military line. Deputy Chief of General Staff stressed that the Serbian Armed Forces are expected to be substantially equipped and modernized.
“Due to the good results that the state has achieved in the economic sphere in 2016 and according to the assessments and decisions of the Government, the process of substantial equipping and modernization of the Serbian Armed Forces has started, whose results in the improvement of operational capabilities of our Army will be visible in 2017. Thus, we follow the way of our famous ancestors and predecessors, ready, with our heads held high to build the common future”, General Draganic added.
