17.07.2020.
Celebration on the Occasion of Completion of Command and Staff Course of Officers of 66th Class
Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin attended celebration on the occasion of completion of education for the officers of the 66th class of Command and Staff Course of the National Defence School which was held at the Military Academy today.
Addressing the attenders of the 66th class of Command and Staff Course, Minister Vulin pointed out that in hard and most difficult times the Serbian people had always relied and turned to itself, but “whatever the times and whatever the generation that faces those times, that generation always offers the same response both to their forefathers and their descendants – fight for survival and freedom”.- That is why the Serbian people in such days can rely on their armed forces and the people who make them – said the minister of defence.
As he emphasised, owing to persistence and stubbornness of Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić, these armed forces are better equipped and better rewarded, better armed and secured, and more modern, but “these are the armed forces which above all cherish the values which have always made them great and made them glorious”.
- That is why in these difficult days, this people can rely on them. We do not question which enemy threatens us, but we ask what we need to do to protect our country, our people and our freedom. As militarily neutral, we choose our friends and we choose them according to their merit and virtue, not according to anyone’s order. This right was won by this generation and it will not cede that right to anybody and at no cost. A soldier of the Serbian Armed Forces, an officer of the Serbian Armed Forces is always there for his people, to help, to sacrifice himself, to do even more than the service or any order asks of him. He is there, not because he is employed in one of the institutions of the state of Serbia, but because the life calling, which is called “to serve in the Serbian Armed Forces” is the reason of his existence and his pride in front of the future generations – Minister Vulin underscored.
He expressed his gratitude to the attenders of the 66th class on their results, patience and perseverance and he noted that a lot was expected from them.- It is expected that you continue being like you have been, but even better, and to transfer the values, which made you worthy of being chosen to be here today, to your subordinates, colleagues and associates, and to transfer them to your daughters and sons as well so that they become just like you – and even better. I would like to thank your families for having been there for you – stated Minister Vulin, adding that he expected that the years that they would give would be only better and more successful, so that they would earn a grateful memory of their descendants.
Upon decision of President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, at today’s ceremony, three first ranking officers at the Command and Staff Course received ceremonial daggers from Minister Vulin, while Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces General Milan Mojsilović presented the parade daggers to the officers of foreign armed forces.
Reflecting on the history and importance of that school in the system of military education, Head of National Defence School Colonel Mićo Suvajac, speaking about this class of CSC, highlighted that 66 officers of the Serbian Armed Forces completed the Course, and five from Bosnia and Herzegovina and one from Algerian Armed Forces.
- Today, we can say that we have trained them to command tactical units, observe and resolve problems, organise work in commands of tactical and operational level on preparation, organisation and execution of missions and tasks of the armed forces – Colonel Suvajac stressed, adding that they were armed with knowledge and skills in the fields of tactics, operational art and military strategy, logistics and that they are familiar with modern systems and arms.- Through 13 subjects and production of a thesis, we have tried to prepare them as well as possible for the duties that await them. Owing to their mutual acquaintance, they will even tomorrow be able to more quickly and more efficiently achieve synergy and cooperation in time and space. I take this opportunity to thank all those who participated in the realisation of this scientific and educational process and assisted in its quality execution, especially the units in the field – Colonel Suvajac emphasised.
The first ranking officer of the 66th class of Command and Staff Course is Major Danilo Zlatković, the second ranking is Major Vladimir Božović, and the third ranking officer is Colonel Petar Čestić from Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to Major Danilo Zlatković, who addressed the present on behind of the attenders of the 66th class, the Command and Staff Course represents a turning point in the career of an officer, and it gives it quality, offers specialised knowledge and skills, and provides an advantage necessary for successful command.
- I would emphasise that being sent to this level of professional advancement represents a great recognition of our previous work, and extreme responsibility and obligation to perform our tasks in the future in an even more dedicated, successful and better fashion. Achieved excellent result during our professional advancement points to the fact that we, attenders of the 66th class, have justified the epithet of the chosen ones, and that we have justified the confidence given to us, and that we have used the advancement in the best way possible – stated Major Zlatković.
The third ranking officer of the Course, member of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina Colonel Petar Čestić also has good impressions of the professional advancement, and he pointed out that it was an opportunity to exchange experiences, advance skills, and prepare for the most complex obligations that their career entail.- I would like to thank all representatives of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces for their professional relation and hospitality – stated Colonel Čestić.
Today’s ceremony was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, University of Defence, diplomatic corps and the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Command and Staff Course represents the second level of professional advancement of officers. It is organised and carried out through regular classes and lasts for one academic year.
