28.05.2021.
Minister Stefanović at promotion ceremony for new Air Force and Air Defence NCOs
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, attended the promotion ceremony for 89 new Air Force and Air Defence non-commissioned officers in the Guard Club today. Stefanović pointed out that this class would go down in history as the first to come from civilian life and that he was satisfied because these were young people with strong motivation.
This is the first class of the Air Force and Air Defence NCO Course students who are joining the ranks of a professional non-commissioned officer corps straight from civilian life, after passing the selection process and successfully completing a six-month air force equipment maintenance training in our training centres and units.– Your country and your armed forces expect a lot from you. Choosing a military career, not just any career, but the career of a non-commissioned officer, is not easy. Your job will be to maintain our aircraft and anti-aircraft systems. We all feel safe knowing that our Air Force and Air Defence is doing its job. Our Army knows that it can perform every task as long as the Air Force and Air Defence does what it needs to do, but neither can pilots fly, nor can air defence systems function, if you are not the best at your job - said Stefanović.
The Minister of Defence said he was pleased with the commitment and motivation shown so far by the participants in the said NCO Course, which he personally saw when he recently visited them in training in Batajnica.
– A job in the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces requires dedicated people who love their country above all else. This job is more than a profession. This is also a great opportunity for young people, because our country is economically stronger and we are able to procure the most modern systems and equipment, and we will continue to do so in the coming years - Stefanović said.The Minister emphasized that he did not doubt the young non-commissioned officers’ courage, patriotism and determination, and that he expected them to acquire new knowledge and skills in the coming period as well.
– The first six months are just the beginning and a good basis for everything you will hopefully show and learn in your work in the coming period. I expect you to make a great contribution to building even stronger Serbian Armed Forces, because only a strong military is a guarantee that our country will be strong, free and independent - Stefanović said.
The Minister symbolically presented watches to the best students in the class - Sergeants Dragana Gelić, Marko Ivanović and Ivana Stefanović.
In her address, Sergeant Dragana Gelić pointed out that the training had been difficult, but interesting and exciting.
In her address, Sergeant Dragana Gelić pointed out that the training had been difficult, but interesting and exciting.– Citizens have always been proud of their military, because the Serbian Armed Forces have always been and remain a part of their people - Gelić pointed out. Young sergeants, she added, were successful in the course and received their first ranks thanks to their instructors and commanding officers who generously shared their knowledge and experience with them.
The six-month training that preceded today's ceremony was organized and conducted by the Training Command, while the course programme was designed by the Air Force and Air Defence Command based on the needs for specific NCO specialties.
