02.02.2022.
Minister Stefanović visits Air Force and Air Defence NCO Course students
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, visited today the Air Force and Air Defence Non-Commissioned Officers Course students (2nd Class), who are in camp at the "Peskovi" military complex. He told future NCOs that they will be working with new, modern equipment that our armed forces have today, thanks to a strong Serbia led by President Aleksandar Vučić.
After conducting a live fire drill at the "Peskovi" range, where their tactical and fire capabilities were assessed, the course participants talked to Minister Stefanović about the challenges they faced during the training, their impressions about the training, and expectations about their future career in the Serbian Armed Forces.- This is the second generation of NCO Course participants who come from civilian life, and everything we have seen today shows that that this new generation is undergoing serious preparations for important command duties in our armed forces. This class consists of 76 young people, who will be assigned to the Air Force and Air Defence units, and I am glad that they are fully motivated, happy, that they know exactly what they want in their careers and what they expect from our armed forces - said Minister Stefanović.
The Minister of Defence is pleased with the fact that course participants can receive basic military training on the Serbian Armed Forces training grounds, and then undergo specialist training for the roles they will be performing.
- They are preparing for the new equipment and everything that our armed forces are able to buy today, thanks to Serbia’s strength - new radars, new air defence systems and all those systems that they will be carrying out maintenance on once they start working. Of course, they will have the opportunity to apply for new training courses from day one, and they should take that opportunity in order to become as competent, as good as possible, and increase their knowledge and thus be able to provide full support and contribution to their units, their armed forces and of course to Serbia - said Minister Stefanović. He also thanked the members of the Training Command for working so hard to teach these young people everything they need to know.Noting that the course participants will be promoted to non-commissioned officers by mid-year, Minister Stefanović also said he was pleased that they would start performing their first duties with increased salaries.
- The January pay rise for members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces is the third increase in a year and a few months. It is also the largest increase in the public sector and I would like to thank President Vučić for understanding how important it is for our militaries to be well paid and for us to move in that direction, investing not only in technology and equipment, which of course we do, but also in the people whom we want to pay well and train well - said Minister Stefanović.
The Minister of Defence was welcomed today at the military training ground by the Chief of Staff of the Training Command, Brigadier General Muharem Fazlić, and was briefed about the main tasks and activities undertaken at the training ground by Lieutenant Colonel Saša Puač, the Deputy Commander of the "Sergeant Milunka Savić" NCO Training Centre.The Air Force and Air Defence NCO Course lasts six months and includes two basic modules, a specialist module and an internship module. Candidates who successfully complete all modules will be promoted to the rank of sergeant and become professional members of the Air Force and Air Defence.
Open competition for the third class was published yesterday, and candidates can submit applications until the beginning of March. (Open competition for the admission into professional military service as non-commissioned officers on permanent basis)
