28.02.2022.
Ministers Stefanović and Vulin sign pilot training agreement
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, and Minister of the Interior Aleksandar Vulin have signed a Pilot Training Agreement for the needs of the Ministry of the Interior. Future police pilots will be trained at the Military Academy, within the Military Aviation program of study.
After the signing of the agreement, Minister Stefanović said that this was another confirmation of close cooperation between the two ministries.- It is important that we view the country's defence system as a whole and that we use our resources in such a way that the citizens of Serbia benefit the most.
Everything we have done together in this and previous mandates, regarding the procurement of helicopters and aircraft, modernization of our fleets, yields results and, given the times we live in, these assets owned by our military and police are of great importance for the defence of our country, the training of our personnel and for providing assistance to the citizens in various situations - said Minister Stefanović.
According to him, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior employ excellent pilots, who deserve support and additional training, as well as the procurement of new equipment, and the government has the funds to provide that.
- As Minister Vulin said, in addition to the procurement of modern aircraft, we also need to train a large number of young people as helicopter and aircraft pilots. Today, they have the opportunity to fly helicopters such as the H-145, but there are also Super Cougars that the Ministry of the Interior will be provided with. And that is why we have to think about continued training and professional development - said Stefanović.
He thanked the Ministry of the Interior for deciding to educate its future pilots at the Military Academy.- This shows our joint decision to make this the centre of knowledge for our entire defence system, but it is also important because, in practice, our two ministries carry out joint activities and projects. In this way, we show that we stand together when it comes to the country's security - said Stefanović, adding that the Ministry of Defence would do its best to be the perfect host and provide future Ministry of the Interior pilots with the best possible education.
Minister Vulin said that the military education system is undoubtedly the most prestigious education system in our country.
- It’s been a long time since we have equated private and public education, but what military education offers and what it gives to its students and the country cannot be found in any other educational system. That is why I am very proud that the Ministry of the Interior is establishing necessary cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, with the military education system, because this is the most certain way for the Ministry of the Interior to get quality pilots and the best trained pilots in this country, and beyond - said Minister Vulin.
He is proud of that possibility and the long-term thinking.
- In times of trouble, we all become armed forces and there is no difference between a military and a police pilot, just as there is no difference between a military and a police helicopter. When our country is in a difficult situation, and we live in a world where we can never rule out such a possibility, we must all become one. The police pilot training in military institutions guarantees that, if the need arises, there will be one force, under one command, wearing the same insignia and following the same procedures - said Minister Vulin.
He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Defence and the Minister of Defence for helping the Ministry of the Interior address its needs, because the whole world is struggling to find and retain quality personnel.- It will be easier for us to buy helicopters and procure equipment than to educate or find new people. This is a way for us to educate and find people and to be sure that the needs of the Ministry of the Interior will be met - said Minister Vulin.
The signing of the agreement in the "Vojvoda Radomir Putnik” National Defence School’s lecture hall was attended by State Secretary Branko Živanović, Assistant Minister of Defence for Human Resources Katarina Tomašević, Rector of the Defence University, Lieutenant General Goran Radovanović, PhD, Head of the National Defence School, Colonel Mićo Suvajac, Commandant of the Military Academy, Colonel Srđan Blagojević, PhD, and the Ministry of the Interior delegation, consisting of the Secretary of the Ministry Zoran Lazić, Assistant Minister - Head of the Human Resources Sector Vladimir Ilić, Assistant Police Director Dragan Vasiljević and Helicopter Unit Commander Nenad Nedić.
