16.09.2022.
Stefanović: The Greatest Interest in Armed Forces in Years
Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović PhD stated that the interest of young people in voluntary military service has increased, and that it marked its record in previous five or six years.
He stated it following the general rehearsal of the ceremonial promotion of new class of officers of the Serbian Armed Forces which is to take place tomorrow, in front of the National Assembly of Serbia.Then, 135 officers, cadets of the 142nd and 143rd classes of the Military Academy and the 8th Class of the Military Medical Academy Medical Faculty are going to be promoted. Among them, there are eight members of the Armed Forces of B&H, and one member of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Srpska.
The minister referred to the promotion ceremony as the feast for the eyes, and he pointed out that we will have an opportunity to see the ranks of new second lieutenants, the welcoming of the flag, welcoming of the President of the Republic, address by the best in the class and a rich cultural and artistic programme, and, if the weather allows, we will also see the flyby of our aviation, our aeroplanes and helicopters.
“That is, primarily, an opportunity for us to see those young people who have deserved with their knowledge, efforts and struggle to stand tomorrow in front of the citizens of Serbia. To the best in the class, the President of the Republic will present a pistol to each of them, which is the symbol of soldier’s honour, and a recognition for their work, because they are the best in their classes, the ones who have achieved the best results in the informatics, military health, the Army and Air Forces”, said Stefanović.
He added that the new officers took around 50 different exams and carried out from 8 to 20 various field tasks throughout their education.
“That is a very complex, arduous endeavour, so our second officers, the youngest officers of our armed forces had to work very hard to deserve those shoulder straps. But with that, they show that they deserve to entrust them with soldiers, to authorise them to command those soldiers and to always be there to defend our fatherland”, Stefanović said.
He underlined that the Ministry owes great gratitude to President Vučić who, according to the minister’s words, understands soldiers’ needs very well, and who approved 25% salary increase for soldiers.
“That is of immense importance because we show that we respect them and that we want to invest in people who are the greatest treasure that we have. We will continue investing in arms and equipment which have been considerably enhanced in last several years. Apart from the gratitude to the President and Government, I wish to thank all our members, who deserve credit for making our armed forces the best ranked force in the region”, said Stefanović.
He added that, earlier that day, he visited the barracks “Petar Bojić” in Leskovac where he attended the Oath taking ceremony of the new September class, and that new soldiers also took their oaths in barracks in Sombor and Valjevo.
“We have more soldiers than before, but today we compete in different circumstances. Our competition is our economy, and our country is stronger now, investors come to our country, open factories and companies, so it is much harder to attract the men”, Stefanović said.
He added that the armed forces strive to enable the young, high quality and competent people to find their place in the armed forces, whether they are medical doctors, engineers, IT experts, tankmen, artillery men.
“We have a diverse palette of professions which can satisfy the young people with good salaries and opportunities for professional advancement and acquisition of new knowledge and skills. I am looking forward to every new soldier who comes to our armed forces, and the majority of them plan to pursue their career as professional servicemen”, the minister stated.
TANJUG
