25.05.2023.
Candidates for admission to Special Forces as part of Project 5,000 take oath of enlistment
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević attended today the oath of enlistment ceremony for prospective candidates for admission to Special Forces as part of Project 5,000, held at the "Field Marshal Živojin Mišić" barracks in Valjevo. The ceremony included prospective candidates for admission to the 63rd Parachute Brigade, 72nd Special Operations Brigade and Special Purpose Military Police Detachment "Kobre" who have not performed military service under arms before.
Minister Vučević congratulated the candidates, saying that their oath-taking ceremony was special and unique in many ways.- This city has never before seen such a large number of selected young men and women gathered together, fit not only for military service, but for serving in the Serbian Special Forces, in units that require the highest degree of psychological and physical preparedness and motivation for carrying out military tasks. Today's ceremony will go down in history, as it marks the beginning of the project that will increase the number of our Special Forces to 5,000 members. This project has enormous significance for the security of the Republic of Serbia and all its citizens - said Minister Vučević, adding that we are all witnesses of the difficult times we live in.
According to him, being able to respond to contemporary security challenges and threats requires significant investments in weapons and military equipment and large steps have been made in that regard over the past few years. It also requires highly trained, skilful, capable, motivated and brave professional soldiers, and above all, it requires superb special units, which is the next priority task for the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces.
- By the decision of Commander in Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces, President Aleksandar Vučić, in this way we are forming the striking force of our armed forces, the best trained and best equipped elite units. Future Special Forces, don’t forget that you are joining what we rightfully call the strongest, most elite part of the Serbian Armed Forces, units that have won glory and many victories, but have also lost a large number of members in the struggle for the freedom of our homeland - said Minister Vučević.The Minister of Defence said that it was with great respect and pride that he was standing today in front of the formation of chosen young patriots, determined to put their strength and ability, strong will and character at the service of the Serbian Armed Forces and their homeland, serving as professional soldiers.
- You have translated your love of the homeland into the most honourable profession, serving your country. I am grateful to your families for raising you in such a spirit - the spirit of love for your neighbour, your family, your origins, your motherland, Serbia, and all its citizens. From now on, military discipline and top training will be added to your moral strength and psycho-physical readiness. As a 19th century Serbian general, Jovan Mišković, once said - only patriotism coupled with discipline can carry out any honourable, yet difficult task. Indeed, honourable and difficult military tasks await you, and I hope you will carry them out in peace. If any nation knows the value of peace, it is our freedom-loving nation. Be the guardians of our national peace always and everywhere, strengthen our people with your noble virtues - said the Minister of Defence.
Minister Vučević described the history of the Serbian Special Forces as long and glorious and told the candidates to be worthy followers of their ancestors’ tradition and worthy successors to the name and uniform of the Serbian soldier.- Be proud of your status as members of Special Forces. Be who you are and protect Serbia. Our heroes in heaven, but also our future generations are looking at you. You are standing here today because you have been selected based on your qualities so that you can be classified as modern Serbian knights. Only Serbia can provide people like you. Only the spirit of God can create such hearts. Serbian knights, may the names you have signed on your oaths be remembered. We are responsible to Serbia, and obligated to protect its freedom. And Serbia remembers and respects its best sons and daughters. That is our promise to you today. Long live the Serbian Armed Forces! Long live Serbia - Minister Vučević said.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, Lieutenant General Petar Cvetković, Commander of the 72nd Special Operations Brigade, Brigadier General Miroslav Talijan, who was also the officer commanding the ceremony, Deputy Commander of the 63rd Parachute Brigade, Colonel Nenad Bulatović, Sergeant Major of the Serbian Armed Forces Nenad Stević, members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, representatives of religious communities, local self-governments, families, relatives and friends of the candidates.
Candidates have successfully completed their basic military training, and following the oath-taking ceremony, they will be required to undergo selective training, which consists of several elimination stages. The best candidates will be given the opportunity to join professional military service on a temporary six-month basis, with the possibility of extending the employment contract for a period of up to three years and renewing it at a later time.The candidates who become members of the Serbian Armed Forces will be subjected to continuous training and professional development, work with the most modern weapons and equipment, and earn competitive basic salary of about 220,000 dinars, which will increase significantly, depending on the degree of training and position.
