18.10.2024.
Ceremony marking the Day of the ‘Field Marshal Radomir Putnik’ School of National Defence
A ceremony marking the Day of the ‘Field Marshal Radomir Putnik’ School of National Defence of the University of Defence has been held today in the ‘General Jovan Mišković’ barracks in Belgrade.
At the beginning of the ceremony, congratulations from the Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić and the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilović were read.As part of today's ceremony, State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Mile Jelić and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Želimir Glišović, unveiled a bust of Field Marshal Radomir Putnik in front of the School of National Defence.
Addressing the audience, State Secretary Jelić pointed out that the School of National Defence, which with reason and pride bears the name of the oldest among the Serbian field marshals from the liberation wars of 1912-1918, gathered those present today on the occasion of 140 years since the Serbian army, relying on its own forces, began the systematic training of its officers for senior officer duties.- With the reform designed by General Jovan Mišković in 1880, the Artillery School was transformed into a Military Academy with a Junior and Senior School. The Junior School produced officers for entry-level positions in the armed forces. The Senior School was attended by selected officers who, during their previous schooling and work in the troop, proved themselves to be exceptional so it could be predicted that, having mastered wider and greater knowledge, they would successfully perform senior position duties in the armed forces. Therefore, the day of the beginning of officer education at the Senior School of the Military Academy of the Kingdom of Serbia was rightly chosen as a holiday for the Day of the School of National Defence - Jelić said.
According to his words, since then until today, numerous commanding officers as well as civil servants were prepared in that school exactly for the most responsible duties in the state and the armed forces, in times which, unfortunately, were not easy and carefree, neither then nor now.
- Today, the ‘Field Marshal Radomir Putnik’ School of National Defence is a modern military educational institution within the composition of the University of Defence, primarily intended for the implementation of special training programmes for officers - Basic Command and Staff Course, Command and Staff Course, General Staff Course and Advanced Security and Defence Studies. More than 300 officers and representatives of government authorities attend the listed advanced study programmes every year, which in itself speaks of the great educational and national importance of this institution. The education of officers of foreign armed forces at the School of National Defence is an important part of international military cooperation and a clear indicator that the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces are valued in other countries in the region, Europe and the world - the State Secretary underlined.As he emphasized, we are witnessing events in Europe and the world showing us that major geopolitical changes are taking place at the regional and global levels.
- Serbia's complex and challenging strategic environment requires that its defence system strengthen its ability to predict, manage and control events affecting the security and defence of our country. In order to achieve this, we must have extremely capable and professional staff in all sectors and subjects of the defence system, especially in its most important segment - the Serbian Armed Forces. The School of National Defence will contribute to the efficient defence of Serbia by arming Serbian officers and civil servants with state-of-the-art knowledge, primarily in the field of military sciences - Jelić said.
Addressing the students of the ‘Field Marshal Radomir Putnik’ School of National Defence, the State Secretary told them to strive to be worthy of the name of their institution.- Strive to be in your time what colonel and later general Dimitrije Đurić was at the end of the 19th century, and colonel and later duke Živojin Mišić at the beginning of the 20th century - learned, oriented towards practice, equipped with the latest knowledge, patriotically persistent and an inspiring professor. Use the time ahead of you for schooling to improve your knowledge and skills, shape your knowledge of military science and modern warfare, become able to assess the contexts in which wars and security threats occur, and gain a broader view of the military, the state and society as a whole. The path of knowledge is the path of power and progress for our homeland. I wish you a lot of luck and success on that journey. Long live the Serbian Armed Forces! Long live Serbia - State Secretary Jelić concluded.
The deputy head of the School of National Defence, Colonel Zoran Jekić, said that in the period of 140 years, the school changed its name and its organisational structure several times, but the goals of education remained the same - training officers for the highest military and state duties while following the requirements imposed by the roles and tasks of the armed forces in the preparation for the defence of the country.
- The School of National Defence today, in the year when we celebrate a kind of jubilee of 140 years of existence, strives to continuously build strategic and operational thought, improve the education system in the field of military sciences and develop cooperation in the field of scientific research activities with related institutions and organisations in the country and abroad - Colonel Jekić pointed out.He said that the main task of the School of National Defence, during this school year, is the training of future commanders and leaders, heads and managers for duties in the defence system, but also outside of it, as well as introducing them to the new knowledge gained by military science.
- I wish to thank everyone who supports the School of National Defence, and I would especially like to thank the previous and retired heads of the School, who devoted a significant part of their military career to its construction and strengthening. The school continues to follow the path they traced, proud of its history, striving to fulfil its tasks in such a way that its former and current members and students can also be proud of it - Colonel Jekić said.
On the occasion of the holiday, Colonel Jekić presented certificates of appreciation to the previous and retired heads of the School for successful management and long-term contribution to the development of the institution, then to institutions and units for providing support to the School and awards to the best students of the 14th class of the Basic Command and Staff Course.The ceremony was attended by acting Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Nebojša Nikolić, acting Assistant Minister for Defence Policy Predrag Bandić, Head of Defence Minister’s Private Office Brigadier General Goran Momčilović, Rector of the University of Defence Brigadier General Prof. Boban Đorović, Head of the Military Health Department Brigadier General Dr. Radivoje Anđelković, members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and numerous guests.
At today's ceremony, the ‘Stanislav Binički’ Artistic Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence took part in the cultural and artistic program, and the film of the ‘Zastava film’ Military Film Centre about the ‘Field Marshal Radomir Putnik’ School of National Defence was screened.
