28.07.2020.

Minister Vulin: NCOs are the backbone of the armed forces and the Serbian Armed Forces want to invest in them

Today, the Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vulin, visited participants in the Leadership and Basic Courses for NCOs at the “Milunka Savić” NCO Training and Development Centre in Pančevo and attended a segment of the training aimed at improving their existing and acquiring new general military and professional knowledge.

After the visit, Minister Vulin said that all members of the Serbian Armed Forces, regardless of their duty or rank, constantly develop professionally and that it is their obligation during their service in the military.

- All members of the Serbian Armed Forces know that they will have the opportunity to develop, to make progress, to secure a better position in the Serbian Armed Forces if they are hard-working. NCOs are the backbone of the armed forces. Without a well-trained NCO, there is no good soldier nor does officer have anyone to delegate important and responsible duties to.

Minister Vulin says that the Leadership Course participants are those members of the Serbian Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves in their units because they are exceptional and valuable in some way, because a lot is expected from them and because the Serbian Armed Forces want to invest in them.

- NCOs stay in the Serbian Armed Forces until retirement. NCOs make the armed forces efficient, capable of dealing with all the challenges. They receive very good education here. They learn a lot here, and when they go back to their units, they take on responsible duties and tasks. Whoever joins the Serbian Armed Forces should know that they will be given the chance to progress, to change their position for the better in every sense, only if they are hard-working, persistent and diligent.

According to the Commander of the Centre, Lieutenant Colonel Saša Puač, two courses have been presented today at the “Milunka Savić” NCO Training and Development Centre in Pančevo.

- One of them is the Leadership Course, the first week, and it is the elementary training course for NCO candidates. It is intended for the training of persons who will be deputy squad leaders and equivalent positions, that is, for the NCOs in their initial duties. The Basic Course for NCOs, third week, first module, is also held in this unit and the specialist module in the Centres for Specialist Training. It is intended for the training of NCO candidates who have finished leadership courses and the training for initial duties – equivalent of a squad leader – emphasized Lieutenant Colonel Puač.

He pointed out that there are about 200 participants in the courses which are held in accordance with the programs, and given the current situation, all preventative measures against the spread of the Covid-19 disease are fully observed.

- These two courses are key courses this year, so 200 new NCOs from the 15^th and 16^th classes should join the armed forces by the end of the year, taking on their initial duties. Two leadership courses, the one that is in progress, and that will finish by the end of the year, will provide sufficient number of candidates for the next year, so the system will get 200 more NCOs next year – emphasized the Commander of the Centre, adding that the quality of course participants depends on the unit, because trainees arrive with different prior knowledge, and the aim of the Leadership Course is to make all participants equal in terms of knowledge so that they can all follow the Basic Course for NCOs.

Although the course has just started, Junior Sergeant Miloš Zdravković from the 63^rd Parachute Brigade points out that, in addition to the things that he has already come across in his job, he has the opportunity to learn something completely new.

- Instructors are always there for us, whenever we have a problem or need clarification while studying. So far, we have covered some subject matters that we have already encountered at work, but we have also learnt some new things. I am satisfied with the course, the instructors and the people here – said Junior Sergeant Zdravković.

One of the Leadership Course participants is Corporal Miša Obradov from the River Flotilla’s 93^rd Diving Company, who has served in the Serbian Armed Forces since 2012.

- I am grateful to my superiors for sending me to the Basic Course for NCOs. I am satisfied with the course. Commanding officers pass on their expert knowledge to us and I believe that we will adopt that knowledge successfully – emphasized Corporal Obradov, adding that the work is organized in an excellent way.

In eight weeks, which is the length of the Leadership Course, participants are trained to properly, safely and efficiently command a group, crew, and a team in all combat conditions and to perform tasks within the competence of the squad leader in peace and war. This course consists of various areas, including subjects such as leadership, knowledge of general military regulations, disciplinary exercise, military topography, tactical training, fire and physical training.

The Basic Course for non-commissioned officers lasts 26 weeks and includes a general and a specialist module, followed by an internship in the initial duties in the units of the Serbian Armed Forces.