26.09.2009.

Youngest soldiers gave a pledge of service

The youngest soldiers of SAF gave a pledge in training centers in Sombor, Jakovo, Pancevo, Valjevo, Krusevac, Leskovac and Zajecar.

The ceremony was attended by Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac and LTG Miloje Miletic in the First Training Center in Sombor, along with the representatives of SAF and MoD, of local self-government, and with numerous parents, citizens, and relatives of young soldiers.

- Another generation of soldiers gave their pledge to serve the country thus exhibiting that they want to serve their military duty as regular conscripts. For the first time, we were not able to admit all those who signed up for the military duty, and this is also for the first time that since the civil service has been introduced that we have had more applicants for the regular military duty. We have even received letter to send someone to a regular service, and this time, as was the case in previous terms, there was a record number of applicants-98%, so I congratulate to all those who added to making a military profession a more reputable one.

Another generation of soldiers has given their pledge to serve the country thus exhibiting that they want to serve their military duty as regular conscripts. For the first time, we were not able to admit all those who signed up for the military duty, and this is also for the first time that since the civil service has been introduced that we have had more applicants for the regular military duty. We have even received letter to send someone to a regular service, and this time, as was the case in previous terms, there was a record number of applicants-98%, so I congratulate to all those who added to making a military profession a more reputable one.

As for the first time in the history of pledge ceremony, women professional soldiers attended the ceremony and the Minister of Defense took special care to greet them and to address them.

Once again, the minister reiterated that the reforms in the defense system were going as planned, with the main goal to increase the operational capabilities of our army and to enable our citizens to be at ease and safe, and to make Serbia a prosperous society.

- One of the main objectives was restoring SAF’s repute that had waned over the years, and I am sure that this ceremony show that a large number of present guests prove this. However, the reform has its other aspect, as we have six new laws to be adopted these days in the Serbian Parliament along with two other laws. This will round up our reforms which pertain the defense laws.

He went on to remind that SAF had proved their capability in the previous period and its readiness to fulfill its obligations in al three missions.

We have had MEDCEUR military medical exercise held in Nis recently as the largest international exercise in the second mission of SAF to be held, thus proving that we do have operational capabilities and are in good standing in the world when it comes to civil support. The Batajnica air show, with 14 participating countries, also attest to our capacities to organize such large scale manifestations and that we have the capacity to assemble all the countries in the region, thus showing that we are a factor of stability not only in Serbia but in the region as well.

In his address to young conscripts, Minister said that there was a growing interest for the education in the Military Academy, where 12 candidates applied for one opening, adding that the Military Academy was today one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Serbia. Al this testifies to the quality of our classes.

We have also had a record-breaking low number of those had been dismissed, which is below 3 % today, and is the best result so far.

Both the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces have become a pillar of international cooperation of Serbia, but also a pillar of our economy, since the contracts signed by our defense industry companies, have been arranged with the help of the Ministry of Defense. This part of the Serbian economy employs several thousand workers, so this is another way of our helping the economy in the times of crisis.

It is my wish to tell a few words to young officers and NCOS as if they were my children. I want these young men to return to their homes with the memories their parents used to have when they served in the army.

The pledge ceremony was attended by the Training Comman Commander-in-Chief Major General Aleksandar Zivkovic, the Head of Zapadnobacki District, and he Mayors of Sombor and Subotica as well as the representatives of Apatin, Odzaci and Kula.

In a media statement, following the ceremony he said he was pleased with the number of conscripts signing up for the army, while stressing that the main goal of the National Defense Strategy was the finalization of professionalization adding that the Strategy would make a good framework for drawing this process to a close.

The Minister also spoke about the set of laws soon to be on the daily agenda of our National Assembly, emphasizing that these laws were very important as they would replace the existing legislature dating back to SFRY. The minister mentioned the laws on agencies which would modernize the system of security in our country.

"I do not expect any debates on these laws, but rather personal attacks addressed to me by those who have achieved nothing in their term. We will embrace and adopt those amendments that are good, and not those changing the spirit of the law.

Sutanovac even spoke about the law on commendations as the defense system would benefit immensely from the adoption of this law would.

These are systematic laws and mean a finalization to the legal framework of the defense legislature.