22.07.2020.

Minister Vulin at the Zavojsko Lake: After 30 years, the 63rd Parachute Brigade performed water jumps

- After 30 years, the 63rd Parachute Brigade performed water jumps. It has been decades since we carried out this very demanding and complex type of training of our paratroopers and that is the best proof of how much things have changed in the 63rd Parachute Brigade, but also in the Serbian Armed Forces – the Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vulin, pointed out after the visit to the members of the 63rd Parachute Brigade who are doing a part of summer training at Zavojsko Lake near Pirot.

According to him, we did not have resources, we did not have helicopters, we did not have parachutes, and we did not have equipment to do this. The only thing that we have always had is exceptional people.

– The water jump is something that we have not done for decades, and now it is proof that the members of the 63rd Parachute Brigade can reach any place at any time – said Minister Vulin.

The officer conducting today’s training pointed out that today, segments of summer training were demonstrated at Zavojsko Lake.

- The first segment was climbing and rescuing in the mountains in summer, the second – training in survival nutrition, the third – overcoming water obstacles with hand tools and the fourth segment was the parachute water jump.

This type of training is conducted regularly, every year in the summer. It is exceptionally important because trainees learn how to overcome inaccessible terrain, cope, survive and find food in nature when the task requires it and when some unforeseen circumstances occur – said the officer conducting the training and emphasized that today, besides the professional members, soldiers who are doing voluntary service participated in the part of the training related to survival nutrition and overcoming water obstacles.

One of the members who took part in the training in overcoming water obstacles and survival at Zavojsko Lake was Lance Corporal Jovan Todorović, who has been in this unit since June, and who wishes to continue his career as a professional soldier in the “most elite unit” of our armed forces, as he calls it.
- The training is demanding, you should be both physically and mentally fit. Today we did training in rafting and rowing and you need to be fit for that. It is demanding, but nothing is difficult – said Lance Corporal Todorović.

The Minister of Defence was shown the training in climbing, independent survival nutrition, overcoming water obstacles, as well as performing water jumps using wing-type parachutes.

Members of the 63rd Brigade demonstrated how to cook tortoise stew with nettle and game stew with herbs – ingredients found in the nature around the lake, as well as how to bake bread in the rock and mud oven, and prepare fish soup. They also showed makeshift traps and the way of filtering water using several layers of natural filters.

Commander of the 63rd Parachute Brigade, Colonel Nenad Zonić also visited the members of the 63rd Parachute Brigade in training.