08.07.2010.

General Dikovic at the joint training of the members of Serbian, Romanian and the U.S. forces

Chief of Staff of the Serbian Land Forces, Lieutenant-General Ljubiša Dikovi? with General Carter Ham, Commander of U.S. Army Europe and Major General Dan Ghica-Radu, Chief of Staff of the Romanian Land Forces, visited today the soldiers of the 31st Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Brigade who are conducting the joint training with their colleagues from the U.S. Army and the host country in Babadag training area, near the port of Constanta on the Black Sea.

On that occasion, General Dikovic said that his colleagues from the United States and Romania conveyed very positive impressions about our soldiers, which is pleasing and encouraging, he said. He pointed out that this was the best way of training for the second mission of our armed forces, adding that, with a little support from partners, similar training could be organized very efficiently also in Serbia.

General Ham said that the Serbian soldiers proved to be a real team, with great skills and knowledge of infantry training, emphasizing that the most impressive thing was that the soldiers from the three countries quickly achieved very good communication. He said that he and his colleagues Dikovic and Ghica will discuss the future steps of cooperation.

General Ghica said that the exercise was an excellent opportunity to continue the activity that started last year when the officers from Serbia were observers. He said that the soldiers showed the ability to carry out operations together in the future, and that the tactical procedures used by Serbian soldiers were fully compatible with the procedures of the Romanian forces.

The exercise "Sabre Down 2010" is the first international exercise in which the members of the armed forces of Serbia, the United States and Romania participated together. It was a unique opportunity for the members of the 31st Infantry Battalion, whose one company belongs to the so-called "declared forces" for participation in the international peacekeeping operations, to personally meet colleagues from the partner armed forces and train together with them.

The U.S. European Command, which is the organizer of the exercise, set as its main goal the "strengthening of relations among the forces of the United States, Romania and Serbia". Cooperation and understanding shown by the soldiers on the ground proved, after a few days, that the goal was fully accomplished according to a joint assessment of all the three parties.

In addition, the exercise served for the exchange of valuable experiences from the infantry training which has been organized every day in segments: movement of the squad to the contact point, squad in attack, reconnaissance and surveillance, attack on bunker and tactical exercise with combat firing. The soldiers had opportunity to compare themselves to their foreign counterparts, many of whom have taken part in multinational operations, and also to show their own abilities in a right manner. Skilful camouflage and highly disciplined manoeuvre of the Serbian squad immediately drew attention of the commanders from the USA and Romania.

The US military has also organized a one-day medical training, including training in drawing the wounded by "Black Hawk" helicopter from the area of operations. The soldiers were also shooting at one of the firing areas at "Babadag" shooting range from the weapons used by the partner armed forces.

Brigadier General Michael Ryan, Deputy Commander of the 5th US Army Corps attended the tactical battle shooting exercises on 7th July. He praised the tactical procedures applied by Serbian soldiers pointing out that he already had the opportunity to assure himself of the ability and quality of the members of our armed forces. On that occasion, General Ryan gave the "coin" – emblem of the 5th US Army Corps to the Corporal Vladan Milosavljevi? as a sign of the military respect.
Exercise "Sabre Down 2010" is ending tomorrow, and our soldiers and officers are coming back to Serbia in the night between 9th and 10th July.