04.07.2025.

Graduation Ceremony for 14th Class of ASDS and Officers of 68th Class of GSC

Envoy of the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić, Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić, has attended today a graduation ceremony held in the House of National Assembly for the 14th Class of the Advanced Security and Defence Studies and officers of 68th Class of the General Staff Course of ‘Vojvoda Radomir Putnik’ School of National Defence.

The ceremony was attended by Speaker of the National Assembly Ana Brnabić, Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff General Milan Mojsilović, ministers in the Serbian Government, members of boards of the minister of defence and chief of General Staff, representatives of the military-diplomatic corps, religious communities and families of the graduates.

Minister Gašić conferred replicas of Serbian mediaeval swords to the graduates of the 14th Class of Advanced Security and Defence Studies and officers’ sabres to three top ranking students of 68th Class of General Staff Course - Lieutenant Colonel Bojan Ćeferjanović, Lieutenant Colonel Marko Marjanović and Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Stojadinović, while Chief of General Staff General Mojsilović presented officer’s sabres to other graduates of 68th Class of General Staff Course.

In his address, Minister Gašić emphasised that security of the homeland and the ability to defend it are a prerequisite for the existence of all other values of our freedom-loving people.

- This security and the mentioned ability require prudent and patriotic people with wise heads and courageous souls, ennobled by the knowledge of military sciences, to lead the forces at the disposal of the state. They are among the noblest sons and daughters of their people and they should be given the recognition they deserve. Therefore, we, who have the privilege of participating in the graduation ceremony of the 14th Class of the Advanced Security and Defence Studies and the 68th Class of the General Staff Course of ‘Vojvoda Radomir Putnik’ School of National Defence, feel that this ceremonial act, with its meaning of recognising such people, perfectly fits in the space of the House of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia - the House of our entire homeland - Minister Gašić said.

Addressing the graduates, Minister Gašić said that by referring them to the aforementioned levels of advancement, their superiors have already told them what they think of them - that they fully count on them, that they respect their work and results so far, and that they believe that they can become strategic leaders, capable of making the most difficult decisions and managing the system of national defence, in order to protect the vital interests of our country and the key social values of our people.

- The glorious history of the Serbian people has shown through the life and work of our greatest statesmen and military leaders that the knowledge and skills necessary for the defence of the country can only be achieved through persistent study and work, while cultivating human and moral qualities. Battles were not won by the best cannons, rifles, sabres, but by our people like Mišić, Bojović, Stepanović and other great names with their knowledge and strategies, with their honour and loyalty. And they were taught by professors of the Artillery School and later the Higher School of the Military Academy, which is the forerunner of ‘Vojvoda Radomir Putnik’ School of National Defence. Therefore, all responsible people in the defence system should approach military education and the development of deterrence capabilities with equal attention, in accordance with the Concept of Total Defence - Minister Gašić said, emphasising that the graduates should be proud of the fact that they have studied at the University of Defence.

He added that the advanced study programmes at the School of National Defence are designed to provide the attenders with the knowledge necessary for the great assignments they are soon to receive.

- During the advancement studies, you had the opportunity to jointly, critically and creatively examine the security and defence problems contained in the study programmes. The concrete results of such a training approach are a comprehensive, objective analysis of the state and needs of the security and defence system of our country and the stability of the region, as well as proposals for their improvement - the minister of defence said.

Stressing that we live in an era of intense changes that require continuous development of both personal and collective abilities, Minister Gašić said that the fact that they have reached the necessary level of knowledge to recognise and understand all the challenges that the modern world poses to states and peoples, as well as to recognise weaknesses and fight for the best possible position of their country in that world, does not mean that they cannot continue to advance as experts and practitioners.

- On the contrary, it is your duty to go further, think faster and clearly see those solutions that others cannot imagine. Stay in touch with your professors and mentors from the University of Defence. When you think that there is no way out of the problem you are dealing with, their knowledge, their theories and critical thinking can illuminate the paths of salvation for you - Minister Gašić said to the graduates.

On this occasion, Minister Gašić emphasised that Serbia, led by the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić, is persistent in maintaining its status of military neutrality.

- Although neutrality in Europe has experienced erosion, we consider it a valuable and honourable option, worthy of our ancestors and the right choice to preserve the interests of our contemporaries and descendants. Consistent neutrality today is a noble decision, but at the same time it obliges us to develop our own defence capabilities. At the same time, Serbia, without any dilemmas, expresses its readiness to cooperate with other countries, from all four corners of the world and from all continents, in the interests of peace and for the purpose of strengthening global, regional and national security - the minister of defence emphasised.

He also emphasised that the Ministry of Defence makes a great contribution to the international cooperation of the Republic of Serbia with all those who accept our outstretched hand, which can be seen at today's event.

- The presence of officers of foreign armed forces among the students of the School of National Defence, whom I greet with special respect, speaks volumes about this. The friendships gained during the studies will only strengthen the good relations between our countries. Unfortunately, we are witnesses that in the modern world, friendship and cooperation between states are not the only reality. The Republic of Serbia is also faced with various challenges. In the historical depth, this is nothing new, but the ways in which these challenges manifest themselves are different than in the past. Military courage and statesmanship, however, remain the cornerstone and a foundation stone for the survival, development and freedom of Serbia - Minister Gašić said.

He expressed his belief that our system of national security and defence has got honourable, loyal and highly professional civilian and military leaders, ready to bravely face challenges with the aim of defending our national interests through constant learning and hard work.

- You are now about to take on even more responsibility. After this solemn act, you will have a more active and constructive role, far stronger than the one you had in your previous positions. You are entering the circle of those people who, politically or professionally, will be the most responsible for everything that happens in the security system in the next decade - positively or negatively. Therefore, esteemed students of the School of National Defence, bearing in mind that the protection of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as the protection of the security of Serbia and its citizens, is the highest defence interest and the highest duty and honour of each of us, work diligently and apply the knowledge you have acquired during your training, so that our defence can be strong enough to make happy our friends and deter those who are not. Long live the Serbian Armed Forces! Long live Serbia - Defence Minister Gašic concluded.

Lieutenant Colonel Bojan Ćeferjanović, the most successful in the 68th class of the General Staff Course, addressed the audience on behalf of the graduates and emphasised that during the studies, in addition to studying military sciences, they had the opportunity to learn from each other so that today he is not addressing them as the best one, but as one who had the privilege of being surrounded by those who are the best.

- I would like to highlight one segment that is of key importance today for the entire security system of our country - the equipping and modernisation of the Serbian Armed Forces. We live in an era when technology dictates the pace of warfare and when our army must move a step forward. Without modern equipment, there is no effective defence. But equipment alone is not enough - an educated, motivated, trained and skilled personnel is needed to turn that equipment into an instrument of defence and stability. We are part of that personnel - officers of the new generation - Lieutenant Colonel Ćeferjanović said.

Addressing the students, Colonel Zoran Jekić, Commandant of ‘Vojvoda Radomir Putnik’ School of National Defence, said that military science says that “theory without practice is dead, and practice without theory is blind”.

- The knowledge you have acquired during your studies at ‘Vojvoda Radomir Putnik’ School of National Defence provides you with the basis to tackle all the challenges you are to face in your future jobs, as well as the contemporary challenges that our country faces. It is necessary that in the continuation of your careers, you constantly upgrade this basis with new knowledge, connect it with practice and your life experience, in order to become true leaders and flagships of the development and strengthening of the defence system of the Republic of Serbia - Colonel Jekić emphasised wishing everyone happiness and success in their further work.

Minister Gašić has conferred today replicas of Serbian mediaeval swords to members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces who completed the Higher Security and Defence Studies abroad in 2024, while Chief of General Staff General Mojsilović presented officer’s sabres to members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces who completed the General Staff Course abroad last year.

Lieutenant Colonel Marko Marjanović, who graduated second in the 68th class of the General Staff Course, emphasised the importance of this level of education.

- The advanced study is of great importance to me personally, because it represents a confirmation of my professional value and my previous work. There are many impressions, but the most important is the awareness of the value and importance of the unity of the army and our people - Lieutenant Colonel Marjanović emphasised.

His colleague, Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Stojadinović, said that the study programme was very intensive and that all the students of the 68th class bring very positive experiences.

- We had numerous lectures, seminars, exercises and all of that contributed to our development in terms of professional competence. For me, it has great personal, family, but also professional significance - Lieutenant Colonel Stojadinović, who graduated third in his class, said.

This year, 24 students completed the Advanced Security and Defence Studies, 15 of which are from state administration bodies and services of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, five from the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, and four from the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Namibia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska. The aforementioned 14th Class is the largest in the history of the advanced studies.

The General Staff Course was completed by 49 officers from the country and abroad - 44 from the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, four officers from the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a member of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Angola, and the 68th Class was the largest class in the previous 20 years.