11.07.2025.
Command and Staff Course 71 Graduation
Graduation ceremony for members of the 71st Class of Command and Staff Course was held at the ceremonial hall of ‘Banjica 2’ barracks in Belgrade, today.
The ceremony was attended by Mr Siniša Radović, Acting Assistant Minister of Defence for Human Resources, and Lieutenant General Tiosav Janković, Deputy Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff.
Upon decision of President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić, three top ranking graduates - Major Vladan Škrkić, Major Marko Medarović and Major Vladimir Pešić were conferred ceremonial daggers by Assistant Minister Radović, while members of foreign armed forces were conferred ceremonial daggers by Rector of the University of Defence, Brigadier General Boban Đorović.
Assistant Minister Radović emphasised that officers who have completed the Command and Staff Course carry with them the latest knowledge in the fields of strategy, operations, tactics and command, but also knowledge of military history and military geography, current achievements and tendencies in the development of modern military equipment, as well as a built staff culture with which they can contribute to the work of collective bodies and a built methodological culture for independent professional work and development.
- Peace, freedom and independence must be preserved and defended. These are eternal values that the Serbian people paid dearly for in their past and that they know how to appreciate and respect. Preserving these values further requires a lot of wisdom, a strong army and a lot of military courage. In unstable times, the army’s ability to defend and preserve its state is the most important and most convincing argument and the backbone of deterring a potential aggressor - Radović said.
He emphasized that Command and Staff Course opens up the possibility for further professional development of officers.
- Be persistent and arduous in improving the situation in units, show patience and courage in overcoming problems. Work on yourself every day, study military science, apply knowledge in practice and transfer knowledge to your subordinates. Educate the younger ones and strengthen your character and will, because that is the only way to make decisions and implement the decisions you make - Assistant Minister Radović said, wishing everyone to grow into individuals of strong will, indomitable character and to be, above all, officers with great knowledge, because knowledge is power.
Colonel Zoran Jekić, Commandant of ‘Vojvoda Radomir Putnik’ School National Defence, spoke at the ceremony that during this school year, the commands, units and institutions of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces strongly supported professional development of the course participants, enabling them to get to know the areas and units for which they will be responsible through study visits and commander’s reconnaissance visits.
- Through the curriculum contents you were familiarised with the characteristics of modern conflicts, which have elements of traditional warfare, in which fire power plays an important role, but also elements of the “new generation of warfare” that represent a combination of hybrid application of military and non-military activities. You have learned the characteristics and capabilities of the most modern combat systems fielded in the Serbian Armed Forces, and at the same time you are trained to apply in your future work the knowledge and skills necessary for effective deterrence and response to the complex challenges, risks and threats that Serbia faces - Colonel Jekić emphasised.
The first ranking graduate, Major Vladan Škrkić addressed the class on behalf of the 71st Class and expressed gratitude to colleagues, students, teachers and all employees in the defence system who provided support during the training, and then emphasized the honour and responsibility that are imposed after this schooling.
- Rest assured that the officers who are completing the Command and Staff Course today are ready to tackle all security challenges. We are aware of the gravity of the times we live in and the magnitude of the tasks ahead of us, but we believe that we will know and be able to solve them in the interest of our army, state and people - Major Škrkić emphasised.
Command and Staff Course represents the second level of professional training for officers and lasts one school year, and the 71st class was completed by 51 participants from the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and six from the armed forces of foreign countries - five from Bosnia and Herzegovina and one from Angola.
Today’s ceremony was attended by members of boards of the Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff, representatives of the military diplomatic corps, as well as family members, relatives and friends of the officers of the 71st class of the Command and Staff Course.
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