28.09.2010.

Minister and SAF CHOD visit the River Flotilla

Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac and Serbian Army Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Miloje Miletic visited today the units of the Serbian River Flotilla in Novi Sad. In the barracks, "Aleksandar Beric." The capabilities of the units of River Flotilla, as well as tactical and technical corps of armaments and military equipment were displayed.

After the exercise, in which minesweepers, patrol boats and ferry participated, the Minister of Defense, among other things, said:

- The River flotilla of the Serbian Army has achieved a high level of professionalism. The units of the River Flotilla are manned at about 90 percent which is the standard in countries that have a professional army. Therefore I can only commend the River Flotilla Commander, as well as the commander of the First Brigade and the Chief of SAF for performing professionalization in the most efficient manner, bearing in mind that, in the past, the interest of young men and women in Vojvodina in the military profession was much lower. Now the situation is different, men and women are much more arise and compete for jobs in the defense where they see their better chance.

Commenting on the exercise, the Minister said that the exercise showed that the members of the River Flotilla were fully trained and equipped to operate in conditions that exist in Serbia, despite the times we live in and the fact that there were not sufficient funds to procure adequate equipment

-In the future we will make efforts to equip the river flotilla to the extent necessary for the effective execution of tasks, said the defense minister.

Chief of SAF Lieutenant General Miloje Miletic said that the River Flotilla was a special unit in the Army of Serbia, by way of organization and the equipment it uses.

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This is why they have a special place. Its main purpose is to ensure the secure operating and to protect Serbia’s inland waterways. In recent years the unit has had problems with upgrading, it was neglected a bit when compared to other bands, but this exercise showed that the River flotilla is quite capable of carrying out their specific tasks and missions.

After the exercise, the Defence Minister and Chief of SAF visited the memorial room of River Flotilla.