30.04.2013.

Marking the Day of the Guard

The members of the SAF Guard today marked in Dedinje barracks the day of the unit. The ceremony and parade of the members of the guard were attended by the Serbian CHOD General Ljubisa Dikovic, State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Aleksandar Nikolic, members of the extended collegium of the Minister of Defence and Chief of General Staff including numerous guests.

Congratulating the holiday to the Guard members, the Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic said:

- The Guard is the epitome of superior professionalism, selfless dedication to military calling, firm ranks and military virtues. That is why every member of the Guard can be proud of his unit and his colleagues considering it an honor to be part of the Guard.

He said that such a unit with a long-standing and rich tradition, which performs specific tasks and thereby achieves remarkable results surely is of greatest importance for the state.

- One of the first impressions of the Serbian Armed Forces, especially of the Guard, can best be seen in the official visits of foreign politicians and other important officials when they first see the Guard alignment, hear the sound of Guard officers marching as well as the loud report. In their eyes, the Guard is not only the embodiment of the Serbian Army, but also of the state. We are especially pleased to see the members of our guard carrying out their tasks with honour and dignity in the National Assembly, and we see a clear symbolism of the army and the state.

Guard commander Brigadier General Milomir Todorovic also congratulated the day to the members of the guard. He recalled that in the previous year, the members of the Guard had successfully implemented numerous tasks, firstly by improving the process of operational planning and decision making, continuing implementation of the new training concept aimed at missions assigned, improving the quality of care of people and the preparedness of professional soldiers in the second year since they started working in as a professional unit. Also, they have realized all tasks pertaining to paying military honors and continued to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in weapons, the so-called exercir in towns across Serbia.

- We aim to achieve in the future the best possible relationship between available resources and the quality of performance of duties, which must be at the highest possible level. The guard is the pride of our citizens, and we, the members of the Guard, in the time to come, will continue with maximum commitment and professional work to give full contribution to the reputation of the Army and the Republic of Serbia - said at the end of his address the Guard commander.

The ceremony featured a parade of motorized units and echelons of the Guard. After the official part, the guests visited the memorial room of the unit.

By celebrating St. George's Day as a Guard a long tradition of 183 years continues, because on that day in 1830 by the order of Prince Milos in Pozarevac the first company of the Duke’s Guardia was lined up, which consisted of 120 strapping youths and most prominent men from all counties of the Serbian Principality.