03.09.2013.

"Serbian shield 03" exercise starts

At Borovac training ground at Jug base, a three-day tactical exercise " Serbian Shield - 03" started today, whose objective is to check the readiness of infantry troops from the composition of the 31st infantry battalion, 3rd Army Brigade as it is to be deployed in the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon.

If the six-member evaluation team assesses that the unit is interoperable and is capable of operating in accordance with the requirements of the United Nations, then all conditions for the deployment of 130 members will be met, so the unit will be sent in early November on a six-month peacekeeping mission .

In the role of military observers, the exercise is attended by members of the Spanish army led by Lieutenant Colonel Alvaro Capello Vicente, commander of the battalion under which Serbian peacekeepers will serve. The training was led by Colonel Slađan Stamenkovic , chief of staff of the 3rd brigade , while the team leader of the evaluation team is Lt. Col. Goran Markovic from the Army command.

Members of infantry that is to be deployed as part of the UNIFIL mission will be assigned dozen tactical tasks which they may find themselves in Lebannon. Their task will be to implement standard UN operating procedures efficiently, and their work will be assessed by evaluators, who will give a final assessment of readiness of units which are to be deployed in Lebanon.

Chief of the exercise, Colonel Stamenkovic said that members of the company do not know the weather conditions, place and type of tactical situation they will encounter in the next three days, which will surely enable a more realistic insight into the level of their training for the execution of tasks as Blue Helmets.

Serbian Army members were first deployed in Lebanon last year as part of Spanish contingent deployed under UN auspices where Serbia sent one infantry platoon whose composition changes every six months. Lieutenant Colonel Capello, who will take over command of the Spanish contingent , said that the reports on the work and engagement of members of our military are very good and that accordingly expected that company that is undergoing this evaluation will meet all requirements.