30.06.2014.
"Platinasti Vuk 2014" exercise
Today, at the military base “Jug” near Bujanovac, an opening ceremony was held for the multinational tactical exercise “Platinasti Vuk 2014”, whose 272 participants are members of Armed Forces of Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Croatia and USA.Participants of the exercise were greeted by Colonel Sladjan Stamenkovic, Head of the Headquarters of the Fourth Army Brigade and the commander of the exercise, who took the opportunity to stress the following:
“The Objective of this exercise is to use training to achieve skills in proper handling and use of non-lethal weapons and completing tasks in peacekeeping operations in multinational surrounding, through increased interoperability and higher level of mutual understanding. The forthcoming joint task will also give us the opportunity to exchange practices in completing tasks of achieving and keeping peace.”
Representative of the Armed Forces of USA Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Holt welcomed the participants to the first “Platinasti Vuk” exercise and thanked the Fourth Army Brigade and partners participating in the exercise. “Multinational exercises, like “Platinasti Vuk”, enable us to enhance our interoperability and build mutual relations”, Lieutenant Colonel Holt stated. “If we increase our integral capabilities, we also enlarge our joint capacities, by which we improve security and stability, and promote peace and prosperity.”
During the first day of the “Platinasti Vuk” exercise, a special training of crew training in managing motor vehicles was conducted, as well as training in handling personal arms of the Armed Forces of Serbia, charged by the participants of the exercise.The multinational tactical exercise “Plavi Vuk 2014” will be realized from June 30 until July 10. It will include 60 members of senior personnel and soldiers of the Armed Forces of Serbia, 25 members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria, 25 of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Romania, 30 members of the of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 32 members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Macedonia, 14 officers, non-commissioned officers and professional soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia and 86 members of the Armed Forces of USA. Exercise activities will be conducted in two stages; during the first stage, training titled “Non-lethal Weapons” will be realized. The training will be led by USA instructors, and during the exercise, participants will be introduced to possibilities of non-lethal weapons and trained in procedures of apprehending persons without the use of means for temporary disablement, in handling means for temporary disablement, using truncheons and controlling mass gatherings. The first stage of training will be conducted at the base “Jug” and “Borovac” training ground.
During the second stage of exercise activities, under the theme “Peacekeeping Operation”, at “Borovac” training ground, in field conditions, activities of various content will be conducted, such as: providing aid in combat actions, infantry and scouting patrols, control points, prompt response forces, motor vehicle patrols, convoy and escort, protection of forces, temporary control points, searching and blocking and actions in dealing with explosive devices.Exercise organizers from the Fourth Army Brigade have planned for all the participants of the exercise to also have a day for touring the cultural and historical heritage in the South of Serbia. This way, members of Armed Forces of the seven countries will visit the Cegar Monument complex, the Skull Tower and the “Crveni Krst” concentration camp in Nis. The participants will get to know each other and spend time together, which will be rounded off with sports activities, such as futsal, volleyball and basketball tournaments.
VIDEOGALLERY