20.12.2014.

Soldiers on voluntary military service and professional soldiers took the oath

The December generation of soldiers on voluntary military service and professional soldiers have taken the enlistment oath today at the First Military Training Center in Sombor, and in barracks “Field Marshal Petar Bojovic” in Leskovac and “Field Marshal Zivojin Misic” in Valjevo.

The oath taking ceremony in barracks “Field Marshal Petar Bojovic” in Leskovac was attended by

Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic.

Congratulating the soldiers on taking the oath, Minister Gasic stated that their choice of voluntary military service proves great maturity, seriousness and patriotism, and that their oath is a life-time commitment of which they should be proud of.

- The Armed Forces are an institution that the citizens of Serbia trust the most, which has been contributed to by the grand military tradition we are proud of. At the same time, we are raising our capabilities to react to all security risks and treats of the modern world and we have remained unparalleled guardians of the link between the people and the military, which we have always shown when needed – Minister said. He reminded of the deployment of the military in its third

mission, of helping the citizens during this year’s natural disasters.

Minister Gasic stressed that the Armed Forces of Serbia will continue improving operative capabilities because “we want for Serbia to have a worthy military that can secure its strong future as a state”. He concluded his speech by saying that oath taking ceremony confirms that the Serbian youth has not forgotten tradition and true values.

At the Third Training Center in Leskovac, the oath was taken by 147 soldiers on voluntary military service, including eight women, and ten professional female soldiers that have been admitted to professional military service in the past six months.

The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Commander of the Training Command Major General Mladjen Nisevic, Fourth Army Brigade Commander Brigadier General Zoran Lubura and representatives of local self-government, organizations and associations, family members and friends of the soldiers.

Colonel Sladjan Cvetkovic, Commander of “Field Marshal Petar Bojovic” barracks also congratulated on the oath taking.

Answering press inquiries, Minister of Defence stressed that significant improvements have been achieved in 2014 in organizing and reaching operative capabilities of the Armed Forces of Serbia.

- We have also increased the number of referral deadlines to four, and I expect, according to the public interest present at this moment, that we will have 6 referral deadlines in 2015. This way, we will have a far larger number of members on voluntary military service. When it comes to Leskovac, we will do a lot on arranging the barracks that have not been invested into for over 30 years – Gasic said.

Discussing the motives that inspire young people for voluntary military service, Minister said that he believes the basic motivation is not employment, but that he had been assured many times of how much young people love their country, and that this love is the main motive.

- In this year, the Armed Forces of Serbia have shown the extent to which they stand by their people and how much they are willing to sacrifice for their people. I am especially pleased that the Armed Forces of Serbia is

slowly taking back the place where it belongs – Minister of Defence pointed out.

At the First Training center at Airport barracks in Sombor, the oath was taken by 157 soldiers, including 13 women.

The oath taking ceremony was attended by Head of the General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic who stressed that, for soldiers, the Republic of Serbia is beyond any personal motives and interests, and that its honor and well-being are sacred for soldiers.

General Dikovic also stressed that, by remembering the glorious military past, the Armed Forces of Serbia connect the tradition with the modern, and that they have remained the guardian of the relation between the military and the people, and that the trust that the citizens of Serbia have for the military is both an acknowledgement and a commitment.

- We have remained persistent and unwavering guardians of the bond between the military and the people, which we have shown whenever needed, conducting tasks that our country has trusted us with. In this year alone, the help of the Armed Forces of Serbia was key for resolving serious issues with drinking water in the western parts of Serbia, for evacuation of endangered citizens from traffic lines stuck in a snow storm in Vojvodina, for defence of Serbia from grave floods and bringing life back to heavily afflicted areas – General Dikovic stated.

Head of the General Staff told the young men and women who want to become professional soldiers at the Armed Forces of Serbia that

there will always be place at units of our military for those who show they are the best during their training.

The oath taking in Sombor was also attended by Head of the Staff of the Training Command Brigadier General Stanko Vasiljevic, Head of the West Backa District Rajko Majstorovic, PhD, and representatives of self-governments of Sombor, Apatin and Odzaci.

The oath taking ceremony at the Second Training center in Valjevo was attended by deputy Head of the General Staff of Serbia Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic, Assistant Commander of the Operation Training Command Colonel Dragan Sladakovic, representatives of local self-government, the Church, companies and educational institutions and numerous family members and friends of the soldiers. Congratulating the soldiers on their oath taking, General Draganic told them to be worthy of the rich and glorious Serbian military tradition.

- Be persistent and disciplined, courageous and honest. Work honorably and responsibly, with dedication and clear conscience. Grow as persons, train your character, gain knowledge and have families. Do not ask what your country can do for you, as what you can do for your country. Each day, proudly march on. It is the only way for

Serbia to move forward – General Draganic said to the youngest soldiers.

With the assistance of the Museum of the City of Valjevo and the citizens, members of the Second Training Center prepared an exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the Great War that attracted much attention of all guests at today’s oath taking.

At the Second Training Center, the oath was taken by 129 soldiers on voluntary military service, including 11 women, and three professional female soldiers.