Croatian Army Day programme at Jarun Lake attracts mass audience
The ceremonial programme marking the 28th anniversary of the Croatian Armed Forces and the Croatian Army Day was held in the Jarun Lake Recreation Area on 26 May 2019.
The interested citizens had the opportunity to see the firing of honorary volleys, the parachute jump, the ceremoial drill by the Honorary and Protection Battalion, the Croatian Army Exercise”Jarun 19″, a flying programme of the Croatian Air Force, and the aerobatic sequence of the “Wings of Storm” aerobatic team and the static display of the weapons and equipment used by the Croatian Army.
The programme was attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović as Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces,by the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, by the Chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces General Mirko Šundov, by the US Ambassador to Croatia H.E. Robert Kohorst, by Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Lieutenant General Steven M. Shepro and other senior officials.
“I am proud of every Croatian soldier who represents our Croatia at home and abroad”, said Minister Krstičević, congratulating all members and members of the Croatian Army on the 28th anniversary. He said that the Croatian Army restored the reputation from the Homeland War and said: “We have enhanced the link between the Croatian Army and the people and I am happy to see so many people here today!”
The ceremonial programme began with the firing of 28 volleys from six mountain guns, symbollising the28 years of the Croatian Armed Forces,folllowedbyparachutejumps by the members of the Special Forces Command from theMI-8 helicopter carrying the flags of the Republic of Croatia, of the Ministry of Defence, of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces ,of the Croatian Army andof the City of Zagreb. The national flag was hoisted by Corporal Nikola Knežeić,the winnner of the competition “First for Croatia – “Memorial Major Davor Jović 2019”.
A minute of silence was observed in honour to the fallen and missing Croatian defenders, and a tribute paid by an overpass of two MiGs- 21 of the Croatian Air Force, followedby a cereomonial drill by the Honorary and Protection Battalion.
The Croatian Armed Forces conducted an exercise -“Jarun 19”- engaging air, land and special forces. Theunitsof the Croatian Army, the Croatian Air Force, the Special Forces Command and of the Intelligence Division conducted a joint attack action against an enemy position.
The Exercise engaged an unmanned system “ORBITER 3” recently introduced into the service by the Croatian Armed Forces, and the PC-9M aircraft and OH-58D KiowaWarrior helicopters of the Croatian Air Force, the Joint Terminal Attack Controller and Joint Fires Observer.
The Special Forces Command performed reconnaissance and a direct action on the round,at water and in the air all, using landing crafts, divers and performing, parachute jumps, combat vehicles, and helicopter for exfiltration (employing the stick technique).
The amphibious vehicle and Patria AMV demonstrated immersion and joint operation with the support of a helicopter, while the members of the 2nd Mechanised Battalion “Gromovi” of the Guards Mechanised Brigade performed landing with amphibious transporters of the Engineer Regiment of the Croatian Army;the protection and fire support provided by amphibious Patrias.
The aerobatic team of the Croatian Air Force “Wings of Storm” flew their sequence in a 5-aircraft formation ,which again delighted the spectators.
The cadets of the Croatian Defence Academy ” Dr. Franjo Tuđman” – the members of the Academy’s martial arts section “CDA Kickboxing and grappling” displayed combinations of kickboxing, and K1 as well as of martial arts and some tactical tasks performed by cadets in cadet camps and during the training in their curriculum.
The members of the Military Police Regiment demonstrated a simulated use of explosive detection military working dogs, and elements of performance of the MP working dogs (high obedience, tactical movement of the military dog-handler team, handler’s commands to the dog Following the ceremony the distinguished visitors toured the static display of the weapons and equipment used by the Croatian Armed Forces.
The programme and the unique opportunity to see the capabilities and weapons of the Croatian Armed Forces drew numerous enthousiastic visitors.
“It is always nice to see our soldiers among the people”, said the regular visitor Josip Strinić whoalsobrings his grandchildren.
“We tend to forget how strong and capable our Army is, and so eventsofthe kind serve to assure us that we aresafewithourroatian Army”, said the visitor Sofija Petrić.
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