Foto: MORH/ J. Kopi

Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade marks 10th anniversary

The Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade of the Croatian Army on 20 March 2017 marked its 10th  anniversary in the barracks of the former 5th Guards Brigade “Slavonski sokolovi” in Vinkovci, of the 3rd Guards Brigade “Kune” in Đakovo,  in the Barracks “Našice” in Našice and the Barracks “Bilogora” in Bjelovar, and the Open Day was organised on the occasion.

The central cermony, opened with wreathe laying ceremony and the mass, was attended by the State Secretary for Defence Tomislav Ivić as Envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, by the Commander of the Croatian Army Lieutenant General Mate Ostović as Envoy of the Chief of the General Staff, the Military Ordinary of the Republic of Croatia Jure Bogdan, the representatives of the county and the town of Vinkovci and other invitees.

State Secretary for Defence Tomislav Ivić extended congratulations to the members of the Brigade on the hard work, motivation, professionalism and patriotism invested into its growth. The Brigade keeps  memory of the legendary brigades (“Kuna“, “Puma“ and “Sokolovi“ ) of the victorious Croatian Army as the decisive force in the defence of Croatia and of its safety.
The State Secretary for Defence reminded of the fallen Croatian defenders and their sacrifice which obliges the citizens of Croatia to continue making efforts for a better and stronger country. The Secretary also stated that the Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade was a well-organised unit and one of the main components of the Croatian Army and of the Croatian Armed Forces as a whole, which proved its capabilities and professionalism in peace support missions and  operations  and also assisting the fire- and flood-hit population in Croatia in the moment of need. “Wherever you were deployed to you demonstrated  the indistructible spirit of the victorious Croatian military born in the Homeland War“.
Congratulating on the Brigade Day the Croatian Army Commander Lieutenant General Mate Ostović as the Envoy of the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Force  said the Brigade was proudly keeping the memories and the spirit of the legendary brigades of the Croatian Army (“Kuna“, “Sokolovi“, “Puma“) and other brigades which constituted the decisive force in the liberation and development of the Republic of Croatia and called on the Brigade members to keep the memory and the tradition of the glorious wartime units.  “Continue investing in yourselves and your education and training in compliance with the standards; only top-prepared and educated  enlisted soldiers, NCOs and officers are able to successfully complete the assigned tasks.

The Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Denis Tretinjak said that while 10 years were not a long period for a unit, its results and the assistance provided to the local population were quite visible. “The future is bringing us more intensive integration into the international activities of the Croatian Armed Forces. Our activities for the current year have multiplied,and include the practicing of capabilities and interoperability with the allied forces for comprehensive security protection engagement“, said Brig.Gen. Tretinjak.
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