Croatian Defence Academy marks the Croatian Army and CAF Day

The ceremony was attended by the Envoy of the President of the Republic  Anamarija Kirinić, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, the Minister of the Veterans of the Homeland War Tomo Medved, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General  Mirko Šundov, members of the Croatian Parliament, the present and the former staff of the Ministry of Defence and of the Croatian Armed Forces, enlisted leaders, NCOs and officers, cadets and other invitees.
The President’s Envoy Anamarija Kirinić said the Croatian Army and the Croatian Armed Forces Day was an opportunity to recall proudly and with gratitude the  patriots and defenders, primarily those who sacrified their lives. The Envoy reminded of the crucial role of the Croatian military defending and liberation of Croatia, as well as of peacetime  reorganisation, peace missions and other activities paving the way to the membership in NATO and the EU and building the international reputation of Croatia.
The current security situation calls for increased  investment into defence and into the Croatian Armed Forces, whose members remain the guarantee of peace and security and of the international confirmation of the Republic of Croatia.
“The Croatian Army grew in the hardest days of the struggle for the survival of the state; it won all its battles and is today focussed on the future.. The Croatian Armed Forces are modernising and more efficient  and readier to accomplish any tasks assigned to them. .The Ministry of Defence will  invest efforts to upgrade the living and working conditions for the members of the Croatian Armed Forces, concurrently working to enhance a system of security guaranteeing a  strong and swift response  to any threat or risk and ensuring the development and prosperity of the citizens of Croatia“, said Minister Krstičević.
Speaking of modernisation and equipment of the Croatian Armed Forces the Minister expressed conviction that the procurement  of a new fighter aircraft would be successfully resolved, as a required capability for the Croatian Armed Forces.
General Mirko Šundov emphasised: “The Croatian armed forces have since their establishment in 1991 been through various yet  decisive periods, from the war period concluded by victorious campaigns till the transformation. The Croatian Armed Forces have been reorganised into a smaller yet efficient and  professional organisation successfully integrated  into NATO and the EU. Our future achievements will depend primarily on the abilities of their members, on constant investment into the human potentials and their education and preparation to ensure the capability of responding to the challenges of the future.
The ceremony featured the presentation of the decorations, promotions and awards pursuant to the decision of the President of the Republic as Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces (the Order of Vice-roy Jelačić has been awarded to Colonel Ivan Vukić, the Commander of the 142nd Homeguard Regiment, to Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Katić, the Commander of the 14th Homeguard Regiment, to Lieutenant Colonel Josip Goršić, the Commander of the 137th Homeguard Regiment and to Major Ivan Lorković, the Commander of the 13rd Homeguard  Regiment.  The  Order of the Croatian Trefoil was awarded posthumously to Jakov Bienenfeld, and the Medal for Daring Feat to   Captain Ivan Lukan.
Likewise, on the occasion of the Croatian Army and the Croatian Armed Forces Day  100 members of the Croatian Armed Forces 100 have been promoted and seven commended.
Pursuant to the order of the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces  171 NCOs have been promoted,  149 promoted to the rank of corporal and commended 60 members of the Croatian Armed Forces.
As many as 39 members of the Croatian Armed Forces received awards and commendations from the  Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister  Damir Krstičević .
The members of the first generation of military pilots of the Croatian Armed Forces received the recognition from the Chief of the General Staff for the contribution to the development of  the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence.
The ceremony also saw the presentation of the award to the first and second runners-up of the “Best Soldier Competition 2017“(Private First Class Marin Protrka, member of the Special Forces Command  and Private Nikola Polić, member of the Guards Mechanised  Brigade – Battalion “Pauci“: the winners (2nd Lt Monika Martina Sipina-Halper of the Guards Mechanised Brigade in the female category  and Corporal Ivo Bašić of the MIlitary Intelligence Company of the GuardsMechanised Brigade in the male category respectively) received their awards  at the ceremony held in the “Vatroslav Lisinski“ Concert Hall on 29 May.
The ceremony was followed by the dress rehearsal of the Changing of the Guard, which will take place in the Upper Town in Zagreb from late May till 1 October 2017. The ceremony will recreate the daily changing of the guard, originating in the years preceding the world war II.  It was revived in late 1990 and went on until 2000. The unit presently performing it is the Honorary Battalion, assigned with protocol and ceremonial procedures for the senior  state and military institutions of the Republic of Croatia (the President of the Republic, the Government, the Ministry of Defence) and security and protection of the Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces.
The Defence Minister described the ceremony as a symbol of the state of Croatia and reminder of the victorious Army, the revival of the ceremony “serves to enhance the national pride, cohesion, identity and tradition but also promotes the military profession and the Republic of Croatia“.