Military schools students graduation ceremony in Vukovar

Alongside the students of the officer and NCO schools and their families the ceremony held in the Memorial Centre of the Homeland War – Vukovar was attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia as Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, also as Envoy of the Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, the Minister of the Croatian Veterans of the Homeland War Tomo Medved, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov, the Commander of the Croatian Defence  Academy “Dr. Franjo Tudjman” Lieutenant General Slavko Barić, senior military and civilian officials, the representatives of veterans associations, of religious and academic communities and of the local government.
 
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović congratulated the students saying that the graduation was an opportunity demonstrating the commitment and hard work invested to develop their own capabilities and the capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces and promoting the Croatian Defence Academy named after the first Croatian President, Dr. Franjo Tuđman, which has grown into a successful  military, university and academic institution promoting  excellence. The President also welcomed the completion of the National Security Strategy stating “ Investment into defence and security is a lasting obligation, and if managed cost-effectively and wisely it also becomes investment into science, research, economy and the overall prosperity.

Welcoming the vistitos and to the heroic town of Vukovar and congratulating the students of the  military schools the Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević stressed the importance of the return of the ceremony to Vukovar. “We are proud to have this ceremony hosted by Vukovar again, on the eve of the Statehood Day, as a sign of respect to this town as a symbol of resistance and its huge sacrifice for the freedom of Croatia“. The Minister also announced further activities pertaining to defence investment, the investment into the the personnel and their life and work quality upgrade as the principal system enhancer The Minister told the students: “You  have inherited the achievements of the Croatian defenders and guarantee that the victorious Croatian spirit and togetherness will fulfill the goals and guarantee security, stability and prosperity to the citizens of Croatia.
We must never forget that the Homeland War is the foundation of our present and we must keep memory of our achievements and our heroes, looking into future“. Minister Krstičević, also welcomed the return of a unit of Croatian Armed Forces to the Barracks of the legendary 204th Brigade of Vukovar.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov reminded of the importance of the commemorating the 26th anniversary of the historic constitutional decision of the Croatian Parliament on sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Croatia, the Statehood Day today and of the graduation ceremony of the students of all education levels in staged in Vukovar. “We are here in Vukovar, the heroic town, a symbol of pride and sacrifice, expressing our gratitude as well as to all valorous defenders from the Homeland War who built their lives into the peace and freedom, expressing our deepest respect to their families“, said General Šundov.
The Commander of the Croatian Military Academy “Dr. Franjo Tuđjman” Lieutenant General Slavko Barić recounted the evolution of the Academy  and its continuous efforts in the education of officers and NCOs and transformation into a modern higher education and  research institution investing into the infrastructure and the lecturing staff.
The military education system and the Croatian Defence Academy as the main authority are adaptable and capable of keeping up with the developments related to  military and defence, security and intelligence challenges.
The ceremony featured the traditional roll call and presentation of awards to the best performing students of the military schools; the best students of the academic year 2016/2017 are Captain Marijan Žukina (25th generation of the Command and Staff School  “Blago Zadro“), 2nd  Lieutenant Suzana Krišto (16th Generation of the Basic Officer School ), 1st Sergeant Ivan Orlandini (15th Generation of Senior NCO School, 2nd Lieutenant Robert Dovijanić (20th generation of Basic Officer Training of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence), Staff Sergeant Damir Bednarek (36th Generation of Advanced NCO School) and Corporal Edin Muhić (51st generation of Basic Psychic Training, and the best instructor was 1st Sergeant Tomislav Petrović.
Captain Marijan Žukina  as the best student of the 25th generation of the Command and Staff School “Blago Zadro“ was awarded a newly established award  – the Plaque of Vukovar and a prize money, which he donated to a family in need from Vukovar.

A total of 167 students attended various education progrtammes in the officer and NCO schools, of which 152 members of the croatian Armed Forces, one official of the Ministr of the Foreign and European Affairs and one official of the Ministry if the Interior respectively.