Become a Croatian soldier: The Croatian army showed its top-grade readiness and excellence to numerous citizens in Pula

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Army organized today, on 6 December 2024, a unique event in Pula called Become a Croatian Soldier. It gathered hundreds of citizens of all ages, who had the opportunity to see the high level of readiness and excellence of the Croatian Armed Forces: attractive demonstration exercises, an exhibition of equipment and weapons, and get to know the work of Croatian soldiers up-close.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić pointed out that the Ministry of Defence has been working on the intensive popularization of military service for a year: Demonstration exercises by members of the Armed Forces, which were impressive, are primarily intended for children who will decide to join the military today or tomorrow, and that is our goal. For the last year, we noticed an increased interest of young people in joining the Armed Forces, which is, of course, our goal and the reason for such demonstration exercises, which we will conduct all over Croatia.”

Minister Anušić also said that the Croatian Armed Forces, together with the Government of the Republic of Croatia, are continuously modernizing and equipping the Croatian Air Force and the Croatian Army, and the equipping of the Croatian Navy will also begin next year.

“We will continue to strengthen and build up the CAF”, stressed Minister Anušić at the end.

The Chief of the CAF General Staff LTG Tihomir Kundid emphasized that the promotion of military recruitment is extremely important for attracting young people to the Armed Forces system: “I believe that the Armed Forces provide a wide range of different opportunities for young people. Everyone can find their own area of interest in which they want to pursue a professional career. Ultimately, the Armed Forces enable education for young people through the military education system, enable advancement in the service, promotion, but also the development of various special skills, abilities and competencies.”

General Kundid also emphasized that the Armed Forces are high-tech and that in this context young people are allowed to enter the field of high military technologies.

The prefect of Istria, Boris Miletić, said that the young fellow citizens could see very different segments of the activities of the Croatian Armed Forces today, and that someone will certainly decide on military service, stressing that everyone’s safety comes first.

An attractive programme of the Croatian Army in Pula

The Croatian Army demonstrated its capabilities through demonstration exercises of special forces, actions of military police dogs, handling drones, and a special part of the programme was prepared by members of the Special Forces Command, who performed tactical infiltrations with parachute jumps from Black Hawk helicopters, demonstrating the professionalism and skills necessary for operations in the opponent’s conditions.

The continuation of the action included a demonstration of the repelling infiltration technique, where special forces operatives descended by rope from a helicopter, captured a high-value target, neutralized the threat and destroyed the target with explosives, while retreating to a safe area.

The highlight of the flight programme was the flight of the Rafale multirole fighter airplane, which caused the enthusiasm of the gathered citizens.

Exhibition of the military equipment and weapons of the Croatian Army

During the exhibition of military equipment, which lasted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors could view armoured combat vehicles, sophisticated drones, virtual reality with flights in the CAiF helicopters and airplanes through VR (virtual reality) glasses, and various military equipment and weapons.

Children, students, families and all visitors enjoyed socializing with members of the Croatian Army, and many took the opportunity to learn about military conscription, career opportunities, study programmes and voluntary military training.

Such events and the presentation of the training of the Croatian Army through a series of attractive demonstration exercises are an opportunity to encourage young people to choose military occupation. They are also an opportunity to present the capabilities of the Croatian Army and the equipment and weapons it uses to protect national security.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Minister of Defence paid a working visit to the “Croatian Defenders of Istria” barracks in Pula today.