CDA honours 126 military school graduates with a formal graduation ceremony
Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid asserted that military education is the cornerstone for the development of modern armed forces and not only a means of preparing for new and more challenging tasks
On 26 June 2025, the Croatian Military Academy Dr. Franjo Tuđman held a ceremonial graduation ceremony for this year’s generation of military graduates at the Petar Zrinski Barracks in Zagreb.
Diplomas were awarded to 126 participants, including 106 members of the Croatian Armed Forces, one from each of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and the Croatian Parliament, as well as 16 members of foreign armed forces from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the Republic of Kosovo, the Republic of North Macedonia, and the Republic of Slovenia.
Speaking to the graduating students, Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, underlined: “This event represents both a new step of your professional development and a stage of your military education. With additional responsibilities, you assume leadership and decision-making responsibilities. This calls for expertise as well as a personal example.”
“Contemporary security challenges are becoming increasingly complex and threats unpredictable, while technology determines the implementation of the primary tasks of a military organization. Technological sovereignty as the integration of new knowledge is becoming one of the key capabilities of the modern armed forces. Military education is not just preparation for performing new and higher duties, it is the foundation for the development of modern armed forces,” General Kundid told the graduates.
The Commandant of the Croatian Military Academy, Major General Slaven Zdilar, congratulated the participants from all military school levels as well as those from partner and allied countries on successfully completing their training. He said it was a great pleasure to see everyone who had successfully finished their education, starting a new chapter in their distinguished military careers. He placed special emphasis on the significance of the international character of military education. “I am confident that the expertise and skills you have gained here will not only be a significant advancement in your military career, but also a genuine asset to the units and commands you are returning to or have recently been assigned to” said MG Slaven Zdilar.
“The fundamental task of the CDA is to educate and prepare participants to readily assume and implement all duties and tasks in order to fulfil the mission and the very purpose of the existence of the Croatian Armed Forces, which is the defence of the homeland,” stated General Zdilar.
The Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces and the President of the Republic of Croatia’s envoy, Defence Advisor Ivica Olujić, commended everyone for choosing to serve in the military and for training and promotion.
He stressed that the awarding of the first officer ranks to our new officers is undoubtedly the ceremony’s most significant event. “I extend to them special greetings from President Milanović with best wishes for an effective beginning to their military service after the education they have successfully completed,” he said.
“You did not get an ordinary job, but a duty in the Armed Forces, and after these ceremonies and maybe a short break, you will assume your first officer duties. I wish you success in this and that in a few years you will return here to the Croatian Military Academy to take part in the Advanced Officer Course, Command and Staff School, and War College,” concluded Mr. Olujić.
Best students
Among those promoted were students of the Ban Josip Jelačić War College, the Command and Staff School Blago Zadro, the Basic Officer Course and the Advanced NCO Course.
The graduates of the War College were given a ring along with their certificates. In honour of Major General Blago Zadro, the City of Vukovar presented the Plaque of the City of Vukovar and a monetary reward to the best Basic Officer Course student.
This year, the plaque for the best student of the 33rd generation of the Command and Staff School was awarded to Major Boris Lokas, who donated the cash prize to the Duga humanitarian association Vukovar.
This year’s best student of the Command and Staff School Blago Zadro is Major Boris Lokas.
Second Lieutenant Tomislav Jurić-Ćivro is the best student of the 24th generation of Basic Officer Course.
The best student of the 23rd generation of Advanced NCO Course is Master Sergeant Robert-Mike Jurkovac.
In addition to military school students and lecturers from the Croatian Defence Academy, the ceremony was attended by the envoy of the President of the Republic of Croatia and the Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, Defence Advisor Ivica Olujić, the envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Branko Hrg, the Chief of the General Staff of the CAF, Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, the Commandant of the Croatian Defence Academy, Major General Slaven Zdilar, as well as numerous officials and advisors from the Office of the President and the Ministry of Defence, former CDA commandants, generals, non-commissioned officers and soldiers, as well as representatives of religious communities, the Catholic Church and the Islamic Community, the first secretaries of the embassies of BIH and Kosovo, as well as representatives of the Military Diplomatic Corps.
