HRVCONs’ rotation within the NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Poland | Photo: Romanian Armed forces/ Lt Maria-Ioana Dohotar
HRVCONs’ rotation within the NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Poland
During the 13th HRVCON rotation within the Battle Group Poland, the 12th HRVCON Commander, Major Ivo Koščević handed over the national flag to the 13th HRVCON Commander, Major Ivica Bešlić.
On Monday, January 29, 2024 in Poland’s Bemowo Piskie military training area, an official handover of duties was held between the 12th and 13th HRVCONs within the Battle Group Poland (BGP), which operate in the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Activity in the Republic of Poland.
During the 13th HRVCON rotation within the Battle Group Poland, the 12th HRVCON Commander, Major Ivo Koščević handed over the national flag to the 13th HRVCON Commander, Major Ivica Bešlić.
The current HRVCON under the command of Major Ivica Bešlić comprises 69 members, the majority of whom are members of the Artillery and Missile Regiment of the Croatian Army, including members of the Croatian Defence Academy, the Support Command, the Cyber Command and the Intelligence Regiment.
The handover ceremony between the 12th and 13th HRVCONs started with playing the Croatian national anthem, and was followed by a minute of silence to pay respect to the memory of all fallen and missing Croatian Homeland war veterans. After the handover of the national flag, HRVCON Commanders addressed the ceremony attendees.
The Commander of Battle Group Poland, Colonel Timothy W. Decker, praised the work and cooperation of the 12th HRVCON with other allies within the Battle Group. He emphasised that the Croatian forces achieved a high level of interoperability, saying that he hoped the 13th HRVCON would continue such successful cooperation.
On this occasion, members of the 12th HRVCON received an award from Commander of Battle Group Poland Colonel Timothy W. Decker for winning the first place in the Iron Panther Challenge, a military sports competition organized by the U.S. contingent in November 2023.
The 12th HRVCON Commander, Major Ivo Koščević thanked Colonel Timothy W. Decker. He praised excellent cooperation between HRVCON members and other members of the Battle Group, saying that he was proud of all the members of the 12th HRVCON who showed high motivation and success in carrying out their tasks.
The 13th HRVCON Commander, Major Ivica Bešlić, thanked the 12th HRVCON for its successful work and successful cooperation with other members of the Battle Group, adding that in the future he expects 13th HRVCON to carry out its tasks with the same level of quality as the previous HRVCON members.
Colonel Adam Koniuk, the Deputy Commander of the 15th Mechanised Brigade, comprising Battle Group Poland, emphasised a significant contribution that the Croatian members made to the Battle Group and the entire Brigade, saying that he believes they will continue to carry out all of their tasks successfully, professionally and with high quality as it is expected of Armed Force members to do so.
The ceremony was also attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Poland, Tomislav Vidošević and the Defence Attaché to the Republic of Poland, Captain Joško Šantić. They thanked all the members of the 12th HRVCON for successful completion of their tasks and wished the 13th HRVCON members success in carrying out their tasks.
