LTC Bajčetić Šijanski, the first female Commander of the Contingent deployed to international activity

Today, on 12 February 2025, the 6th Croatian Contingent was sent from the barracks of the 1st Guards Brigade Tigrovi – Croatia to be deployed to the area of operation of NATO Forward Land Forces in Hungary.

The 6th Croatian Contingent consists of a total of 64 members, eight of whom are women. For the first time, the duty of Commander of the Contingent deployed to international activity is held by a woman, LTC Mirna Bajčetić Šijanski.

Commander of the Command Operations Centre of the CAF General Staff BG Željko Ljubas said: “Participation in NATO activities of the forward land forces in Hungary significantly affects the development of the CAF capabilities, increases the level of interoperability with the armed forces of other members, and directly contributes to strengthening the deterrence and collective defence of the North Atlantic Alliance.”

On this occasion LTC Mirna Bajčetić Šijanski emphasized: “It is an honour for me to be the Commander of these professional people, this is just another in a series of positions today where women in the Croatian Army perform daily responsible duties, from soldiers in Patria AMV to Heads of Directorates.

Women and men in the Croatian Army have equal rights and obligations, so there are no gender differences in our system,” and added that she joined the Croatian Army 19 years ago.

“Years of dedicated work, learning and training are behind us, as well as the entire pre-deployment training process that we all successfully mastered in order to be trained for the tasks that await us,” she told everyone present, adding that the period of work in an international environment with NATO partners in the Hungarian-led Forward Land Forces Battle Group will follow.

“Dear families and friends, thank you for your support in our decision to participate in this international peace support activity. I know you will be anxious and worried because this is what families do for their loved ones,” LTC Bajčetić Šijanski said in the closing part of her speech.

“This is my first mission, but I will be deployed to it with members who have already been there as members of the first Contingent. Therefore, my desire to work and their experience are a winning combination for successful implementation of the mission,” the youngest member of the Contingent said, the twenty-four-year-old leader of the Forward Land Forces’ Civil-Military Cooperation Team, 2LT Franjo Rora.

“This is my fifth mission in a series and one of many international activities, given that I often participate in international military exercises. I am the SM of the Military Police Platoon and the CSM of the entire Contingent, I have a double duty and we are going to complete the mission in the best possible way,” MS Robert Barbir explained, one of the last first conscripts of the Croatian Army and an experienced soldier, who took part in the Homeland War and missions from Afghanistan and the Golan Heights to Hungary.

“The main motivation for deployment to a mission such as this is the desire for professional development for myself and all my colleagues who are going with me,” explained one of the eight female soldiers who will travel to Hungary, CPL Elena Kraljević, team leader in the Military Police Platoon, about her motivation for deployment to an international mission.

Contingent Commander

LTC Mirna Bajčetić Šijanski has been a member of the Croatian Army since 2006, and in 2022 she graduated from the Blago Zadro Interbranch Command and Staff School. She participated in NATO activities of the enhanced Forward Presence in the Republic of Poland.

The NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group in Hungary

Members of the Croatian Armed Forces will spend six months in NATO activity of Forward Land Forces in Hungary. The following components are departing for Hungary: the Command Team, the National Support Element, the staff personnel, the Military Police Platoon, the Protection Squad, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, the Tactical Team for civil-military cooperation (CIMIC team) and the Medical Team (MEDIC team).

A total of 320 members have been deployed to NATO Forward Land Forces area of operations in Hungary so far, 31 of whom are women.

The NATO Forward Land Forces Battle Group in Hungary is composed of forces from Hungary, the Republic of Croatia, the Italian Republic and the Republic of Turkey. The forces from the United States of America are also participating in this activity, although they are not formally part of the Battle Group. The lead nation is Hungary. Participation in NATO Enhanced Vigilance Activity in Hungary significantly affects the development of the capabilities of the Croatian Armed Forces, increases the level of interoperability with armed forces of other member states, and directly contributes to strengthening the deterrence and collective defence of the North Atlantic Alliance. In this way, the Republic of Croatia confirms its commitment to implementation of the Allied decisions and continues to build international credibility, as well as political and military credibility within the Alliance.