Minister Anušić and Admiral Hranj meet the best soldiers/sailors and NCOs of the year 2023

On Tuesday, 20 February 2024, at the Ministry of Defence, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić and Chief of the CAF General Staff presented commendations and awards to the best soldiers/sailors and NCOs of the month, as well as medals to the best female soldier and NCO of the year 2023.

The best female soldier of the year 2023 is a member of the Croatian Army Alena Pejić, while the best NCO is Master Sergeant Damir Sertić from the Military Police Regiment.

After awarding medals to the best female soldier and NCs, the Minister of Defence said once again that Croatian female and male soldiers, NCOs and officers are the best that Croatia has since the time of the Homeland War until today.

“Thank you for your dedicated and honourable service to the Croatian people and the Homeland. The fact that Croatian people has full confidence in the Croatian Armed Forces speaks about how professionally you perform your military duties,” the Minister of Defence said and added that he believes that new generations of the victorious Croatian Armed Forces will pass on patriotism and the values and knowledge gained in the Homeland War to the next generations.

“As the Minister of Defence, I will continue to advocate further strengthening of the status and position of the Croatian Armed Forces in society, but also for improvement of the substantive rights, as well as living and working conditions of all members of the CAF” continues Minister Anušić. In closing, he said that he believed that they will continue to be faithful to the Homeland in performance of their duties and jobs, he wished them a great deal of luck and success in their further work and private life: “May God protect you, may your journey be safe and your families satisfied and safe as well. Thank you once again for all the noble and good things you have done for the Croatian people and the Croatian state”.

The Chief of the CAF General Staff, Admiral Robert Hranj, pointed out that today’s commendations, awards and medals prove the excellence and the high level of professionalism of the female and male CAF members.

“Let the defence of the Homeland continue to be your most important task. Look after and protect its interests, invest in yourselves and never settle for mediocrity. The Croatian Armed Forces need the best,” Admiral Hranj said.

On behalf of the commended and awarded soldiers/sailors and NCOs, the CSM of the CAF, the SM Dražen Klanjec, addressed the audience and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Defence and Minister Anušić for all efforts put in order to raise the quality of life and work of CAF members to an even higher level.

Indeed, the selection of the best NCO and soldier/sailor of the month and year is made by the NCO Support Channel of the CAF.

In this manner, the candidates who achieved above-average results in training and/or exercises, while on duty, in terms of system improvement and more are nominated for the best NCO and soldier/sailor of the month and year.