“Croatian pride 10/2” military exercise held
The final display of “Croatian pride 10/2” military exercise of the 16th CAF contingent that will be deployed in early September to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan was held today, July 8, on the “Eugen Kvaternik” military training ground near Slunj. The final display was attended by the Deputy Chief of General Staff Rear Admiral (UH) Zdenko Simicic and Deputy Army Commander Brigadier General Zvonko Peternel.
The exercise started on June 28, with the Guard Motorised Brigade (GMBR) of the Army as the main force. Director of the exercise was the GMBR Brigadier General Mladen Fuzul. Apart from training, the main objective of this exercise was the assessment of the readiness of the 16th HRVCON for participation in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.
The exercise involved four elements of the 16th HRVCON: Infantry Company, two OMLT teams and Military Police Task Force. Commander of the 16th HRVCON is Navy Captain Marileo Stanicic.
The present were presented with three situational exercises with simulated incidents: VIP escort, an attack on the patrol and patrolling the area. Members of the Air Force and Air Defence with one helicopter Mi-171Sh and Pilatus PC-9 aircraft also attended the exercise.
In his address to members of the 16th HRVCON, Rear Admiral (UH) Zdenko Simicic congratulated on the successful exercise and high grades, and expressed his belief that the contingent, the same as previous, would successfully perform its mission in Afghanistan. “You have put the maximum effort and showed maximum responsibility”, Simicic said, stressing that exactly this approach helped Croatia’s accession to NATO. “In the future, it will help in the EU accession, as well as in preserving the Croatian professionalism as a member of NATO”, Simicic said.