Special Operation Battalion 10th anniversary celebrated
The 10th anniversary of establishing the Special Operations Battalion of the Croatian Armed Forces was celebrated on September 8 in the “Drgomalj” Barracks in Delnice. In addition to the Battalion staff, the ceremony was also attended by a number of civil and military officials, headed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Ivo Josipovic, envoy of the Parliament Speaker Zeljka Antunovic, and envoy of the Minister of Defence Chief of General Staff General Josip Lucic.
During the morning, a Mass in Delnice Church of St. John the Baptist was held, led by military Ordinary Monsignor Juraj Jezerinac, and the Battalion Headquarters and representatives of veterans’ organizations and veterans families laid wreaths at the memorial area dedicated to members of the Croatian Special Forces killed in the Homeland war in the “Drgomalj” Barracks. Promotions, awards and commendations were also handed to prominent members of Special Operations Battalion (BSD).
The central part of the celebration was organized in the evening. The BSD Commander Colonel Nikola Zupanic submitted to the President and then the officials addressed the lined up BSD members and other guests, among who were former unit members, representatives of local authorities, police, military-diplomatic corps and others.
BSD Commander Colonel Nikola Zupanic presented a brief history of BSD and its current assignments, with an emphasis on participation of BSD members in international peacekeeping missions and interoperability with allied forces from NATO countries.
Chief of General Staff General Josip Lucic, welcomed the present on behalf of the Minister of Defence Branko Vukelic. BSD has been characterized as the most elite unit of the Croatian Armed Forces, which was developed on the basis of the Homeland War and profiled in the most equipped and most trained special unit, ready to conduct the most demanding tasks at all times.
Vice Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Zeljka Antunovic quoted the BSD motto “All are invited, few are chosen”, which clearly shows how much hard work, courage, skill and devotion one should have to become a member of the Battalion. “Its virtues BSD confirms at every opportunity, regardless of whether it is military task or helping the civilian community”, Antunovic said.
President of The Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipovic said that BSD is one of the “pillars of Croatian defence power, but also a window to the world”, because the unit members participate in international operations around the world, everywhere on the pride and honour of the Republic of Croatia. “In the vision of modern Croatia we have, Croatia of the 21st century that is part of the European Union, BSD has a responsible role”, President Josipovic concluded.
The program completed with a BSD weapon display.