Top athletes swear in

The ceremony was attended by representative of the Minister of Defence, Director of Human Resources Directorate Nenad Smolcec, Representative of Chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Deputy Commander of Army Brigadier General Zvonko Peternel, Army Chief of Staff Brigadier General Alojzije Tomasevic, Chief of CAF GS  Personnel Directorate Brigadier General Tomo Medved, Commander of Army “Fran Krsto Frankopan” Doctrine and Training Command Brigadier General Ivan Juric, Commander of the Centre for Basic Training Colonel Robert Krncevic, representative of the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO) Neven Savora, as well as other representatives of the Armed Forces and MOD, the City of Pozega, Pozesko-Slavonska County, Pozega Diocese and associations from the Homeland war.
Representative of the Minister of Defence, Director of Human Resources Directorate Nenad Smolcec congratulated the voluntary conscripts – top athletes on given oath saying that this oath was different from all in the past, since for the first time top sportsmen and sportswomen swear-in to the Homeland. Commenting on the agreement on cooperation, improvement and development of sport in Croatia signed in September 2010between MOD and HOO, he stressed that the agreement gave a new dimension of cooperation between MOD and HOO, as well as a great feeling to be doing something good, positive and very useful for the Croatian Armed Forces, Croatian sport, and for the Croatian society as a whole. “The agreement, among other things, provides what is perhaps most important, the possibility of employment of top athletes in the Defence Ministry and Armed Forces. It is not a Croatian novelty, it is the practice in other NATO member countries”, Smolcec said adding that this was right way to have the interaction of special skills of athletes with those of Croatian soldiers, since it is about sports that contribute to the development of military skills.

Conscripts were also addressed by the representative of the Chief of General Staff Deputy Commander of Army Brigadier General Zvonko Peternel who stressed that this project between the MOD and the HOO was the project of hope of the Republic of Croatia. “I hope that this first generation of voluntary recruits – top athletes will achieve great sporting achievements on behalf of the Croatian Armed Forces as well. Although this will entail for you very great effort since you have to coordinate your sports and military profession, I am confident you will meet our expectations”, Brigadier General Peternel said.

HOO representative Neven Savora in his speech stressed that the recruitment of top athletes in the Defence Ministry and Armed Forces was a great opportunity and honour for both athletes and for the Croatian Olympic Committee, which has a long cooperation with the MOD. “I am proud to say that for the HOO this was one of the most important events and successes in 2010”, Savora said. He also said that from now on their sporting events and top athletes have a strong support system such as the Croatian Armed Forces, and that they must strive more and achieve even better results to promote the CAF across the world.

After a solemn oath representatives of MOD and the Armed Forces visited the rooms in which volunteer recruits have been accommodated by the NATO standards.

The first generation of voluntary recruits – top athletes started with voluntary service on 10 January 2011. Upon successful completion of training and regular expiration of eight weeks, in early March, top athletes will be admitted to active military service, in accordance with the Agreement on cooperation, promotion and development of sport in the Republic of Croatia, signed between MOD and HOO.