Mission:
To plans, organize and conduct special operations in order to protect the integrity and sovereignty of the territory of the Republic.
Tasks:
- To plan, organize, equip and train for conducting special operations in order to destroy and disable enemy forces and facilities;
- To maintain the ability to organize, train, consult and help in peace support operations within or led by international organizations out of the Republic;
- To plan, organize, equip and train for operations supporting state institutions in case of natural disasters.
Lieutenant Colonel Gjorgji Veljovski
Date of birth:
11.04.1977 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
Military education:
- Military Academy, RM, 1995-1999;
- Special Forces Qualification Course, USA, 2002;
- Summer Mountaineering Instructor Course, RM, 2003;
- Jump Master Course, Greece, 2004;
- Air and ground Operations Course, the Netherlands, 2007;
- US army Command and General Staff College, 2010;
- US army School of Advanced Military Studies, 2011.
Additional education:
- PhD in Social Sciences in the field of National and International Security and International Relations, Military Academy, RM, 2018;
- MA in Political Sciences, Institute for Sociological, Political and Juridical Research Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, 2004-2007;
- Masters of Military Art and Sciences, US army CGSC;
- Masters of Military Art and Sciences, US army SAMS.
Military career:
- Platoon Cdr, mech coy, armor bat1999-2000;
- SF ODA Cdr, SFBn, 2000-2002;
- Instructor Team cdr, SF Bn, 2003;
- Counterterrorist Coy Cdr, SFBn, 2003-2004;
- Special Operations Officer, SFBn, 2005;
- Operations Officer, SORg, 2006-2015;
- Strategy and Planning Officer, SORg, 2015-2018;
- Special Forces battalion commander, 2018.
Promotions:
- Second Lieutenant 1999;
- Lieutenant 2000;
- Captain 2001;
- Major 2007;
- Lt Col 2013.
Missions and exercises:
- Operation “Iraqi Freedom”, 2006;
- NATO evaluation of the declared units Level 1, Krivolak, Republic of Macedonia, 2008;
- NATO self-evaluation of the declared units Level 2, Krivolak, Republic of Macedonia, 2009;
- CJSOTF B-9 “Wise Wolf”, Krivolak, RM, 2012;
- NATO “Allied Spirit VI”, Hohenfels, Germany, 2017.
Awards and decorations:
- Commendation from the MOD, 2001;
- Commendation from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, 2001;
- Commendation from Commander, 2003;
- Big plaque from the MOD, 2006;
- Small plaque from the GS, 2006;
- Monetary award from the MoD, 2007;
- Middle plaque from the MoD, 2007;
- ARCOM’s 2007 United States Award;
- German Armed Forces Badge for military Proficiency, 2011;
- Bronze badge of the ARM, 2013;
- Commendation from Commander, 2013;
- Commendation from Commander, 2014;
- Commendation from Chief of GS, 2015;
- Monetary award from the MoD, 2018.
Foreign languages:
- English STANAG 3333;
- French STANAG 2222.
Marital status:
Married, father of two children.
Hobby:
- Marathon running;
- Scale modeling.
On the 1st of March, 1994, Special Forces Unit (6th Squad), called “Wolves” was founded within the Army of Republic of Macedonia for the first time. In 1998, the first team formation of the unit was formed and it was renamed into Special Forces Unit. In 2001 the unit became a part of CTU (Counter terrorism unit), and after founding SU Command, it became a part of it as a Squad. In 2003, the unit was reformed into Special Forces Battalion.
The forming of this unit has marked the process of becoming professional army for ARM. Since the beginning the candidates for joining this unit has been selected through special selection criteria and they are required to be physically and mentally prepared, regardless of the rank.
Training and exercises:
- Participation in the bilateral military exercise in R. Hungary, 2011, 2012;
- Exercise “Adriatic Eagle 08”,2008;
- Exercise “Macedonian Flash”,2007;
- Start cooperation with the A3 group countries, 2006;
- Start cooperation with AF of R. Albania and R. Greece, 2004;
- Start cooperation with Swiss AF, 2000;
- First Selection course for joining the unit, 2000;
- Participation in the first international military exercise “Savior 98”;
- First Mountaineering training, 1997;
- First cooperation with R. Turkey – Commando training, 1997;
- First diving course, 1996;
- First army parachute training, 1996;
- Sergeant Major course, 1996;
- Exercise with USAF, “Winter 96”, Popova Shapka, R. Macedonia;
- Parachute training with US Army, 1995;
- First Aid training with USAF;
- Exercise “Balkan Wolf”;
- Participation in the international exercise Mostar 08 and 09 in R. Turkey.
Foreign mission:
Special Operations Battalion took part in several peacekeeping missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The servicemen of Special Operations Battalion were awarded with a large number of medals of courage, merit and achievement, commendations, and similar awards.
Medals received:
In 2005, the President of Republic of Macedonia gave the MILITAY MERIT MEDAL to Special Forces Battalion for the first time in Republic of Macedonia.