The 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade (1stMIBde), which is the largest combat unit in the Army and which is comprised of members of different military services, with a military ceremony marked the Day of the unit at the military barracks ‘Strasho Pindzur’ in Petrovec.
The Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski, addressing the brigade members in formation, congratulated them on their holiday and pointed out that the Army General Staff is completely dedicated to fulfilling the needs of the brigade and of all the subordinate commands and units in order to accomplish the top standards of NATO, where we de facto belong.
Brigade Commander, Colonel Dragan Kovacki in his speech emphasized that this is the day we should remember the sacrifice of this brigade’s predecessors who contributed to the level accomplished and whose tradition is maintained by this brigade.
‘We, the members of the 1st MIBde, must build our future on a strong belief that the words from our predecessors and the lessons from the past must be cherished with due respect, defending our homeland and respecting diversity, because there is no more honourable calling than the military, nor there is more sacred duty than defending your own nation and homeland’ highlighted Colonel Kovacki.
At the ceremony on the occasion of the Day of the Unit, members of the brigade were awarded different stimulation measures, and also previous brigade commanders received golden badges of the Army for partnership, coordination and cooperation from the Chief of the GS, and best unit in the brigade was proclaimed.
Besides the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski, the ceremony was attended by GS Director, Major General Zoran Mileski, the Commander of JOC, Major General Pavle Arsoski, Brigadier Generals Mirche Gjorgoski and Orce Jordev, military leaders from the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff, previous commanders of this brigade, representatives of the local government and of organizations the brigade cooperates with.
The Day of the unit was marked with a ceremonial parade of the units, an entertaining performance by the students from the Centre for Education of Macedonian Folklore ‘Mitevi’ from Skopje, and tactical-technical display which gave the opportunity to visitors to see part of the weaponry, armament and equipment the brigade possesses.
02, April was chosen the Day of the 1stMIBde, because on this day the unit was transformed according to the last organizational army structure and took over the tasks and responsibilities of the two previous brigades, becoming the largest combat unit comprised of different services.
