Today, 8th of April 2014, at the Army Training Area Krivolak, NATO assessment – level 2 started. The assessment is for the Mid Infantry Battalion Group (MIBG) and Light Maneuver Hospital – Level 2 (LMH) within the military exercise “Macedonian Flash – 10”.
It started yesterday with assessing peace time conditions in the garrisons in Skopje, Petrovec, Prilep, Shtip and Kumanovo. Afterwards the assessors gave a briefing to the Director of the Exercise Lieutenant Colonel Gjoko Maksimov. The aim of this part of the assessment is to assess MIBG and LMH’ combat readiness in order to successfully do their assignments. The assessment is conducted in accordance with NATO Operational Ability Concept in the following 5 areas: plans, operations, logistics, communication and administration. The assessment is conducted by a team of 15 NATO assessors and national representatives. Lieutenant Colonel Sashko Lafchiski is MIBG assessment Director and Major Biljana Blazeska is LMH assessment Director.
Each area has team leaders and assessors appointed depending on the scope of the assessment. The assessment is conducted in 2 phases, i.e. assessment in peace time locations and on the field. At the end of the assessment a formal report will be signed by the NATO observers and assessment Directors and then it will be handed in to the assessed unit.
NATO assessment – level 2 is very important for ARM because this is the first time that this size of units such as MIBG and LMH are assessed, which are declared units for NATO led missions.
