With a military ceremony, at the barracks ‘Alekso Demnievski Bauman’ in Veles, the Training and Doctrine Command, as part of the activities which mark 30 years since founding of the Army, admitting first recruits and conducting training – celebrated 15th April – The day of the Unit.
Minister Slavjanka Petrovska, the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski and Deputy Commander of TRADOC, Colonel Stojanche Todorov gave speeches.
Minister of Defence Slavjanka Petrovska, addressing the members of this unit, stressed that all officers, cadets and soldiers who are part of this unit serve as a significant link in the chain of maintaining combat readiness of the Macedonian Army and developing skills and opportunities for each member.
‘Making a joint effort with the General Staff and The Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) we develop the most important aspect – human capacity. Our goal is to provide stable and growing carrier, constant education and self-improvement, trainings and military exercises for each member, because we believe that human potential is our greatest treasure!’, said minister Petrovska.
General Gjurchinovski pointed out that this day is one of the most significant dates in the history of the Training and Doctrine Command, and the Army in general because 30 years ago on this day our military barracks and the army officially started welcoming personnel; and legally our Army began to function.
‘You will have the support from the General Staff and the Ministry of Defence in realizing your priorities, and in developing and upgrading ATA Krivolak which is one of our national priorities’, added General Gjurchinovski, in the end praising the Command for preparing military publications which are to be published this year.
Deputy Commander of TRADOC, Colonel Stojanche Todorov also addressed the lined – up formation and stressed that at this Command, through the training programs, 39 generations of citizens underwent voluntary military service, part of whom joined the Army as professional soldiers. ‘Currently we perform our set tasks in a professional manner, and in the future we will continue the assigned mission, and deal with tasks and challenges arising from the contemporary environment’, stated Todorov.
The ceremony was attended by the State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Dragan Nikolikj, Army generals, former commanders at this Command, representatives from the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff and representatives from organizations which cooperate with the Command.
Many TRADOC members were promoted, praised and awarded at the ceremony for their achieved results; also plaques were awarded to former commanders, organizations and teams which participated in the competitions organized on the occasion of the Day of the Unit.
As part of the ceremony, certificates of commendation were given to authors who won first place in the art competition and the competition for best heroic poem, organized in cooperation with the local primary schools ‘Vasil Glavinov’ and ‘Kiril i Metodij’.
The Training and Doctrine Command marks 15th April, bearing the tradition from 30 years ago when first recruits joined the Army in voluntary military service.
Back in 1992, in a very short period of time after taking over all military installations, with a huge enthusiasm and engagement of the officers and civilians, military barracks in Skopje, Bitola, Shtip and Ohrid were prepared to receive first Macedonian recruits.
Panche Jamandiev from Veles is the first recorded recruit at the garrison in Ohrid, who was supposed to start military service in September that year as part of the existing JNA, but with a resolution brought by the Government was called to serve in our Army.
According to the training program, Macedonian recruits underwent two-and-a half month training, and after that most of them were sent to fill the border units, while a small number prepared to complete the Military Police units and other services and duties.
