A military ceremony and a ceremonial handover of the unit’s military flag was held today at the “Ilinden” barracks on the occasion of the appointment of, Lieutenant Colonel Igor Milchov to the position of Commander of the Honour Guard Battalion (HGBn).
In his address, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, emphasized that this is a unit whose mission is more than formality, it is a sense of honor, discipline, and loyalty to the state. The Honour Guard Battalion is the first and last impression that the highest representatives of states and international organizations receive and carry with them when visiting our homeland.
The handover of the military flag is an act through which Lieutenant Colonel Milchov is entrusted with leading and commanding the Honour Guard Battalion, stated General Lafchiski, highlighting that “In just two weeks, we have the pre-New Year concert ahead of us, which has grown into a tradition, as one of the most memorable events not only for the Army but also for the country. Let the execution of this task be a test and confirmation of your capability and dedication, proving that you are ready to successfully meet the challenge of commanding the Honour Guard Battalion.”
On this occasion, General Lafchiski expressed his gratitude to the former commander of the Honour Guard Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Dejan Velichkovski, who recognized the challenges and successfully carried out the tasks arising from the mission of this battalion. His dedication, selfless effort, and commitment maintained the unit at the highest professional level.
The newly appointed commander, Lieutenant Colonel Igor Milchov, expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him and stated: “It is a great honor to have the opportunity to pass on the experience of the senior guardsmen to the new generation, so that together we can continue to build up the Macedonian Guard as one of the symbols of the Macedonian identity and resilience.” He added that “Professionalism, discipline, and dedication to the call of ‘guardsman’ must be developed to the highest level by each of us.”
After the announcement and signing of the appointment order, the official assumption of the duty of Commander of the Honour Guard Battalion was carried out.
At today’s ceremony, in addition to the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, attendees included the Dean of the Military Academy, Colonel Nenad Taneski, the Commander of the Logistics Base, Colonel Muharem Muharemi, commanders from other Army units, and other guests.
