Today, at the barracks “Boro Menkov” in Kumanovo, the members of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) marked the Day of the unit with a military ceremony.
Besides the Chief of General Staff of the Macedonian Army (ARM) Major General Vasko Gjurchinovski, the ceremony was also attended by the State Secretary of the MOD Dragan Nikolic, ARM generals, commanders of the ARM units, former JOC commanders, military attachés accredited to the Republic of Macedonia and representatives of the local self-government.
Addressing the audience, General Gjurchinovski, noted that the contribution provided by the JOC through building and development of the command and the subordinate units, as part of the overall defence process development, deserves a great respect. At the same time, he emphasized that the numerous recognitions for the success achieved in the exercises and missions, the high standards in training, the engagement in dealing with natural disasters and the assistance to the state and local government bodies fully justifies the trust in this ARM highest command on the operational level.
After a brief historical review of the significance of this day, the JOC Commander Major General Pavle Arsoski pointed out in his speech that the previous year was successful for the command, filled with a lot of work and realized activities in country and internationally, but also a year filled with many challenges that both JOC and ARM are still facing.
The members of the JOC, with maximum commitment and responsibility, are continuously engaged in securing and preventing illegal crossing of the southern border, but also if there is a need in dealing with the consequences of natural disasters.
At the ceremony, as part of the event, some members of the JOC received certificates of appreciation, awards for the achieved results and promotions.
By decision of the President of the Republic of Macedonia and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Gjorge Ivanov, October 17th is designated as the JOC Day, as a memorial marking some significant historical events, upon which the traditions of the ARM are based.
On October 17th, 1878, the headquarters of the Macedonian Uprising (in Macedonian historiography known as Kresna Uprising) was established in the village of Kresna, and it was the day of the uprising.
The Joint Operations Command, as a command on the operational level, exists since the beginning of ARM formation as Army Corps. In 2000, it was transformed into 1st Army Corps, in 2002 it was renamed into Land Forces Command, and since 2005 it has been restructured into the current name, in accordance with the NATO standards.
