The President of the Republic of North Macedonia and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces, Stevo Pendarovski accompanied by the Chief of the Army Headquarters, general-lieutenant colonel Vasko Gjurchinovski, made his rounds in the barrack square (BS) “Krivolak” during the day, where at the time before the start of the big international drill “Decisive Strike-21” many activities are being performed by the members of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia as well as members of 1.5 Engineer Combat Battalion of the US Army
After meeting the standard procedures in field “Covid center” upon entering the BS “Krivolak” which was set to prevent further spread of Covid-19, before and during the drill, the President Pendarovski made his rounds in some fields, as well as the accommodation capacities projected for activities of the forthcoming drill “Decisive Strike 21”.
In the district of the projected main activities of the drill, the Commander-in-Chief was introduced to the activities which, in the past period, were performed by members of the engineering units of both Armies whose fulfillment is in progress, and at the same time he was also introduced to further provided projects of BS “Krivolak” and the infrastructure improvement plan which aims to promote BS “Krivolak” into a contemporary military training center in which drill operations will be performed according to NATO standards.
The mutual activities and training began in the second half of March as a part of the preparations and structure of capacities for successful realization of the drill “Decisive Strike 21” on the barrack square “Krivolak”, after the arrival of engineering means and materially-technical equipment of 1.5 Engineer Combat Battalion of the US military forces stationed in Europe.
The improving of conditions for successful realization of the drill is being worked on by building new road arteries and repairing the existing ones, facilities for drills and training, warehouses, shooting ranges and a take-off – land runway for pilotless aircraft (drone). The activities are a part of the mutual training of both engineering units, which also aims to increase reciprocal interoperability through mutual training according to NATO standards.
During the visit, planned activities were presented to the President Stevo Pendarovski which are related to initial assessment pending in 2022 of declared light infantry battalion according to NATO standards “KREVAL”. The President Pendarovski expressed his expectation for successful assessment of combat capabilities of this battalion, according to the highest NATO standards and certification of this battalion as combat capable of performing NATO operations.
The Drill “Decisive Strike 21” will be held starting on 17.05 to 01.06, year 2021 in BS “Krivolak” and the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia with its 1.100 participants will take part in it, as well as the US Armies with 300 participants and both Republic of Greece and Republic of Bulgaria with 20 participants each.
