Mission of the Honour Guard Battalion is to perform protocol activities in accordance with the Army rules of engagement
The Honour Guard Battalion carries out protocol activities and tasks by:
- Performing military honours for the President;
- Performing military honours for Heads of foreign states, prime ministers, ministers of defence, chiefs of staff and other senior EU and NATO representatives;
- Performing at celebrations to mark state and military holidays;
- Performing at military ceremonies;
- Performing at ceremonies held on days of mourning, funerals and laying of wreaths at fallen heroes memorials.
Essential tasks of the Honour Guard Battalion:
- Maintaining constant readiness and use of the unit for performing military honours;
- Performing tasks and responsibilities of the Honour Guard at the President’s residence;
- Maintaining high level of physical fitness of the personnel within the unit;
- Performing at the change of national flag ceremony in front of the Presidential villa in Vodno, the Parliament and the Government building.
Lieutenant Colonel Dejan Velichkovski
Lieutenant Colonel Dejan Velichkovski was born in 1977 in Skopje. After finishing his primary and secondar education in his hometown, he started military education at the Military Academy “General Mihajlo Apostolski”. After completing his military education in 2001, he began military career as a Commander of the Parachute Diversion Team, and then as a Commander of the watchtower “Spas”. During his military career he performed several duties, including a protocol officer in the Cabinet of the Chief of the General Staff, as well as an English language instructor in the Training and Doctrine Command. Since 2011, he has performed his duties in the Honour Guard Battalion as an Honour Guard Company Commander, Operations Officer and Chief of Staff.
During the military career, he has been improving and upgrading his military education by specializing in command-staff duties at the Marine Corps University in the USA in 2018/2019. He has completed several courses for platoon and company commanders, as well as advanced language courses in English and Turkish. During his career, he has been awarded and praised many times. He participated in the international operation “Resolute Support” in Afghanistan in 2020. He is proficient in English language – thus he is an instructor.
Previous Duties:
- Parachute Diversion Team Commander, 2001-2002
- Watchtower “Spas” Commander, 2002-2005
- 1st Honour Guard Platoon Commander in the Honour Guard Battalion, 2005-2011
- Operations Officer in S-3 in the Honour Guard Battalion 2011-2012
- 1st Honour Guard Company Commander in the Honour Guard Battalion 2012-2022
- Chief of Staff and Honour Guard Battalion Deputy Commander 2022-2023
Promotions:
- Second Lieutenant 2001
- Lieutenant 2002
- Captain 2011
- Major 2016
- Lieutenant Colonel 2022
Sergeant Major Marijana Simonovska Trajkovska
The Honour Guard Battalion is the first unit of the Army General Staff with the mission to carry out protocol tasks in accordance with the military protocol rule in the Army
The Honour Guard Battalion is a successor and was founded on the First Honour Guard Brigade, formed on 26.03.1992 in the “Ilinden” barracks shortly after the formation of the Army and the independence of the country. Since July 22, 2002, it had been transformed and started to function as a Guard Battalion for Honour and Service, composed of officers with extensive guard experience gained in the First Honour Guard Brigade. Later, on 01.03.2006, the unit was transformed into an Honour and Service Battalion and became part of the Logistics Support Command. Under the current name, the Honour Guard Battalion is established and starts functioning as of 01.04.2012 as an independent battalion directly under the General Staff of the Army. The Decree of the President of the country marks November 11th as the Day of the Honour Guard Battalion, as a remembrance of November 11th, 1943, when the First Macedonian-Kosovo National Liberation Brigade was formed. As a unit it honours and commemorates the traditions of the First Macedonian National Liberation Brigade.
The Battalion has consistently achieved high results in day-to-day operations, conducting combat training and demonstrating quality in the performance of protocol tasks. During visits of foreign delegations and statesmen, the Honour Guard Battalion provides military honors at the highest professional level, and the members of the battalion make the first impression about the Army and the Country.
Members of the Honour Guard Battalion are guided by the basic guard values: honour, courage and dedication, principles that are recognized and respected. Honour as a foundation of the guardian personality commits the guards to act conscientiously and responsibly, to perform their duties, and to display the highest ethical and moral values. Courage is a source of psycho-physical and spiritual strength that guides the guard through the challenge of the fight, breaks the fear and brings him to victory. Commitment leads the guard to precision, creates the highest order of discipline for him and the unit, instills loyalty to the Army and the homeland and gives him the determination to excel in all areas. In the spirit of Guardian values, members of the Honour Guard Battalion are driven by the motivation of the slogan “Lux Aeterna” or “Eternal Light” as a symbol of the sun and defiance.
Being a member of the Honour Guard Battalion and having the opportunity to represent the Army and the homeland is a special privilege and honour.
