2nd Infantry Battalion – ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Mission and Tasks

Mission:

To conduct offensive and defensive operations in order to protect the integrity and sovereignty of the territory of the Republic;
To cooperate with MIA in the area of border guard;
To support civilian government when alleviating the aftermaths of natural and other disasters;
To support peacekeeping operations and humanitarian operations out of the Republic;
Combat readiness level has been reached and maintained making progress in many areas, primarily training and preparing for TELA;
Battalion units have completely reached the necessary combat readiness level.

Tasks:

Personnel physical readiness;
Firearms training of individuals and units;
Training according to BMP;
Specialized-professional training;
Personnel training for peacekeeping missions participation;
English language training.

Commander

Lieutenant Colonel Risto Stoev

Lieutenant Colonel Risto Stoev was born on 26 June 1979 in Strumica, where he finished primary and secondary school. He began his military career in August 1999 as a member of the ninth generation of Macedonian officers. After completing four years of studies at the Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” in Skopje, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Artillery Branch. He started his military service as Commander of the 2nd Fire Platoon of the 3rd Multiple Launch Rocket System Battery in the Artillery Battalion in Strumica. After completing the Platoon Commanders Course, from November 2003 to June 2004 he served as Commander of the Border Platoon in Gevgelija within the 2nd Border Company of the Border Battalion, with its headquarters in Bitola. From June 2004 to March 2006, he served as Commander of the 1st Fire Platoon in the 2nd Howitzer Battery of the Artillery Battalion in Strumica. From March 2006 to December 2015, he was appointed Commander of the Mortar Platoon in the Mortar Battery of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion. From October 2006 to June 2007, he completed the Advanced English Language Course at the “Joseph Kruzel” Center in Skopje. From January to July 2012, he participated in the ISAF mission – OMLT, 3rd rotation, serving as a mentor to the artillery officer of the 3rd Brigade of the 209th Corps of the Afghan National Army in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. He was part of a five-member Macedonian team operating under the leadership of the German contingent. In October 2012, he completed the Company Commanders Course at the Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” in Skopje. In December 2015, he was appointed Commander of a Mortar Battery within the 1st Infantry Battalion in Kumanovo. From December 2016 to June 2017, he participated in the “Resolute Support” Mission as a Duty Officer in the Tactical Operations Center (TACC-C) in Kabul, under the leadership of the Turkish Armed Forces. In April 2022, he successfully finished the Operational Planning Course in Ohrid, organized by a mobile training team from the United Kingdom. In May 2022, he continued his military education at the Defense Academy in Shrivenham, United Kingdom, where he completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course in 2023.

He has also completed an Exercise Planning Course and, in the capacity of co-director, led the exercise “Immediate Response 25”, involving approximately 2000 personnel from seven NATO member states and two partner nations. He has participated in the execution of the “Macedonian Flash” exercise series.

Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards and commendations from the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of the General Staff for his achievements in combat training and military education, as well as for his contribution to the development and advancement of the Army. He has been awarded the NATO Non-Article 5 Medal for his service in peace support operations in the I.R. Afghanistan in 2012 and 2017. He is also a recipient of the Army Gold Badge for his participation in the “Maple Arch 24” exercise.

Throughout his career, he has held the following appointments:

Commander of a Fire Platoon in a Multiple Launch Rocket System Battery of an Artillery Battalion 2003;
Commander of a Border Platoon in a Border Company from November 2003 to June 2004;
Commander of a Fire Platoon in a Howitzer Battery of an Artillery Battalion from June 2004 to March 2006;
Commander of a Mortar Platoon in a Mortar Battery of a Mechanized Infantry Battalion from March 2006 to December 2015;
Commander of a Mortar Battery within the 1st Infantry Battalion in Kumanovo from December 2015;
Personnel Officer in the J-1 Personnel Section of the Joint Operations Command from November 2018 to March 2020;
Military Planning and Analysis Officer in the J-5 Plans Section of the Operations Command from March 2020 to May 2022;
Chief of the 1st Branch and Military Planning and Analysis Officer in the J-5 Plans Section of the Operations Command since August 2023;
Commander of the 2nd Infantry Battalion since 16 June 2026.

He has a strong interest in advanced technologies and their application in the development of modern societies. He is proficient in English. He is married and the father of two children.

History

History of the 2^nd IBn

The unit exists from the formation of the ARM.

From April 15, 1992 to September 1, 2000, the unit was called the 1^st Infantry Battalion, part of the 11^th Infantry Brigade, until 1996 when it was named “Scorpions”.

2008, Intensive period of training and self-evaluation for SEL-1 and NATO evaluation for NEL-1.

2009, Self-evaluation for SEL-2.

The unit has been trained for LEVEL-2 according to the NATO Operational Capabilities Concept.

Training is conducted according to the Annual Plan, Schedule of activities for the current year.

At the exercise, Macedonian Flash 05 the battalion executed Level 2 self-evaluation LEVEL-2 as a Declared Medium Infantry Battalion.

From September 1^st, 2000, 1^st Infantry Battalion was transformed into 2^nd Infantry Battalion of the 1^st Infantry Brigade.

Since April 2, 2012 it has been transformed in accordance with the last formation structure of the Army.

From its formation until today the battalion participated in 24 international military exercises organized by NATO and the PfP countries contributing with personnel and combat technique and it competently represented ARM and the Republic Macedonia.

On the 15^th of August 2011, the 2^nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion was decorated with a Medal for Merit delivered by the President of the Republic of Macedonia PhD Gjorge Ivanov.

With the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia as a full member of NATO, the unit underwent transformation in 2020. The process and preparations began for the unit’s evaluation and its declaration as a Light Infantry Battalion within NATO’s forces pool. The implementation and maintenance of NATO standards, as a full member of the Alliance, were carried out through the declaration of the unit as a nationally significant capability.

In January 2021, the General Staff of the Army issued the Development and Maintenance Plan for the Light Infantry Battalion. This plan represented a unified, comprehensive document in which the following objectives were defined:

-To establish the organizational and structural framework of the Light Infantry Battalion – a unit designated as a Capability Target accepted by the Republic of North Macedonia as part of the Army’s capabilities – belonging to the Forces of Low Readiness for deployment in NATO-led operations.

The evaluation of the unit as mission capable and its declaration as a nationally significant capability, along with the implementation and maintenance of NATO standards in training and combat readiness, were priorities in 2022. The evaluation process was conducted across all areas of combat readiness in accordance with CREVAL criteria, and the unit was assessed as mission capable—a Force of Low Readiness for deployment in NATO-led operations.

With the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia as a full member of NATO and the transformation of the unit in 2020, it participated in many international military exercises: