Mission:
To prepare and organize the defence and protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty and independence of the Republic. To assist, within it area of operation, the MIA during operations if the security of the country is endangered. To support the state authorities, the local government and various institutions and organizations as well as the citizens when dealing with natural disasters, epidemics, technical and technological catastrophes in its area of operation.
To take part in peace keeping missions and conflicts prevention NATO, UN, OSCE and EU led activities. To contribute to dealing with regional conflicts and crises as well as to protect the wider interests of the Republic.
Tasks:
- To alert, move, transport and rapidly deploy the units to places, areas and regions;
- To plan, organize and conduct offensive and defensive operations and urban area operations;
- To control the territory, to seal directions and to secure regions;
- To give combat-service supports to the units in peace time, during crisis and war;
- To conduct command and control;
- To support MIA when dealing with threats, risks and dangers for the security of the Republic;
- To support the state authorities and local government units when dealing with natural disasters, epidemics and technical and technological catastrophes;
- To take part in peace keeping missions and conflicts prevention missions abroad and to protect wider interests of the Republic.
To plan and conduct personnel and commands training according to NATO standards and procedures and to fully implement the system for training management, to develop leaders-training instructors.
Lieutenant Colonel Zoranche Ristovski
Lieutenant Colonel Zoranche Ristovski was born on May 21, 1971 in Bitola. After finishing high school in Bitola, he continued his education at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, Mechanical Engineering in Bitola. He later pursued military education at the Military Academy in Skopje, where he received professional training and was commissioned as an officer. He holds a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Bitola.
Lieutenant Colonel Ristovski began his military career as a platoon commander. Throughout his career, he has held numerous positions, including various command, staff, and leadership roles at the battalion level, as well as serving as Chief of the Section for Development and Instructions at the Training and Doctrine Command. He was appointed Commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion on March 26, 2024.
He has completed multiple courses in training, evaluation, peacekeeping missions, and other military fields. He has participated in numerous military exercises both domestically and internationally. Additionally, he served in the ISAF peace support operation in Afghanistan in 2008 and the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon from 2015 to 2016.
In addition to his Master’s degree, Lieutenant Colonel Ristovski has been honored and awarded multiple times. His awards include: NATO Medal for participation in the ISAF Peace Support Operation in Afghanistan; Medal for participation in the United Nations UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in Lebanon; Small Gold Plaque of the Army awarded by the Chief of the General Staff (CHOD); monetary incentive and commendations from the CHOD, brigade commanders, and battalion commanders.
He is proficient in English with STANAG 2+, 2+, 2+, 3. Lieutenant Colonel Ristovski is married and has two children
Military Career:
- Platoon Commander in the 2nd Logistics Base 1998–2006
- Planning Officer G-3/Training Command 2006
- Maintenance Officer G-4/Training Command 2006–2011
- Procurement Officer G-4/Training and Doctrine Command 2011–2012
- Logistics Company Commander 2012–2014)
- Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the 2nd Logistics Battalion (2014–2019)
- Commander of the Logistics Battalion (2019–2023)
- Commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion (2024)
Promotions:
- Second Lieutenant 1998–2000
- Captain 2000–2012
- Major 2012–2016
- Lieutenant Colonel 2016
Alongside the ARM units transformation which started at the first half of 2012, more precisely on 12th April 2012, the 4 Mechanized Infantry Battalion was formed. The very same was formed from the personnel from the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion and the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade.
The Battalion maintained the tradition of the Kichevo-Mavrovo partisan unit which through Mirche Acev Battalion becomes part of the 1st Macedonian-Kosovo Assault Brigade.
The 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion originates from the 13th Infantry Brigade from 2001. Up to 2006 it operated as 2nd Infantry Battalion as part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade in Ohrid garrison. Since April 2006 it was renamed as 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion as part of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Ohrid garrison. In September 2011 the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion was dislocated and from Ohrid garrison it was stationed in Kichevo garrison.
Since the formation of the battalion, a large number of its personnel have participated in peace keeping and conflicts prevention NATO led missions, such as ISAF, Iraqi Freedom and ALTEA. It has taken part in many international exercises as well.
A company from our unit is deployed to R. Afghanistan as part of the international mission ISAF from July 2012 till January 2013.
The 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion personnel have taken part in many international exercises:
- International military exercise “Immediate Response 12” in R. Croatia from 25.05.2012 to 09.06.2012;
- International military exercise “Wildflecken” in Germany from 29.05.2012 to 09.06.2012;
- International military exercise “European Endeavour 12” in Germany from 30.05.2012 to 07.06.20;
- International military exercise “Rapid Trident 12” in Ukraine from 15.07.2012 to 26.07.2012.
According to the development project EU/BG 2/2012 the medium mechanized infantry company is from the 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion after being successful evaluated has reached a full interoperability and is prepared to conduct conflicts prevention missions.
The Battalion assists and supports state authorities and local government units and the civilian structures in dealing with natural disasters, epidemics and technical technological catastrophes as we as other kinds of threats.
