MISSION
MP Bn is intended for the performance of MP tasks throughout the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia and NATO led operations, through the implementation of a wide range of MP functions, support of the MOI and other GO and NGO as well as the execution of activities related to obstruction, examination and detection of criminal acts in the MOD IAW Criminal Procedure Law.
MP FUNCTIONS
- Mobility support function:
- Route and Area Reconnaissance
- Traffic Control and Regulation Requirements
- Movement Control
- Movement Security
- Security function:
- Support to Area, Physical and Personal Security
- Support to Crowd and Riot Control
- Convoy Escort and Special Load Security
- Close Protection (CP)
- Cyber Security
- Information Security
- Detention function:
- Detention Planning
- Detention Oversight and Surety
- Captured Personnel (CPERS)
- Police function:
- Law Enforcement
- Crime Prevention and Awareness
- Confinement Activities
- Investigative Support
- Investigations and Reporting
- War Crime and Breaches of International Law Investigations
- Intelligence related to presumably criminal activities
- Stability policing function:
- Stabilization and Reconstruction
- Stability Policing Activities
Lieutenant Colonel Zoran Stankovski
Lieutenant Colonel Zoran Stankovski was born in 1981 in Skopje. After finishing elementary and secondary school in Skopje, he started his military education at the “General Mihailo Apostolski” Military Academy in Skopje.
After completing military education in 2004 (X-class), he began his military career as a platoon commander in a Signals Regiment, shortly after which he was transferred to the First Mechanized Infantry Battalion, within the First Mechanized Infantry Brigade, serving as a platoon commander until 2010. From 2010 to present, he has had various positions in the Military Police Battalion.
Upon joining the Military Police Battalion, he started as a Platoon Commander for Technical Protection and Security until 2014, when he took over the command of the Second Military Police Company. While performing the duty of a Company Commander, he also led a declared Military Police Company, which, was evaluated and certified “NEL-2” (combat ready) according to NATO standards. In 2017, he was appointed the Chief of S-1 Section in the Military Police Battalion and remained on this position until 2019, when he became Chief of Section S-3/7 within the Military Police Battalion. From 2022 to the present day, he has served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander.
He continued his military education at the Command and Staff College at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, USA in the period 2019-2021.
He further enhanced his military education by completing various courses in country and abroad, including: Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices Course in the Republic of Ukraine in 2008; Non-Lethal Weapons Instructor Course in the United States in 2011; International Staff Officers’ Course in the Republic of Slovakia in 2014; Integrity Building Course in Peace Support Operations in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2018; Course for Evaluators of Declared Units according to “OCC E&F” and “CREVAL” in 2016 and 2023, and many other.
In the period from 2008/2009 to 2014, he participated in the peacekeeping operation in the IR of Afghanistan. He also participated in several exercises in country and abroad, such as: “Cooperative Associate 2005”; a series of exercises “Macedonian Flash” starting with “Macedonian Flash 03”; “NATO Georgia Exercise 2016” in Georgia; “Joint Reaction 17”; “Platinum Wolf-17” in the Republic of Serbia; “Saber Strike 18” in the Republic of Poland; “Rapid Trident 19” in the Republic of Ukraine; “Beyond Horizon 22” in the Republic of Bulgaria.
“Subject Matter Expert – SME” for military police, evaluator of declared capacities according to the concept “OCC E&F” and “CREVAL”, instructor for non-lethal weapons and also a member of the working group for standardization at the Military Police Community in the NATO Centre of Excellence “MP COE”.
For his achievements throughout his career, he has received multiple commendations, awards, and recognitions, including commendations from the Chief of General Staff of the Army, the Commander of the Operations Command, a leave of absence from the Ministry of Defense, the Chief of General Staff, and the Commander of the Operations Command. Additionally, he has been awarded a medal for participation in the peacekeeping operation “ISAF” in Afghanistan, etc.
He is proficient in English according to STANAG 6001 and speaks German conversationally. He is a father of one child.
Military Career:
Platoon Commander in a Signals Regiment, 2004-2007;
Mechanized Infantry Platoon Commander, 2007-2010;
Technical Protection and Security Platoon Commander, 2010-2014;
Commander of the 2nd Company in the Military Police Battalion, 2014-2017;
Chief of S-1, 2017-2019;
Chief of S-3/7, 2019-2022;
Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander, 2022-2024
Promotions:
Second Lieutenant 2004-2008;
Lieutenant 2008-2012;
Captain 2012-2017;
Major 2017-2023;
Lieutenant Colonel since 2023
Military Police Battalion has its roots in the rich Macedonian history. The tradition started on the 29th of October 1878 when the Macedonian uprising in Kresna demanded forming of military police units in the liberated territory of Macedonia, consequently, these were the first Military Police forces. Therefore, the historical date of the 29th of October is pronounced as the Day of the Unit for the Military Police Battalion.
The Military Police Battalion is the only Military Police unit in the Army of the Republic of Macedonia. It has been working since the founding of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, i.e. the 15th of April, 1992 with a signed decree by the President of the Republic of Macedonia and now it is an independent unit within the Army of the Republic of Macedonia.
The formation of the Military Police Battalion has been changed a few times, nevertheless, today it is the main pillar of the defence system of the Republic of Macedonia with clear mission and tasks and always ready to accomplish their tasks, aims and objectives.
Today, the Military Police Battalion is part of the Joint Operations Command of ARM. It consists of professionals within completely transformed formation, highly skilled, who can accomplish the assigned tasks and obligations side by side with the NATO member countries.
The Military Police Battalion has a mission to conduct military police operations and tasks all over the territory of the Republic of Macedonia as well as in peacekeeping missions. Their mission includes tasks such as, providing security of important buildings, military personnel, military delegations, and high ranking military officers from Macedonia and abroad. In addition, they investigate and prevent crimes in the defence, maintain discipline and order in the army and control and regulate military traffic.
The black barrette and the white belt are clear symbols which discern the Military Police Battalion from the other units in the ARM. Their motto is “Always ready” which demonstrates and confirms that in order to be a military police serviceman one has to meet high professional standards, has to be vastly responsible and courageous, and to have integrity, endurance and loyalty.
The servicemen of Military Police Battalion have versatile training. According to NATO standards their training is evaluated as highly professional, including psycho-physical capabilities which lead to skillful resourcefulness whenever they have to deal with different situations, in-country as well as abroad.
The Military Police Battalion has actively participated in peacekeeping missions in Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Afghanistan, where they have had a representative at the International airport of Kabul, Afghanistan as part of the peacekeeping mission Phoenix in cooperation with the National Guard of Vermont, the USA. In addition, they have had an NCO team in the MTT Military Police School in Afghanistan. All these assignments and tasks were accomplished in an extremely professional manner.
The Military Police Battalion have participated in various military exercises in Germany, Poland, Romania and other countries which regularly cooperate with them. They continue their well established cooperation with the 709th Military Police Battalion of the USA. Additionally, the Military Police Battalion support security forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia at the southern border of the country and they are the main pillar in the maintaining control on the refugee illegal crossings. Furthermore, they help alleviate the consequences of natural disasters and other significant activities which are everyday tasks to the Military Police Battalion of ARM.
As the cherry on the top, the Military Police Battalion was awarded a Military Achievement Medal by the Supreme Commander of the Republic of Macedonia, the Macedonian President, at the Day of the Macedonian Army in 2016.
