Mission:
- Provides information security, cyber defense, and monitoring of the Army’s Global Communication and Information System (GCIS), as well as communication and information support for command and control at the strategic and operational levels;
- Ensures connectivity between commands and units through its stationary and mobile components;
- Ensures the continuous operation of the communication and information system (CIS) in the event of natural and other disasters.
Tasks:
- Planning and organization;
- Planning and deployment;
- Planning and conducting training and exercises;
- Planning and implementation of personnel management;
- Intelligence, counterintelligence, and security;
- Logistics support;
- Organization and preparation of the CIS;
- Financial resource planning;
- Civil-Military Cooperation;
- Monitoring and detection of cybersecurity incidents and attacks;
- Cybersecurity incident response.
Lieutenant Colonel Ace Karajovanoski
Lieutenant Colonel Ace Karajovanoski was born on 6 March, 1980, in Ohrid. He finished primary and secondary school in his hometown. In 1998, he enrolled at the Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” in Skopje, where he graduated in 2002 as a Signal Officer. He began his career at the “Chede Filipovski – Dame” barracks in Kichevo, serving as a Signals Platoon Commander in the Artillery Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Brigade. Throughout his career, he has held various command and staff posts in the Armored Battalion, the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, the Signal Battalion, and the Operations Command. In addition to his service within Army units and commands, Lieutenant Colonel Karajovanoski gained part of his professional experience in an international environment. From 2016 to 2020, he served as Chief of the S-6 Section in the Permanent Organization of the Balkan Medical Task Force.
Among the most significant courses he has completed are:
- NATO Medical Evaluation Course – Ulm, Germany;
- NATO C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) Course – Latina, Italy;
- Combat Readiness Evaluation Course (CREVAL) – Mali Lošinj, Croatia.
He has participated in the planning and execution of numerous national and international exercises, among which the most notable are:
- Combined Endeavor (2011-2014);
- Saber Guardian (2017);
- Vigorous Warrior (2019);
- Defender Europe (2023 and 2025).
For his professional achievements, he has received numerous awards and commendations, including:
- Letters of Commendation from the Minister of Defense;
- Silver Badge of the Army;
- Silver Badge for Partnership, Coordination, and Cooperation;
- Bronze Plaque awarded by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Slovenia.
In 2022, he participated in the United Nations peacekeeping operation UNIFIL in Lebanon as part of the Italian contingent, for which he was awarded the UN Peacekeeping Medal.
Promotions:
- Second Lieutenant (2002-2004);
- Lieutenant (2004-2011);
- Captain (2011-2018);
- Major (2018-2023);
- Lieutenant Colonel (since 2023).
Lieutenant Colonel Karajovanoski is married and the father of two children.
The Signal Battalion was established on 12 April, 2006, continuing the tradition of the Signal Regiment, formed alongside the formation of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia in 1992. At that time, it took over all detached facilities and communication centers, while also welcoming first generation of signal soldiers in independent Macedonia.
In comparison, the mission of the Signal Battalion, to provide communication and information support at the strategic and operational levels, mirrors the role of the Communications Commission of the Main Headquarters of the Macedonian National Liberation Army, established on 21 October 1943. Its purpose was to organize and ensure the necessary communications with the Supreme Headquarters. For this reason, 21 October is designated and celebrated as the “Day of the Signal Battalion,” marking it as the largest communications unit in the Army, which continues the traditions of the partisan signal operators from the National Liberation War.
Since its establishment in 2006, the development of the Signal Battalion has been focused on the timely and reliable provision of all necessary communications to enable uninterrupted command and control by the Army General Staff over subordinate commands and units, as well as to support the functioning of the Operations Command, under which the Signal Battalion operates.
Over this period, a wide range of tactical and specialist exercises have been conducted, involving the deployment of communication centers at multiple locations across the country. These centers support the main command posts of the Army General Staff and the Operations Command, ensuring their uninterrupted functioning in field conditions outside their peacetime locations.
The Signal Battalion, with its personnel and technical assets, has provided support over the past years in the implementation of all domestic and international exercises conducted at the Army Training Area “Krivolak”. These include “Flash”, “Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 12”, “Immediate Response” and many others involving Army units.
From 2006 to 2014, members of the Signal Battalion were actively engaged in both the planning and execution phases of “Combined Endeavor,” the largest international exercise in the field of communication and information support, organized by the United States European Command (US EUCOM).
With the emergence of new, real threats to communication and information systems, and following the 2020 transformation process, the Signal Battalion began developing an additional capability, initially as an information security and cyber defense team, and from 2023 through the establishment of a Cyber Operations Center and a Cyber Incident Response Team. As part of these capabilities , the necessary equipment has been secured, and personnel undergo training to respond to cyber incidents in real time, while also participating in various exercises in this domain, including “Cyber Coalition,” “Cyber Unity,” “Cyber Soko,” “Locked Shields,” and “Guardian Blue.”
Personnel from the Signal Battalion actively participate in peace support operations outside the territory of Macedonia, including “Resolute Support” in Afghanistan, “Althea” in Bosnia and Herzegovina, “KFOR” in Kosovo, “Forward Land Forces” in Bulgaria and Romania, as well as the “UNIFIL” mission in Lebanon.
In recognition of its outstanding performance and contribution to maintaining the Army’s communication and information systems, the Signal Battalion was awarded the “Order of Military Merit” on 5 August 2018, by the President of the country.
