President Milanović on Honorary and Protection Battalion: This is an exceptional elite unit that has no routine
“This is an exceptional elite unit that has no routine and each day you are looked upon differently from other units”, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović told members of the Honorary and Protection Battalion celebrating the 29th anniversary of its foundation and “Saint Valentine” Military Chaplaincy Day.
Commenting on the ceremonial drill President Milanović noticed that every time the exercise seems to be more difficult and that the essence of this unit is that no day is routine and that no activity and no training are routine. “Everything is exceptional for this type of unit just as the unit itself is exceptional. Its history, its participation in the Croatian defensive war, in the Homeland War best speak of it”, the President underlined at the celebration held in the “1st Croatian Guards Corps” barracks in Tuškanac.
President Milanović told members of the Honorary and Protection Battalion to continue working on their physical fitness as well as their mental toughness and stability and education. “You give a lot to the system, and the system owes it to you to give you something back or at least to accommodate you. To give you the minimum of what a modern soldier needs to function. Here I mean housing and that type of assistance, which the state and the authorities must provide for their soldiers. Otherwise, there won’t be enough soldiers, certainly not the numbers that are needed. And that they are needed goes without saying”, President Milanović stated in concluding his address.
On the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the Honorary and Protection Battalion and “Saint Valentine” Military Chaplaincy Day berets were handed out to the Battalion’s new members. Decorations and commendations of the President of the Republic and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces were presented to deserving members as well as medals for athletic achievements and awards.
For extraordinary contribution to the development and standing of the Republic of Croatia and the well-being of its citizens, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces presented the Order of the Croatian Interlace to Lieutenant Colonel Dubravka Leko, Master Sergeant Sanjica Kos and Master Sergeant Ivan Slukan. For successful carrying out duties and achieving above average results in carrying out these duties Sergeant Krešimir Hrovat received a commendation from the President of the Republic.
Lieutenant Colonel Dubravka Leko gave a thank you speech on behalf of those who received decorations and commendations. She thanked her colleagues, members of the Honorary and Protection Battalion who, with their cooperation, sense of responsibility, and dedication, helped achieve these results. “In order to be good, better and the best, we soldiers, NCOs and officers must learn continuously and adopt new knowledge and skills, and at the same time motivate others to achieve excellence. I am exceptionally proud that the Order of the Croatian Interlace will also embellish my uniform, that of Croatian officer and Homeland War physician”, Lieutenant Colonel Dubravka Leko stated.
Also attending the celebration in addition to the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Admiral Robert Hranj were the Head of the Cabinet of the President Bartol Šimunić, the Adviser to the President for Defense Ivica Olujić, the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić, and the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek