The "Tuškanac" Barracks in Zagreb on 3 September hosted the ceremony marking the 15th Anniversary…
24th Anniversary of Honorary Battalion
The central ceremony of the 24th anniversary of the Honorary Battalion and the “St Valentine Military Chaplaincy Day were marked in the Barracks “Tuškanac“ on 23 February 2018; alongside the present and former members of the Battalion and the preceding units the ceremony was attended by, the President of the Republic of Croatia as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, by the State Secretary for Defence Zdravko Jakop as Envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister the Chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov the officials of the Office of the President, of the Croatian Parliament, the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior and of the Ministry of Croatian Defenders. The President appreciated the members of the Honorary Battalion for the hard work and commitment and devotion to Croatia and its people .The nomination of its barracks after the 1st Croatian Guards Corps is a sign of pride and respect, and also a reminder to ithe Battalion members to strive for excellence. but also a reminder of its members to strive for excellence. The President concluded by praising the Honorary Battalion’s impeccable service. State Secretary for Defence Zdravko Jakop stated that keeping the memory of the fallen defenders was a lasting obligation for all. He underlined that the Ministry of Defence pledged support to the development of the Armed Forces’ capabilities, to enable them respond to the modern-day threats, and reminded that the Honorary Battalion, a pride of the Croatian Armed Forces, composed of professionals, evinced the importance of physical fitness to perform the demanding tasks, particularly in the Year of Readiness and Activity. Congratulating the Honorary Battalion on the anniversary the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov appreciated its contribution to the high reputation of the Croatian Armed Forces in the public. “The activities in your responsibility, security and ceremonial alike, draw significant attention and demand excellency. It implies both pride and responsibility. The Honorary Battalion is one of the most visible symbols ; the military-like dignified posture magnifies the historic uniforms worn. Visiting the Honorary Battalion on the eve of the 24th Anniversary Ceremony the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov held a meeting with the members of the Battalion, presenting the achievements in 2017 and the guidelines for the current year. During the visit the Minister and the Chief of the General Staff paid respects to the fallen members of the 1st Croatian Guards Corps; “The Croatian Guards Corps was a special and recognisable unit during the Homeland War, 76 members sacrified their lives for the freedom and independence of Croatia. Minister Krstičević stressed the revived Changing of the Guards ceremony of the Battalion in the St. Marks Square in Zagreb as a demonstration of constant development of the Croatian Armed Forces.
“The Croatian Armed Forces are developing and will continue to do so; it is a lasting process, and our priority is to provide the best available conditions for their members – enlisted soldiers, NCOs and officers “. The Minister congratulated the Battalion on the performance of the ceremonial drill, which highlighted the importance of physical readiness of the Croatian soldiers. “The year 2018 is dedicated to the readiness of the Croatian Armed Forces; sport activities ease the soldiers exercise their daily assignments. The Ministry has taken care to equip the gyms and provide the members of the Croatian Armed Forces with training kits“. The Minister also stressed that the Croatian soldiers assisted the civilian population with the difficulties caused by heavy snow, the same as they fought with the fires and floods last year. The Commander of the Battalion, Colonel Elvis Burčul outlined the main activities for the current year, among which the pratice of miliary decision making process in the Simulation Centre – the CAX, the field exercise “Otok 18” and the Exercise “Velebit 18”.Cočl. Burčul said the Battalion was manned by young personnel and upgraded their living and working conditions, with the support from the President of the Republic the Defence Minister and the Chief of the General Staff, and revived the ceremonial Changing of the Guards in Zagreb’s Upper Town and the competittion “Viribus unitis“. Colonel Burčul said that is how the achievements were made (“United Forces“). The ceremony also featured the beret award for the new mebmers of the Battalion. On the occasion of the Anniversary the barracks housing the Battalion was named “1st Croatian Guards Corps“, after the unit preceding today’s Battalion, and respects were paid to its fallen members , and a mass was recited.