The Croatian Navy marked its 26th anniversary at a ceremony held in Split on 18…
Commendations and awards for the NCOs and enlisted soldiers of Croatian Navy
Staff Sergeant Boris Majić and Seaman Luka Kovačević were proclaimed the NCO and enlisted soldier of the Croatian Navy of January, Sergeant First Class Kruno Guvo and Private Renato Kurtović the NCO and Enlisted Soldier of February, and Sergeant Major Igor Jurić and Seaman Mate Kero were proclaimed the NCO and enlisted soldier of March. The Commander of the Croatian Navy Rear Admiral Ivo Raffanelli met with the NCOs and enlisted soldiers of the Croatian Navy on 29 June 2020 and presented the proclaimed members with the certificates of commendation and congratulated them on their achievement. RAdm Raffanelli underlined the importance of commitment, responsibility, expertise and training both for the upgrade of the individual level of trainedness and professional development and for the success of the mission of the Croatian Navy and of the Croatian Armed Forces.
St. Sgt. Boris Majić joined the Croatian Armed Forces in 2006, and has been a member of the Counter-dive Miner Platoon of the Croatian Navy Flotilla since 2010, distinguished himself for continuous education and self-initiative. In addition to his regular duties as counter-mine diver, St.Sgt. Majić develops plans and conducts missions for the Remus 100 autonomous underwater vehicle. In addition to the system analytics, StSgt Majić is also engaged in preparing tactical and technical requirements and future vehicle operators training schedules. Following the recent tragic fall of the Kiowa Warrior helicopter St.Sgt Majić, as a member of the Counter-dive Platoon and of the Remus Vehicle Team he gave valuable contribution in the search for the remains, and earned the title of the NCO of the Croatian Navy but also of the Croatian Armed Forces of January.
Seaman Luka Kovačević joined the Croatian Armed Forces in 2017. Having completed the specialist military training he was assigned to the Missile Boat RTOP 12 as seaman mechanic in the main engine room of the RTOP-12 Missile Boat. Showing a high dedication to the military service Seaman Kovačević fulfils all assignment with exemplary commitment and always looks for the best solution. In addition to his duties, Seaman Kovačević regularly takes part in formal funerals of the defenders of the Homeland War. Seaman Kovačević gladly engages in other activities too, such as the land management in Marjan Forest Park, during the renovation and improvement of a facility in the Croatian Navy Barracks, with the improvement of sport facilities and of a part of the sea bank at the mooring in the Barracks. Working on the ship sanitary systems, Seaman Kovačević showed extraordinary commitment, admirable expertise and abilities.
Sergeant First Class Kruno Guvo has been a member of the Croatian Armed Forces since 1995, and is presently serving as group commander and instructor in the Trainee Groups and General Training Section of the Croatian Navy’s Training Centre. In February SFC Guvo administered the II module of the course for the authorised personnel of the Coast Guard and a part of the Module I of the training for the Marine Commando Company of the Croatian Navy Fleet. Furthermore, SFC Guvo administered the instinctive shooting training for the Croatian Navy’s Autonomous Vehicle Protection Detachment Team within their pre-deployment training for EU NAVFOR ATALANTA off the coast in Somalia, and took part in the first AVPD Team. SFC Guvo is admired for his constant motivation for learning and skills acquisition and for passing them on trainees as well as on his colleagues, and for constant work on physical readiness, thus meriting the title of the NCO of the Croatian Navy and being proposed as the NCO of the Croatian Armed Forces of 2020.
Seaman Renato Kurtović joined the Croatian Armed Forces in 2010 and has been in the Croatian Navy since 2011. He exercised a series of duties, ranging from the mechanic, specialised electromechanic engineer, mechanic for naval weapon systems, to his present duty as artillery mechanic. Seaman Kurtović is recognised for his highly professional and responsible service. In addition to his regular duties he is often engaged with providing support in honorary and ceremonial events, such as the formal funerals of the deceased defenders of the Homeland War. In February 2020 Seaman Kurtović made an outstanding engagement during the weapon handling training of the members of the Ministry of the Interior, and also during the pre-deployment training of the Croatian Navy’s Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) Team. In addition to his engagement in training activities, Seaman Kurtović was designated as a member of the Croatian Navy team to Djibouti, Somalia, to inspect the personal weapons of the Croatian Navy’s AVPD Team stationed in the French Armed Forces base, for which he received a commendation by the Team head.
Sergeant Major Igor Jurić is a veteran of the Homeland War, joining then Croatian National Guard in August 1991, and is presently the CIS Company of the Air Space Surveillance and Control Battalion Command Sergeant Major. During the first quarter of 2020, Sergeant Major Jurić distinguished himself by organising a 9-week training programme for the new CIS Company personnel, to prepare them for the exam for autonomous performance of duties. Sergeant Major Jurić also produced the teaching materials, in particular the manual of electrical engineering and telecommunications engineering. His outstanding dedication and responsible approach to the duties SM Jurić has significantly contributed to the successful performance of tasks by the Company and the Coastal Surveillance Battalion.
Seaman Mate Kero joined the Croatian Armed Forces in 2019. Upon completing the specialist military training, he was assigned to the engineering department of the patrol vessel OB-04. Seaman Kero is respected as a highly busy and a committed serviceman and a valuable crewman, with marked human and military qualities. In addition to attending to his basic assignments, Seaman Kero distinguished himself in various activities, primarily at the funerals of the deceased defenders from the Homeland War, and in renovation of the sporting grounds and improvement of the waterfront at the anchorage in the Barracks “Admiral Fleet Sveto Letica-Barba” in Split, and justifiedly won the title as the enlisted soldier of the Croatian Navy of March 2020.