Furthermore, the return of the units will spare substantial amounts of money allocated for the transportation of members of the Armed Forces to and from work (50 mil kn annually), thereby also improving their life quality. The special transportation arrangements in place made the alert and the Croatian Armed Forces’ readiness level management complex and laggard, particularly in emergencies.  Also, the relocation of units to remote locations reduced the interest of the local populations in the military profession. Finally, by reopening the abandoned barracks, out of use for years, would halt further deterioration. Based on the analysis of the existing territorial layout of the Croatian Armed Forces units a decision was made to alter it. The new layout envisages units based in Vukovar, Sinj, Varaždin and Ploče, the former military bases.   The initiative was very well received both in the Croatian Armed Forces and beyond, given the context of enhancing of security and protection of the population, but it also aims at upgrading the quality of life, work and training of the members of the Croatian Armed Forces and promoting the military career as well. It also entails a positive contribution to the local community, both in terms of security and economy boost, and will also strengthen the bond with the Croatian Armed Forces, many of whose members come from these towns. Refurbishment and investment into the designated military facilities constitutes a priority for the upcoming period, and the renovation of the barracks is well underway. 

 The Barracks of the 204th Croatian Army Brigade in Vukovar

The Barracks “The 204th Croatian Army Brigade“ extends over an area of ​​120,056 m², of which 10,000 m2 is designated as accomodation space for the Engineer Company of the Engineer Battalion of the Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade, presently located in Vinkovci. The prefabricated accomodation and working facilities will be put in place by late 2017, to enable the Company to move to Vukovar.  In the wider surroundings of Vukovar the Croatian Armed Forces had a total of six military installations, which have been handed over to the State Administrative Office for the State Property Management or to the local community. Among them was also the Barracks “204th Croatian Army Brigade“, which  from 2014 housed the “Memorial Centre of the Homeland War – Vukovar”. The Barracks extends over an area of ​​120,056 m², out of  which 10,000 m2 will house the Engineer  Company the Guards Armoured  Mechanised Brigade, currently located in Vinkovci. As many as 1,103 members of the Croatian Armed Forces have their permanent residence in the ​​Vukovar-Srijem County, of which 64 in Vukovar itself. The role and importance of Vukovar in the Homeland War justify the return of the Croatian Armed Forces to the town, also to boost its development. From the territorial perspective,the assignment enables the troop reinforcement in this easternmost part of the country should a need arise of responding to security threats and risks and risks. The units will move in after the prefabricated accomodation and working facilities are finished, due by late 2017.

The Barracks  ”Kula’“ in Sinj

The  Barracks “Kula” extends over an area of 99,295 m² , with the respective accomodation, storage, classrooms, messing, laundry and working facilities. Early March 2017 saw the commencement of the activities aimed at reopening of the Barracks, to house the Engineer  Battalion of the Guards Mechanised Brigade, which is currently based in Knin and planned to move to Sinj in the latter half of 2017. The Croatian Armed Forces had four installations in the area around Sinj, which have been  handed over to the State Administrative Office for State Property Management or to the local community. The Barracks “Kula”  was abandoned in 2008, when the Infantry Training Centre was discontinued pursuant to the Croatian Parliament’s Decision on Non-Calling the  Conscripts to Serve the Obligatory Military Service, and in 2014 was handed over to the State Administrative Office for State Property Management. The Barracks extends over 99,295 m², with the accomodation, storage, classroom, messing, laundry and working  spaces (a total surface of some 9,101 m2), most of which are functional, so in early March 2017 works kicked off to refurbish the accomodation and other facilities, roofs, toilet blocks and electrical installations repairs. The Barracks is envisaged to house the Engineer Battalion of the Guards Mechanised Brigade, presently based in Knin and equipped with ca twenty engineer machines, lorries and other motor vehicles. The Battalion provides engineer support to the units of the Croatian Armed Forces units and focusses its training system on the development and maintenance of capabilities related to infrastructure works, clearing of mine-contaminated areas, fording of smaller water or fixed obstacles, as well as the capabilities of providing assistance to the local and regional governments and institutions and the civilian population with road improvement, demolition of dilapidated buildings and also in the event of natural and other disasters.
As many as 1,103 members of the Croatian Armed Forces have their permanent residence in the Split-Dalmatia County, of which 64 in Sinj. The adaptation works will be conducted in two phases (the first completed on 1June 2017 and the second from September 2017 to May 2018), mostly by the Croatian Armed Forces assets to minimise the overall cost of the renovation. The renovation and further growth of the Barracks and the respective training range will significantly increase the capacities for accomodation of the units of the Croatian Armed Forces and for conscript and the reserve component training activities.  The return of the Croatian Armed Forces to Sinj will also boost its economic growth, thereby honouring its place in the history. The Engineers Battalion is planned to move from Knin to Sinj in the latter half of 2017.

 The Barracks “Ivan V. Drašković” in Varaždin

The Barracks “Ivan V. Drašković” extends on 131,786 m², comprising the accommodation capacities, classrooms, storage and hangars. As planned, the 2nd Mechanised Battalion “Pume” of the Guards Armored Mechanised Brigade, presently located in Našice, is planned  to move back in the course of 2018. The Croatian Armed Forces had a total of 15 military installations in the wider area of Varaždin, which have been handed over to the State Administrative Office for State Property Management or to the local community. The Barracks “Ivan V. Drašković“ was abandoned in 2009, when the Guards Battalion “Pume“ were transferred to Našice and in 2014 it was handed over to the State Administrative Office for State Property. The Barracks extends over 131,786 m², and comprises accomodation facilities, classrooms, warehouses and hangars (total space covering 19,222 m²). A part of the space has been handed over to other users, including the University “Sjever”, which requested the use of space. The total space required for the accomodation of the units of the Croatian Armed Forces is 90,222 m². The shooting range “Preloge“ is located  2.5 km from the Barracks, in the vicinity of the training range “Preloge-Mraclinka”, that needs to be adapted for training purposes. The facilities in the barracks are functional and can be restored to use in a short time; the necessary works (roofs, windows, toilet blocks and electrical installations repair) will be carried out in 2018 and 2019. The 2nd Mechanised Battalion “Pume“ of the Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade, presently located in Našice, will move in the Barracks in the course of 2018. It is equipped with armoured combat vehicles and is focussed on development of defence capabilities and capabilities of assisting the local population and institutions in the event of natural and other disasters. As many as 430 members of the Croatian Armed Forces have their permanent residence in the Varaždin County (of which 91 in Varaždin) and 143 in the Međimurje County. The return of the “Pume“ Mechanised Battalion to Varaždin is significant in view of the non-presence of any operational unit in the northwest part of Croatia. The return of the Battalion to Varaždin, from where it headed for its wartime missions is of military and historic importance, given the contribution of the 7^th Guards Brigade (“Pume“) in the Homeland War. The 2^nd Mechanised Battalion “Puma“ is the successor of the legendary Brigade.

 The Barracks “Neretva” in Ploče

The Barracks “Neretva” presently houses a component of the Croatian Navy. It has been  designated for the future use by the Croatian Armed Forces to provide the living and working conditions for the future marine commando company and components of the Naval Base South, ensuring the presence of the Croatian Armed Forces in the south of Croatia. The Croatian Armed Forces had a total of 14 military installations in the wider area of Ploče , ten of which have been handed over to the State Administrative Office for State Property Management or to the local community, and the Barracks “Sidrište“ is in the process at the moment. The Croatian Navy has three installations designated as perspective for military use (the Barracks “Neretva”, the military depot “Tatinje” and the island “Pločica”). The Barracks “Neretva” is located northwest of Ploče, covering an area of 76,700 m². It comprises a number of fixed facilities for the accomodation of units, storage of material assets, messing, laundry service, a boiler house and workshops (the accomodation and working space covering a total of 5,145 m²). Most fixed buildings in the Barracks are functional and with smaller investments can provide  accomodation and working capacities. The restoration of the logistic function for living and working conditions is planned in the course of 2018. The closest combat infantry unit at the time is in Knin, at 270 km distance from the south border and 150 km road way from Ploče. The width of the area from the coast to the border on Bosnia and Herzegovina gradually narrows  from 23 km in Makarska to 12.5 km in Ploče and five km in Dubrovnik respectively. In conclusion, a marine commando unit, permanently based in the area of Ploče, is to be established in the course of 2018 to provide necessary defence capabilities required in response to potential threats within critical time. The unit would develop and maintain  the defence capabilities and capabilities of assistance to the local population and institutions in the event of natural and other disasters. As the Defence Minister Damir Krstičević stated touring the military installations, the   restoration of the barracks and the return of the units of the Croatian Armed Forces is aimed at once at enhancing security and fostering the development of the local communities. Security and development are basically about the same thing and need to be linked, and it is of general interest.