The live-fire Exercise Sokol 15, featuring a defensive operation by the reinforced battalion, was held in the “Eugen Kvaternik” Training Range near Slunj from 25 May- 3 June 2015. It was conducted by the 1st Mechanised Battalion (“Sokolovi“), supported by the tank Battalion (“Kune“), the Missile Battalion and the Engineer Battalion of the Croatian Army. The purpose of the Exercise was to demonstrate the units’ trainedness and capability to quickly prepare and execute an inter-branch combat operation. The live-firing was held on 2 June, attended by the Deputy Army Commander, Major General Mladen Fuzul, by the new Guards Mechanised Brigade Commander, Colonel Denis Tretinjak.The Army Deputy Commander, Maj. Gen. Mladen Fuzul expressed satisfaction over the Exercise conduct,  and stressed the performance of the recruits in their first live-firing event. The Exercise has concluded your highly successful training cycle and demonstrated your readiness for major challenges“.
The Exercise Director, Commander of the Combat Training Centre, Colonel Ivan Jurilj, commended the readiness demonstrated by the Army units for in-country tasks and missions alongside NATO forces worldwide. “The Exercise displayed the planning and operations synergy of all engaged units in fires and manoeuvre“. Engaging near 250 members, supported by as many other members, the Exercise itself was conducted over two days, and prepared for months beforehand“, said the Mechanised Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Miloš.