President Milanović Presents First Ranks to Officers Enrolled in 12th Generation of Basic Officer Training

26. November 2021.
13:40

The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović presented today in his Office the first ranks to officers enrolled in the 12th generation of basic officer training for service in the army medical unit. The ranks were presented to Majors Marinka Dobrila, Ivanka Ercegovac and Lucija Svetina, First Lieutenants Elena Jelavić and Andrea Marczi, and Second Lieutenants Željka Galić and Mirna Orlović.

“Croatian Army officers, doctors, future specialists, this is an example of good and smart planning because in the military there is nothing without financial and personal planning,” President Milanović told army officers in his address at the event, adding that planning, programming and budgeting are among the foundations of military work that were later accepted by corporations. “A lot of what the corporate world is based on was invented and implemented by the military,” he said.

President Milanović welcomed the officers to the Croatian Armed Forces and expressed his conviction and hope that they would remain in the Croatian Army for many years. “The medical calling is difficult, a lot needs to be invested, it lasts a long time, salaries are lower here, they are higher abroad, but here there is something more important than money – it is serving the homeland, and of course the good conditions that the homeland must provide for you. My message and what I ask of you – even when I will no longer be the President and Commander in Chief – is to stay in the Croatian Army. I hope that you will be repaid, just as you will do your best for its benefit,” President Milanović concluded.

The ranks, officer’s daggers, certificates and proofs of completion of the first level of officer training were presented to officers by President Milanović, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Siniša Jurković, Deputy Commander of the Croatian Defense Academy Brigadier General Blaž Beretin and Assistant Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces for Health Services Major General Boris Zdilar.

Attending the event alongside President Milanović were Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense and National Security Dragan Lozančić, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, Head of the Military Schools Centre Colonel Damir Stručić and Commander of the Andrija Matijaš Pauk Officer School Colonel Mirko Stošić.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić, Marko Beljan