Training Command – Military Academy

The 11^th Anniversary of the Czech Republic`s Accession to NATO

On 12^th March 2010 a festive gathering was held on the occasion of the 11^th Anniversary of the Czech Republic`s Accession to NATO in the assembly hall of Dědice Garrison in Vyškov. This event was attended by the top officials and personnel of Training Command – Military Academy (TC – MA), Vyškov, representatives of the Garrison`s units, members of the Military Senior Club, Association of Forced Labour Military Camps – Auxiliary Technical Battalions and state administration and local government.

With participation of Roman Celý and Karel Jurka, Deputy Mayors of Vyškov, the gathering was inaugurated by Colonel GS Zbyněk Janečka, TC – MA Deputy Commander, who firstly remembered some of the significant moments linked to this remarkable historical event for the Czech Republic and the AF CR, and afterwards he also mentioned Vyškov Garrison.

“After the Czech Republic`s accession to NATO and the transformation of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic (AF CR), also Vyškov Garrison have changed significantly during last 11 years since it has became one of the main centres for the international cooperation within the AF CR. There are workplaces and facilities with a strong link to the Alliance environment such as an international organization NATO JCBRN Defense COE, Defense Language Institute and the British Military Advisory and Training Team.

Among different activities representing a significant contribution of Vyškov Garrison to the integration process into the NATO structures, activities of the Institute of Doctrines at TC – MA have to be mentioned. This Institute secures implementation of the Alliance procedures and standards to the basic documents of the AF CR and takes part in the exchange of knowledge serving for the development of education activities called Lessons Learned. In the past TC – MA used to have its own contingents in Iraq who participated in the training of the Iraqi Army within NATO Training framework.

Pre-deployment training courses designed for deployments taking place in the crisis areas in the world have gained a significant place in Vyškov. They are organized by the Peace Support Operations Pre-Deployment Training Department who also organize training for commanders, staff and specialists before each deployment`s rotation of the AF CR, UN deployments or before being appointed to different posts within NATO and EU structures. Special training course for journalists and diplomats deployed in distressed areas are also very popular, as the requirement on the personnel training in these areas is getting more and more urgent. The environment, in which both soldiers and civilians work together for NATO, UN, EU, NGOs, humanitarian and charity organizations or media, is considered unstable from different points of view. Therefore it is obvious that not only the Army, but also civilian organizations are interested in training their personnel for the situations which they may encounter in the distressed areas around the world. The NATO accreditation of the NATO Civilians Pre-Deployment Training Course is considered a great success for TC – MA. This course has obtained acknowledgement also abroad which should help to widen TC – MA international cooperation.

As for training, I would like to mention Military Training and Exercise Areas which are also used by foreign armies for training of their units within the framework of international cooperation. A great military training of the Belgian Armed Forces has taken place at MTEA Hradiště recently. It was the biggest training of the foreign army in the last five years because of the number of the personnel, vehicles and equipment.

I am pleased to say that significance of Training Command – Military Academy as a centre of education and training on international scale within the NATO and EU framework will increase in years to come. Many negotiations with Partner states resulting from the NATO Integration Programme were held last year and early this year. Vyškov Garrison was visited by delegations from the USA, Austria, France, Canada, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Israel and the Slovak Republic. Their main interest was to set up new cooperation or to strengthen the current one in the field of education and training. The Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, in particular, are interested in air-force specialist education and training.

In conclusion of his speech, Col. Janečka thanked everybody for fulfilling tasks within the integration process into the NATO Structures. He emphasized: “I respect and appreciate commitment of our personnel participating in foreign operations. There are some of them among us who came back from their deployments in Kosovo and Afghanistan early this year. A big thank you to all of you!”

Another part of the ceremony was dedicated to 34 TC – MA personnel who took part in deployments abroad in 2009 – 2010. They received the Commander`s Award for their first-rate completing of tasks during their deployment or while working within NATO international staffs.

Afterwards Bohumír Dufek, Chairman of Committee of Moravian-Silesian Association of Forced Labour Military Camps – Auxiliary Technical Battalions held his speech as well as Karel Jurka, Mayor of Vyškov. The latter said: “The Army has been a part of the town for decades. The local Garrison is among the best ones not only within the AF CR, but also within NATO. Thanks to the Garrison the town of Vyškov gets acquainted with many top officials and other important people from all over the world. It is very gratifying to know that such events regarding international cooperation of the AF CR take place in Vyškov and that Vyškov Garrison makes use of excellent facilities designed for top soldiers` and specialists` training.”

In conclusion of the 11th anniversary of the Czech Republic`s Accession to NATO and to stress its significance and contribution to the integration process of Vyškov Garrison, there was a short film presentation describing deployments of the AF CR personnel abroad as well as Vyškov 2009 Training.

Text: Capt. Monika Nováková, TC – MA Deputy Press and Information Officer, Vyškov
Photo: Olga Karaffová