Promotion of Reserve Officers of Generation “March 2019”

Minister Vulin: Consistent in our policy of military neutrality
 
Today, Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin congratulated the end of the education to the attenders of the Reserve Officers’ School of Generation “March 2019” saying that on that day “you have become officers of the armed forces which are recognised by the world for always, exclusively, and solely defending their own portion of land, water and sky”. Today, at a ceremony held in the barracks “General Jovan Mišković” in Belgrade, they were promoted in the reserve officers’ ranks upon a Decree of the President of the Republic of Serbia and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vučić.
- Today, you have become reserve officers of armed forces, but not just any armed forces. You did not choose a profession or a job; you did not become professionals in a military which is being prepared and educated to inflict suffering or evil to some other country and some other nation. You did not become members of armed forces whose history includes a tradition of conquests, occupation, and plunder. You have become reserve officers of armed forces recognised by the world for always, exclusively and solely defending their portion of land, water, and sky. The Armed Forces of Serbia are the armed forces of free people, the people who have chosen to be free at any cost. It is said with good reason that the Serbs will do almost anything for peace, but they will do and give everything for the freedom – Minister Vulin underlined.
 
According to him, for Serbia to remain free, upright and make its own decisions, and choose its friends on its own, and stand upright in the face of its enemies, it has to have armed forces that are stable, secured, satisfied and strong.
 
- You have become officers of such armed forces, and you have become the ones who will be the first, the ones to whom we will entrust our children, to whom we will give unconditional trust and every hope. You have placed yourselves in the line of those who existed before us, of those who walked before us following freedom and this flag – the minister of defence stated.
 
Addressing the families of the youngest reserve officers, Minister Vulin extended gratitude to them for the support which they had rendered, explaining that in the times when everything was valued and measured only by material things, they had stood by the attenders of the course and understood their need, will, wish and their only goal – to serve their fatherland and be with their people, in the armed forces and country in which our children would walk freely, proudly, and speak their own language, write in their own script.
- Owing to the fact that in every generation Serbian people give birth and find a generation such as this one, that makes us proud and happy because they exist, the Serbian people can say that it is free and that it will be free. Generations before us have taken and won our right to make our own decisions, to be proud and free. That is why this generation as well will be able to say that it will continue that fight and the right to autonomously chose, make decisions about ourselves and the future of our children and that it will not give or relinquish that to anyone and at any cost – Minister Vulin sent the message.
 
In the wars that were forced on us – Minister Vulin added – and which we led by the will of others, and in civil wars which were asked and started by others, during NATO aggression too, we have learned that we can trust solely and only ourselves, our people and our armed forces.
 
- The Serbian Armed Forces are part of the policy of military neutrality, precisely because we have chosen never to do to others, listening somebody else’s order or command, the things which were done to us, and jeopardise the freedom and right to life to some other nation, its children, its families. You have become a part of the Serbian Armed Forces; you have become a part of a brave, persistent, tough and stubborn military which has but one goal – freedom for the people, freedom for Serbia – the minister of defence concluded.
 
Minister Vulin conferred the rewards to the best ranking attenders of the Reserve Officers’ Course of Generation “March 2019” – a wrist watch with inscription to reserve Second Lieutenants of the Military Academy Miloš Kostić (9.67), Mirko Rakonjac (9.40) and Stefan Stefanović (9.33), and to reserve Second Lieutenant of the Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy Aleksia Milić (9.67).
 
The first ranking within this generation of reserve officers, reserve Second Lieutenant Miloš Kostić underscored that the time he had spent in the Reserve Officers’ School had left a significant mark on everyone.
 
- On our military path we have met many people and each of them always gave more than they asked from us, so that we are leaving this place richer for great knowledge and experience, but far more capable to do what we have been trained for.
 
He expressed his gratitude to all those who had selflessly encouraged them to persevere and reach their goal which was worth investing oneself in.
 - I sincerely hope that our beloved fatherland will not be forced to reach for reserve officers, because we know that this would mean that the peace is no more, but if this happens nevertheless, we will come with our heads raised high and do our best to justify the trust that you gave and which you are selflessly giving even on this day – reserve Second Lieutenant Kostić emphasised.
 
The families and friends of the reserve officers who attended today’s event did not hide their pride, just like the mother of reserve Second Lieutenant Doroteja Ugrinović – Donka Ugrinović, who thanked the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces for promoting new reserve officers.
- I wish all people heard that I have sent my female child to the military and I believe that all men should serve military service. I think that it is an honour, the honour of this country, and that they become men there. Everyone will see that when they come here - Donka Ugrinović sent the message.
 
Today’s ceremony was attended by Dean of the University of Defence Lieutenant General Goran Radovanović, Head of the Military Academy Major General Bojan Zrnić and Head of Private Office of the Minister of Defence Brigadier General Siniša Kresović.