05.02.2021

Minister Stefanović visits Military Academy cadets in winter training on Kopaonik Mountain

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, visited today second-year Military Academy cadets who are undergoing winter training at the 51st ski training ground “Kopaonik“.

- I am glad to see that the Military Academy prepares and conducts more and more intensive training for cadets every year here on Kopaonik. This is a very intensive training in alpine, Nordic and tour skiing, and skiing in different firing positions where they use modern Airsoft rifles which are also used by our 72nd Special Operations Brigade - said Minister Stefanović after visiting cadets in training.

The Minister emphasized that the cadets had shown profound knowledge of topography, orientation, making bivouacs and everything else that future officers of the Serbian Armed Forces should know.

- I am glad that they show immense desire and enthusiasm, that they achieve excellent results, which is confirmed by their commanding officers, and that they are building SAF’s future - Minister Stefanović emphasized.

According to him, these are future officers, future platoon commanders who will show all the knowledge they have acquired when they join the echelons of their predecessors, their colleagues who are already in our armed forces’ units and who train young people thus makingour armed forces good, efficient and modern.

- Today, our soldiers, cadets and officers use modern mountaineering equipment, and we intend to invest more money in buying new equipment that will be used not only in this type of training, but also throughout their schooling at the Military Academy - Minister Stefanović pointed out.

He is especially glad that the officers working at the Military Academy are thinking in advance about how to apply modern knowledge used by the armed forces around the world, so that future officers can get the best education and the best conditions during their schooling.

- We want them to see that the state takes care of them, that it takes care of its military and that it is proud, just like the whole nation, of these people in uniforms who defend their homeland and who are there to protect each of us - Minister Stefanović concluded.

At the end of the visit, the Minister of Defence talked to the cadets who shared with him their positive impressions of the winter training.

Ivona Jašić, a second-year Military Academy cadet, is in winter training with her colleagues from the 144th class. She says that at the winter camp on Kopaonik, she has had the opportunity to apply in practice all the theoretical knowledge she acquired at the Military Academy.

-I had an engineering task today, that is, my task was to demonstrate how to make a shelter for ten people. In addition to gaining considerable skiing experience while attending the Military Grammar School, this year I have broadened that experience, and I would definitely recommend everyone to enrol in the Military Academy and experience the magic of engineering and Nordic and alpine skiing with us - said cadet Jašić.

Nebojša Sredojević, a second-year Military Academy cadet, said he was satisfied with the fact that the Military Academy had provided a varied training with the most modern equipment.

- We have conducted tactical training and training with weapons. We are equipped with an M04 Airsoft rifle, a winter camouflage suit and touring skis. The skis have been included in the program as of this year and are used for both alpine and Nordic skiing - cadet Sredojević pointed out and said that the cadets were trained to work with weapons and skis.

Their fellow cadet, Filip Stepanović, spoke about cadet training over the previous two weeks, that is, about classes in topography, tactics, alpine, Nordic and tour skiing. His experience is special, because he has stepped on skis for the first time.

- This is the first time I have stepped on skis, and the Military Academy has provided me with excellent instructors who have taught me how to ski very well in a very short time. The feeling that I get when I step on my skis and go down the slope cannot be described in a million words. In order to feel that way, you need to feel safe first - concluded cadet Stepanović.

This year, winter training is conducted with the 144th class cadets who are now in their secondyear of studies. The cadets learn alpine, Nordic and tour skiing techniques, military topography which includes orientation in winter conditions and going on day and night patrols on unfamiliar terrain, weapons with shooting lessons and firing positionswhile skiing, as well as tactical training in winter conditions.