Minister Vučević Attends Military Celebration of Military Academy Day

Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević attended the military celebration to mark the Day of the Military Academy.



Extending greetings, Minister Vučević pointed out “the Military Academy and military education, with impressive tradition lasting for almost two centuries, are unwavering guardians of the glorious and holy past of our people and heroic and freedom-loving tradition of our armed forces.”

- I am very glad because these ranks find the source of their inspiration in that and such tradition. I am confident that this is the only safe path to the future; when you know where you came from, who and what your ancestors were like, only then can you define the way in which you can and wish to go to that future, to determine the next stop and what kind of people you have to be. At the same time, we have to know that history does not repeat in the same way, and that the past is a road sign that demands from us new efforts, constant pondering and work, new avenues and new results for the well-being of our fatherland. We should learn from examples from the past, not to repeat mistakes, and to renew and repeat those historical lessons that raised our people and military to glory for eternity - Minister Vučević stressed.

Emphasising the historic importance of the establishment of the Military Academy and the establishment and preservation of new Serbian state, Minister Vučević reminded that it had given many achievers, warriors and warlords, whose deeds had to be an inspiration to present generations.



- Today, the Military Academy is a great amphitheatre where cadets acquire theoretic knowledge that will one day enable them to be creators of new presently inconceivable military strategies and doctrines, and it is a training area where they exercise the practical work with military armament and equipment in order to be capable at any moment to protect the borders of our country that values peace and freedom above everything else. It is a large seminar room and a laboratory where a seed is produced of new ideas for the development of modern combat systems and of innovative tactics and command - Minister Vučević stated.

Addressing the professors and cadets of the Military Academy, the minister of defence underlined that history had taught us that it were solely serious armed forces, supremely equipped, competent and inspired by patriotism that were the best guarantor of peace and preservation of freedom.



- That is why our future officers, our goal is that each of us in our own way provide a resolute contribution to the mission of discharging the greatest task placed before us which is to preserve peace and freedom. The state policy of the Republic of Serbia under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vučić creates conditions for what was until recently unimaginable equipping of our armed forces, and for raising their operational capabilities, and constant raising of living standard of our soldiers and officers. The Ministry that I am honoured of heading, has recognised the excellence of the Military Academy and it has undertaken a series of measures to improve this institution; from infrastructural investments, through the support to your work on the accreditation of the programmes of study, development of military sciences, financing scientific and research projects and publishing of books written by Military Academy professors, to rewarding the work and results of teaching staff and cadets - Minister Vučević underlined.

On this occasion, the minister of defence called upon all interested young men and women to apply for the enrolment on the Military Academy.

- I once again extend my greetings for today’s holiday, wishing that you find yourselves worthy successors of military and freedom-loving traditions of our people, because you are exactly that. The cadet brigade of the Military Academy is the bloom of youth of Serbia, and its pride and support for the future. Let our mediaeval knights, our field marshals and generals, and our heroes speak through you. Look back into our glorious past in order to protect our fatherland for the future! Be proud of your oath to your fatherland and your fatherland will be proud of you! From this stand, I once again take this opportunity to call upon all young men and women who cherish Serbia in their hearts, to apply for the enrolment on the Military Academy and become officers of the Serbian Armed Forces and thus take the sacred oath to the Republic of Serbia. Serbia will know to appreciate it. Long live our glorious armed forces! Long live Serbia! - Minister Vučević exclaimed.

Head of the Military Academy Colonel Srđan Blagojević PhD, addressing the present, pointed out that the Military Academy rests upon strong foundation and great role models.

- In teaching process, our role models are the best military academies and similar faculties of the world. In terms of drill, our role model is the Guard, and our cadets acquire drill competence both through everyday work and through the participation in state ceremonies, military celebrations and pilgrimages. When it comes to physical fitness, we find role models in our glorious 63rd and 72nd brigades: Apart from regular lessons, our cadets have morning and applied physical exercises, loaded marches and they are members of numerous sport and martial arts teams. When our professors and cadets execute artillery firing, the set a goal for themselves to be worthy of traditions of Serbian artillery and firepower of the Army Mixed Artillery Brigade - said Colonel Blagojević.

He looked back on the results achieved in the previous year and particularly emphasised more than 200 terrain activities executed in that period that had been planned by the programme of special training, with more than 90 firings and tactical exercises.

- I am confident that with further support of the state and military leadership, we will, together with our armed forces, continue surpassing our own successes and persevere in our aspiration to dedicate ourselves to each cadet, their qualities, virtues, knowledge, competence, interests, as though the future salvation of the fatherland at the battlefield will depend solely on that - said the Head of the Military Academy.



At today’s military celebration, deserving individuals received awards and stimulative measure for exceptional efforts.

Following the celebration, the minister of defence visited the Memorial room of the Military Academy where he signed the Memorial Book, and then he toured the accommodation facilities, library, Army arms and military equipment seminar room, and the Centre for physical education and sports.



Today’s celebration was attended by Rector of the University of Defence Brigadier General Professor Boban Đorović, as well as members of boards of the minister of defence and Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces.