BRATISLAVA, May 25, (WEBNOVINY) — Ground forces of the Slovak Army are sending 216 professional soldiers to Afghanistan within another rotation of the Slovak contingent on the ISAF mission. Five US army officers who have trained with Slovak troops in Slovakia are traveling to Afghanistan as well. Slovak soldiers will operate in Slovak units in Kandahar and Tarin Kowt. Also spokesman for the Slovak Armed Forces Milan Vanga is leaving with them to take up important posts in the Slovak contingent; he will be deputy commander of the National Support Element and deputy commander of the Slovak mission. In Afghanistan, he will still be active in his current job: in addition to his commanding duties, Vanga will also serve as the unit’s spokesman.
„The Slovak public should receive more detailed information about what we do in Afghanistan. The only way to receive this information is first-hand,” explained the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, General Lubomir Bulik. Vanga had been preparing for his deployment for several months together with his colleagues with whom he is to fly to Afghanistan.
“The command position bears huge responsibility,” Vanga told media. “Our troops are well-prepared, we have mastered all phases of training excellently so far. I’m convinced that we will represent Slovakia exemplarily, as our predecessors did,” said Stefan Acsai, commander of the contingent getting ready to depart. The farewell ceremony is scheduled for Friday in Martin-Podhaj garrison. In the ISAF operation, 1,679 members of the Slovak Army have served so far including four women.
SITA