“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

CROATIAN RESERVE OFFICER CORPS

STANISLAV LINIĆCOLONEL (RET.)Vicepresident

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

Agenda

• The beginning• Reforms after

Homeland war• Strategic Defense

Review• Reserve component• CROC• Conclusion

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

The beginings• Started in 1990th

– former JNA officers,– volunteers– mobilized– former JNA r. officers– reserve police forces– Croatian emigrants

• Very difficult to manage

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

Reforms of Armed Forces• people are seeking to return

home back to their life• Armed Forces established

more strict criteria in order to retain quality. – trend to develop mobile,

multifunctional and flexible forces.

– Economic reasons – conceptual inconvenience– inapplicability of the “cold

war” doctrine• New security threats

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

Military budget is shrinking• there is no enough funds for

robust Reserve Forces • National Security Council after

broad consultations with domestic and foreign teams of experts come to a decision and immediately after war, Reserve Forces were downsized from 165 000 to – 110 000 – no long after that to 35 000.

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

Strategic Defense Review

• In 2003th MOD and GS started to work in SDR

• The main reason for that was:– Profound changes-NATO /EU– Need for changes in Croatian

Armed Forces in order to • enhance interoperability with other

NATO members and • prepare them for future missions at

home and abroad

• covered– actual tasks – predictable future tasks.

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

The essence of new changes:• Gradual transformation from

national to collective mechanisms for defense and security

• Transition and professionalization• smaller active and reserve

component, • specialization• New public image• well planned and financially

supported.• Long Term Development plan.

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

CROATIAN ARMED FORCES• Rapid Response Forces ( in 24

hours readiness to respond)• Forces in 30 days readiness to

respond• Forces in 30-90 days readiness to

respond (active nucleus and reserve forces under contract)

• Reserve forces (120-180 days readiness)-unassigned forces.

• So Reserve component is going to be about 8000 contract reserve and the other is “unassigned reserve”.

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

What happened in the meantime?

• 2008. ECONIMIC CRISIS• 2008. on MILITARY

BUDGET SIFNIFICANTLY DOWNISIZED and has the same trend up to now

• 1.04.2009. CROATIA JOINED NATO

• 01.07.2013. CROATIA BECAME EU MEMBER

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

HV in international missions abroad

• 13 years• 20 missions

• MINURSO-WEST SAHARA• UNMIL-LIBERIA• UNFICYP-CYPRUS• KFOR-KOSOVO• ISAF - AFGANISTAN• UNIFIL-LIBANON• UMOGIP-PAKISTAN• EU NAVFOR SOMALIA-

ATALANTA

182

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

Natural disasterssnow

flood

fire

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

STRATEGIC DEFENSE REVIEW

• Under serious review and adaptation

• new moments should be taken under consideration

• CROA want to be deeply involved

• Will be followed by Long Term Development plan

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

CROATIAN ARMED FORCES – RESERVE COMPONENT

• CONTRACT RESERVE– In the beginning– Lack of funding– Lack of vision

• UNASSIGNED RESERVE• CROATIAN RESERVE

OFFICER CORPS– ORGANIZED ON A:

• STATE LEVEL• COUNTY LEVEL• BIGGER CITY LEVEL

– NGO (not supported by Croatian Government-MoD)

today

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

What is CROC doing now?

• Military history– Lectures– Trips

• Shooting competitions• Specialized training• International activity– CIOR– GAMINGER INITIATIVE– Other

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

Military history• Trips -Visits to museums • Lectures in schools about recent

history-Homeland War

• Lectures about military history- WWII - Battle for Rijeka

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

• Shooting competitions • Specialized training-lecture about MDMP

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

Traditional international shooting competition

SNIPER CUP

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

International activity

• Visit to Slovenian Armed Forces

• Visit to SROA• Signing of the

agreement with MORS

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

International activity

• GAMINGER INITIATIVE • CIOR

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

What are we trying to do to force changes

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

In the end• Despite the downsizing, Reserve

Component is very important due to its value and potential– people with combat experience, other knowledge and capabilities, abilities, proved patriotism and loyalty.

• Should be involved in international activities through organizations like C.I.O.R. and GAMINGER INITIATIVE, and activities under NATO sponsorship.

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

CONCLUSION• important role• improve quality, motivation and

effectiveness and profitability• proficiency of Reserve

Component will gradually improve

• Reserve forces should not be marginalized but used with its potentials even beyond its training programs, across variety of initiatives and organizations in order to support Croatian international political initiatives and goals

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

you all are invited to visit us and to participate in our activities this year

“Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION