CROATIAN RESERVE OFFICER CORPS STANISLAV LINI COLONEL RET

CROATIAN RESERVE OFFICER CORPS STANISLAV LINIĆ COLONEL (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 1990 th – – – 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 2003 th 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 • • MINURSO-WEST SAHARA UNMIL-LIBERIA UNFICYP-CYPRUS KFOR-KOSOVO ISAF - AFGANISTAN UNIFIL-LIBANON UMOGIP-PAKISTAN EU NAVFOR SOMALIAATALANTA 182 • 13 years • 20 missions “Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.

snow Natural disasters fire flood “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 today • UNASSIGNED RESERVE • CROATIAN RESERVE OFFICER CORPS – ORGANIZED ON A: • STATE LEVEL • COUNTY LEVEL • BIGGER CITY LEVEL – NGO (not supported by Croatian Government. Mo. D) “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 traininglecture 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, 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 “Establishing a Joint Partnership NGO Network: A Cooperative Approach to Security in the Western Balkans Region” -Sofia , 25/26 March 2014.