BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The 11th
Slovenian Armed Forces Best Squad competition with international
participation took place from Tuesday, 2 September to Friday, 5
September, with the support of personnel from various Slovenian
Armed Forces units in Postojna and its surroundings, Trend reports.
The 20th Light Infantry Squad of the 72nd Brigade successfully
defended last year’s title, while the best foreign squad placed 4th
overall—the squad from the Colorado National Guard. The Force
Commander of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Boštjan
Močnik, addressed the audience at the closing ceremony held in the
Military History Park in Pivka.
Brigadier General Močnik described the event as a core occasion
that had for many years demonstrated initiative, willingness, and
readiness to cooperate at the lowest tactical levels with allied
countries. “The essence of this competition is not about who wins,
but that sooner or later you will again meet somewhere, and
remember that you already know each other from this competition.
That is what truly matters and confirms that cooperation among
Allies begins at the lowest tactical level. On the battlefield, it
is the squads that matter the most—not generals,” he concluded.
The two-day competition, largely held at the Slovenian Armed
Forces’ Central Training Area in Postojna and its surroundings,
tested participants’ physical and mental readiness to operate under
various conditions, with a focus on practical military skills. The
event features ten Slovenian Armed Forces squads (14th Engineer
Battalion, 18th CBRN Defence Battalion, 20th Light Infantry
Battalion, 74th Medium Infantry Battalion, 157th Logistic Support
Battalion, 670th Logistic Support Battalion, Military Schools
Centre, 10th Reconnaisance Battalion – two units, and 132nd
Mountain Battalion) and seven international squads (from Croatia,
Italy, Hungary, the Colorado National Guard, the Republic of North
Macedonia, and two squads from Slovakia).
The squad of the 20th Light Infantry Battalion, 72nd Brigade,
took first place and was named the Best Slovenian Armed Forces
Squad. Second place went to the squad of the 14th Engineer
Battalion, with third place awarded to the squad of the 10th
Reconnaissance Battalion (Fire Support Squad), 1st Brigade. The
best international squad overall was the squad of the Colorado
National Guard.