CZECH ARMED FORCES in 2018 A SALUTE Dear citizens, soldiers, airmen and defence civilians, The year 2018 was very challenging for the Czech Armed Forces, yet very productive. The dynamic development of the global security situation calls for a modern and well-equipped armed forces capable of flexibly meeting the changing nature of armed conflicts and new security threats and challenges. Cyber attacks threaten the stability and prosperity of open societies. The range of threats facing us is rather broadening. We must be able to contribute to NATO’s collective defence through a fair part of our abilities and skills as well as to assist civilian authorities in the case of non-military threats. In 2018, we clearly defined the priorities of the Czech Armed Forces and worked to achieve the goals we have set. We launched a variety of immediate impact projects to make sure all service personnel have adequate equipment essential for their service. We have moved forward with the formation of the Cyber Forces and Information Operations Command, the Host Nation Support Battalion and the Airborne Regiment. The launch of the delayed modernization of the land forces is now crucial. The Government of the Czech Republic endorsed the commencement of acquisition of the infantry combat vehicle replacement. What is essential for us as well the governmental assurance that by 2021, the Czech Republic will have spent at least 1.4% GDP on the armed forces and subsequently 2% GDP within a few years. The guarantee of funds for the years to come is the key precondition for us to start all the modernization projects at hand. A properly set up command and control system is another priority, which primarily entails the ability of a quick and adequate response to future crises. In this domain, we have embarked on a path of decentralising authority, in which we strengthen the commanders’ responsibility at the tactical level. Service personnel is the most valuable asset of the armed forces. We are currently able to recruit people interested in a military career in the Czech Armed Forces despite the fact that there are some negative trends such as the deteriorating physical fitness of the youth, the growing competition on the labour market and indeed unfavourable demographic conditions. However, the average age of military professionals rises. We need to be flexible in recruiting and come up with innovative, fresh ideas. As far as remuneration is concerned, the Czech Armed Forces are at the moment a competitive employer, and I believe it will remain the case. The celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Czechoslovakia were an opportunity to remember heroism of our legionaries and their share in the creation of our independent state. At the same time, we could present to our public the military equipment used by Czech military professionals in training or while performing tasks and allied commitments beyond the borders of our country. Our active participation in foreign operations and missions in Afghanistan, Mali, Sinai, and Iraq testifies to the quality, dedication and professionalism of our soldiers. Unfortunately, this year we have also experienced the tragic loss of our fellow comrades who were killed in the line of duty on foreign operations. We will never forget them and will always honour their memory. In 2019, we will celebrate 20 years since the Czech Republic joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. NATO brings us both assurances and obligations. The contribution of Czech Armed Forces is rated very positively by our Allies; however, we must not rest on laurels. We have undertaken many commitments to our Allies and we must work hard to live up to and deliver on our promises. Chief of General Staff, Czech Armed Forces General Aleš Opata PERSONNEL In 2018, the total of 1,566 new military professionals enlisted upon recruitment in 2018 and 411 students enrolled at the Defence University (DU) and the Military Department of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports of the Charles University (MD PTSD CU). At the same time, service contract expired for 995 military professionals and 515 civilian employees ended their employment. Sixty-seven government civil servants left the Czech Armed Forces. Actual numbers of MoD personnel in 2008–2019 Military Defence At Civil servants Total professionals civilians 1 Jan 2008 24,355 11,773 36,128 1 Jan 2009 24,103 10,575 34,678 1 Jan 2010 23,136 9,017 32,153 1 Jan 2011 22,264 8,310 30,574 1 Jan 2012 21,751 8,248 29,999 1 Jan 2013 21,742 8,286 30,028 1 Jan 2014 21,011 7,530 28,541 1 Jan 2015 20,864 7,487 28,351 1 Jan 2016 21,970 6,411 1,131 29,512 1 Jan 2017 23,184 6,515 1,148 30,847 1 Jan 2018 24,251 6,691 1,178 32,120 1 Jan 2019 25,105 6,796 1,183 33,084 PERSONNEL • Performance on recruitment target in 2018 Recruitment 2018 Applicants Enlisted % SALUTE target A DU and MD PTSD CU 730 1,139 411 56.3 Recruitment 1,270 4,939 1,566 123.3 Active reserve component in 2018 2018 January December Increment % Active reserve 2,266 2,788 522 + 23 CZECH SERVICE PERSONNEL IN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY STRUCTURES In 2018, the total of 192 Czech Armed Forces service personnel were assigned and posted in NATO and EU international military staffs, NATO and EU agencies and national representations in international military staffs in the locations in fifteen NATO nations and in Ukraine. The representatives of the Czech Armed Forces held the positions of the Dean of NATO Defence College (NDC) Rome, Italy, Deputy Chief of Staff Joint Force Command (JFC) in Brunssum, the Netherlands, and the Chief of Staff of the Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC) Bydgoszcz, Poland. After serving three-year tenure, the work of the Czech representative in the position of the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Brussels, Belgium, was terminated in June. Permanent missions and workplaces Personnel in foreign countries Permanent mission in Mons: 151 Belgium, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom Permanent mission in Brussels: 33 Belgium Permanent mission in Norfolk: 8 USA Total 192 NATO OTAN INVOLVEMENT IN READINESS FORCES, INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND OBSERVER MISSIONS NATO AND EU STANDBY READINESS FORCES NATO Response Force (NRF) Forces comprising in total up to 440 service personnel were assigned for the NRF in 2018. Those included a Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) unit, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) defence company and the Deployable Communication Module (DCM). The units were on standby in the territory of the Czech Republic, along with their logistic support. EU Battle Groups In 2018, the preparation continued of units assigned to the European Union Battle Groups (EUBG). The Czech Republic was involved in the development of EUBG led by Poland (V4 EUBG with readiness in the second half of 2019) and DEU EUBG led by Germany with standby in the second half of 2020). READINESS FORCES READINESS In support of the EU readiness forces, the Czech MoD assigned 3 personnel • for the contingency of activation of the European Union Operations Centre Communications and Information Systems Deployable Package (EU OPSCEN CIS DP) in 2018. CZECH SERVICE PERSONNEL IN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY STRUCTURES STRUCTURES MILITARY IN INTERNATIONAL PERSONNEL SERVICE CZECH FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND MISSIONS NATO OPERATIONS In 2018, the Czech MoD was involved in 16 foreign operations and missions in the territory of 15 countries. The total of 413 military professionals was deployed in the first half of 2018. In the second half of the year, the newly endorsed mandate for assignment of MoD forces and assets to foreign operations in 2018-20, the number of deployed service personnel increased to 887. RESOLUTE SUPPORT (RS), Afghanistan The Czech Republic engaged in 2018 in the RS mission in the territory of Afghanistan in the area of responsibility of three Train, Advise and Assist Commands (TAAC):TAAC-Capital (TAAC-C), TAAC-East (TAAC-E) and TAAC-West (TAAC-W). The mandate effective until 31 May 2018 was up to 250 personnel, actually deployed were 245 personnel. TAAC-C The Czech Armed Forces Resolute Support Task Force Command with up to 31 personnel with the mission to provide comprehensive support to all Czech Armed Forces units in Afghanistan, has been stationed at the Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) in Kabul; National representations in HQ RS, HKIA and Bagram Airfield) totalling 22 personnel; Air Advisory Team (AAT) comprising 27 personnel was stationed at HKIA. Their mission was to assist on the training of the Afghan Air Force flight and ground personnel on Mi-17 Hip and Mi-35 Hind helicopters; National Intelligence Cell) of 6 personnel was assigned to HQ RS, HKIA and BAF. TAAC-E The BAF Guard Company operated in the Parwan province and performed missions to provide security to the Bagram Airfield (elimination of hostile activities against BAF) with up to 173 personnel. The mandate effective from 1 June 2018 was up to 390 personnel, actually deployed were 347 personnel. The above engagement was expanded with the Special Operations Assistance Teams (SOAT) in the domain of training, advisory and assistance for partner units of the Afghan Special Forces totalling 100 personnel as follows in: TAAC-E in the Logar province (Camp Dahlke), the SOAT Logar with the mission to provide mentoring to the Police Special Unit (PSU); TAAC-W in the Herat province (Camp Conde), SOAT Shindand tasked to mentor the 8th Mobile Strike Kandak (MSK). KFOR Operation JOINT ENTERPRISE, Kosovo There were up to 9 Czech Armed Forces servicemembers (the mandate was 10) assigned to posts in Headquarters KFOR at Camp Film City in Pristina.