Heroes from SVK Armed Forces receive 2019 Military Deed of the Year Awards

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď along with Defence State Secretary Marian Majer, Secretary General of the SVK MOD’s Service Office Peter Kozák, Chief of Defence Gen Daniel Zmeko, and Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the SVK Armed Forces Sgt Maj Marcel Kaniak revealed the laureates of the 2019 Military Deed of the Year Awards and congratulated them at an awards ceremony today. Traditionally, the Ministry of Defence recognises remarkable acts of service and heroism in saving human lives, assisting those who need it most, and friends of the Armed Forces who have contributed to building civil-military relations. Due to the pandemic, this year’s 23rd edition of the Awards took place at the Ministry of Defence, with the participation of MOD officials and the Award laureates.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “Service for the country brings a variety of situations which soldiers are trained for and which they may get into. In many cases, they may happen while soldiers are off duty and for some of them one cannot prepare in advance. I am very pleased that today we have awarded all those who have proved the validity of an unwritten rule whereby “military profession is not a job but a mission” through their acts and deeds.” The Minister congratulated the recipients on their accolades and thanked all those involved. “Thank you for doing what is right, which often remains hidden before members of the public, yet it may either inherently change or even save a number of human lives,” he said.

A team of service personnel from the ISTAR Battalion Prešov were named the Award laureates in the Rescue of Life category. On behalf of the team, the Award was taken over by Lt Ján Štefančík and Cpl Jozef Bilohučšin. Both laureates supported the rescue efforts in the aftermath of the residential tower block gas explosion on Mukachevo Street in Prešov. Cpl Jozef Bilohučšin was a resident of the tower block who did not hesitate to evacuate his elderly neighbour immediately after the gas blast. Among the first responders was a team of 27 members of the Prešov-based ISTAR Battalion. They responded immediately after the incident was reported to them and assisted firefighters and rescuers in evacuating the residents, transporting the injured, making a local access road passable for the Fire and Rescue Services, guarding and patrolling the residential area, and providing security on the site where demolition works were underway.

The winner of the Award in the Assistance to the Public category was Sgt 1st Class Michal Holbík, of the SVK Armed Forces Guard of Honour, HQ Bratislava Garrison. Ever since 2016, he and his colleagues have raised money for families in need under the motto of “A Team Achieves More Than An Individual”.

In the Friend of the Armed Forces category, the Award went to Milan Gajdoš, of the Military Support Foundation. Since 2011, the Military Support Foundation has looked after serving, ex-service and civilian personnel in Defence who have found themselves in hardship, need or distress. This is the only military charity of its kind in Slovakia which also helps build military traditions.

The Service to the Country category is dedicated to service personnel who have played a role in building a good reputation of the SVK Armed Forces at home and abroad with their exceptional work achievements. The Award laureate in this category was military medic SSgt Ivana Krivošová for providing medical care to residents of the marginalised Roma communities in quarantine as part of Op Umbrella. Aside this, she managed to reverse the near-fatal condition of a child, thus saving a human life. However, she was not able to attend the ceremony in person because of her deployment abroad. The head of the MOD video called to congratulate her on the accolade and say thank you for a job well done and for representing the Slovak Armed Forces abroad.

The Military Deed of the Year Awards are announced and presented by the Defence Minister every year to recognise and highlight the outstanding acts of service and saving life by the Defence community in the previous year. This year the Awards were given in four categories: Rescue of Life, Assistance to the Public, A Friend of the Armed Forces, and Service to the Country.

Still today, the recipients of the Military Deed of the Year Awards are expected to meet with SVK President and Commander-in-Chief of the Slovak Armed Forces Zuzana Čaputová at the Grassalkovich Palace.