Army of Montenegro (AoM)

The Army of Montenegro (AoM) is a professional defence force, which acts in compliance with the Constitution, and within statutes and principles of international law that regulate the use of force. Army personnel are permitted to serve with international forces and Montenegro had already contributed two military observers to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Following the June 2006 dissolution of the union with Serbia, Montenegro inherited a 6,500-strong military force, of which some 5,500 constituted the new, joint Army of Montenegro (AoM). President Filip Vujanovic directed the end of mandatory military service on 30 August 2006 and all remaining conscripts were sent home by 5 September 2006. These actions immediately reduced personnel strength to around 2,700.

The Battalion for Special Purposes (Bataljon za Specijalna Dejstva) inherited from the army of Serbia and Montenegro has been disbanded and most of its personnel were discharged from the armed forces as a potential threat to a local regime. Some of them joined Serbian Armed Forces, others went to Iraq and Afghanistan (private military companies) while the rest just changed profession.

Montenegro is determined to have armed forces that are structured, trained and equipped to standards used by armed forces of of NATO countries, and in so doing to become interoperable with these forces. The logistical support of the armed forces will be adapted to the new organizational structure. Improvements in logistical support will be both qualitative and in efficiency and will contribute to an enhanced operational capacity. Special attention will be provided to the establishment of an interoperable logistics structure, use of logistics information systems and means, implementation of NATO standards and enhancement of deployable logistics capabilities.

Members of the Montenegrin Army Mountain Battalion conducted Exercise “VRANJAK 2011? in and around Vranjak, Kolasin (Montenegro). The theme for the exercise was “scout patrols and ambushes”, mountain living and survival in the mountains. Conducting the exercise the Recon Group of the Montenegrin Army Mountain Battalion demonstrated ambushes, support for rapid reaction forces and evacuation procedures of personnel injured by avalanche by way of snowmobile. The exercises are observed by members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia who participated in joint ski training with the Montenegrin Army. This exercise demonstrated the Mountain Battalion’s effectiveness in the domain of special operations in winter conditions.

Montenegro will continue with the development of operational capacities for NATO-led missions and other international operations, aswell as for executing the defence tasks for Montenegro. The members of the Army of Montenegro will continue with deployment and rotationsin the following missions: ISAF, UNMIL and EU-led mission ATALANTA. The main emphasis will be on enhancement of military interoperability of the Army of Montenegro by implementing the Partnership Goals (currently 28, and a new one will be introduced in spring 2012).

The implementation of the Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC), military-military cooperation with partner countries, as well as participation to joint exercises in the country and abroad will continue. Montenegro is training one infantry detachment from the land army brigade following the OCC. As of late 2011, the assessment of the unit according to SEL-1 was completed. Over the next planning cycle, the infantry detachment will implement NEL-1. Training, education and professional development of personnel will be conducted in the country and abroad. The training opportunities not offered in the country will be sought abroad: command staff training, general staff training, advance levels of foreign language competencies, various individual training courses and exercises.

The logistic focus of the Army of Montenegro in the forthcoming period will be on: training of personnel for the use of NATO logistic procedures, upgrading the quality of weapons and military equipment maintenance, improved storage conditions, addressing the surplus ofweapons and military equipment, and continuation of training for medical personnel for missions. Strengthening of logistic capacities will bedone through the adoption of NATO logistics standards. With a view of further training for instructors delivered at the Training Centre, basicand advance Train the Trainer courses for NCOs will continue. The development of doctrine documents will continue: the Doctrine of the Army of Montenegro, the Doctrine of Military Education and Training, and the Logistics.

Participation of 31 Montenegrin soldiers in ISAF peace keeping mission was a confirmation of success in reaching full interoperability with NATO forces. Their professionalism in performing their tasks was confirmed by German and Hungarian commanders in the northern region of the country. An excellent preparation of these soldiers by the American company MPRI contributed to the success of the first mission in Afghanistan. The USA and the state of Maine provided support in conducting defense system reforms and modernization of the armed forces.