SLOVENIA: SLOVENIAN ARMED FORCES BACKGROUNDER

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000612 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE, OSD FOR MSADOWSKA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MOPS NATO PGOV PREL PTER SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: SLOVENIAN ARMED FORCES BACKGROUNDER ¶1. (U) In preparation for the Secretary of Defense's visit to Slovenia for the NATO Defense Ministerial in Portoroz, September 27-29, 2006, and his bilateral discussions with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa and Minister of Defense Karl Erjavec, please find below a current summary of Slovenia's international military contributions, as well as a status report on the makeup and transformation of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF). -------------- -------------- Background - Slovenia,s International Contributions -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Slovenia is actively engaged in eight international operations, including NATO operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, and the EU Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina. ¶3. (SBU) IRAQ. Since February 2006, Slovenia has had four military trainers in support of NTM-I at the Ar Rustamiya training facility near Baghdad. A second rotation of trainers arrived in August 2006. In addition to deploying the trainers, Slovenia donated 5 million Euro worth of small arms and ammunition to the Iraqi Security Forces; 300,000 Euro to the NATO Training Mission - Iraq (NTM-I) Trust Fund; and covered approximately 172,000 Euro worth of transport costs and port fees for the movement of 77 T-72 tanks from Hungary to Iraq (across Slovenian territory). Since 2003, five Slovenian police trainers have been training the Iraqi Police Force at the Jordan International Police Training Center (JIPTC). Additionally, the Slovenian NGO "Together" has trained over 200 Iraqi psychiatrists in psychosocial rehabilitation for children affected by war. Finally, Slovenia,s contribution to Iraq includes two liaison officers (LNO) assigned to Central Command (CENTCOM) Headquarters in Tampa, Florida. The Government of Slovenia (GoS) decided to send trainers to NTM-I in spite of very strong opposition from the general public and opposition parties. The decision was an important milestone for the current government, aligning Slovenia more closely with U.S. foreign policy objectives and once again demonstrating Slovenia,s willingness under the Jansa government to contribute to security operations in global "hot spots." ¶4. (U) AFGHANISTAN: Slovenia has participated in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since 2003. Currently, Slovenia has 52 troops deployed to the Italian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Herat, as well as two troops operating in ISAF headquarters in Kabul. In addition, Slovenia contributes one LNO to CENTCOM Headquarters in Tampa, Florida to support ISAF operations. A new rotation of troops left for Afghanistan in August 2006, and Slovenia plans to maintain its current force levels in ISAF through 2007. ¶5. (U) KOSOVO: The current GOS contribution to the Kosovo Force (KFOR) totals 86 troops, including a Military Police platoon and forces supporting various headquarters elements. Slovenia plans to increase its presence in KFOR to approximately 600 personnel in 2007 with the deployment of a Motorized Battalion. ¶6. (U) BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: In 2004, the Slovenes contributed approximately 100 troops in support of the Stabilization Force (SFOR),which in December 2004 was transferred from NATO to the European Union (EU) as Operation Althea. The Slovenes continue to support Operation Althea with 81 troops, as well as 5 staff personnel at NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo. -------------- BACKGROUND ) THE SLOVENIAN ARMED FORCES -------------- ¶7. (U) FORCE STRUCTURE: The Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) continues the process of transformation, including downsizing, modernizing, restructuring, and reorganizing, in order to meet NATO Force Goals and its military commitments to the EU. The SAF, again in the midst of changing its force structure, is primarily a ground-based force with limited air and naval assets, with approximately a division-size force composed of two major commands subordinate to the General Staff: the Forces Command; and the Doctrine, Development, Training and Education Command (DDTEC). Forces Command is composed of combat, combat support, and combat service support elements. Within Forces Command, the First Brigade provides combat forces, the 72nd Brigade provides combat support (CS) forces, and Support Command provides combat service support (CSS). DDTEC is generally responsible for all training and doctrine development missions, similar to the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). ¶8. (U) PERSONNEL: The SAF is meeting its downsizing goal by transforming itself from a primarily conscripted, territorially oriented defense force of 87,000 personnel, of which 95 percent were reserves. The SAF today is a professional volunteer force currently consisting of approximately 7,300 (44%) active duty personnel, 1,300 (8%) contracted reserves, and 8,000 (48%) conscripted reserves, and is restructuring to become an expeditionary force capable of meeting its NATO and EU responsibilities and obligations. The goal of the SAF is to downsize the force by 2010 to 8,500 active duty personnel and 5,500 contracted reserves. ¶9. (U) GOALS AND PRIORITIES: The overarching goals of the SAF include strategic integration into NATO and the EU, stabilization of the SAF structure and organization, development of SAF capabilities for national defense and integration within NATO and the EU, improving education and training at the individual and collective level, developing better logistics capabilities, and improving command and control (C2) support systems. ¶10. (U) PROCUREMENT AND FORCE MODERNIZATION: The SAF,s modernization and procurement objectives are focused on NATO interoperability. Procurement in FY 2005 was focused on equipping combat units and enhancing command and control capabilities; continuing the process of upgrading individual soldier combat gear and protective equipment; continuing the procurement of wheeled-vehicle transportation assets in order to upgrade SAF logistics support capabilities; investing in the upgrading of Cerklje airbase, the sole military airfield in Slovenia; and improving helicopter transport capabilities and determining fixed-wing transport needs for the future. The Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) assisted the SAF by supporting some of its procurement objectives, specifically with funding in the areas of High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) spare parts and Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence (C4I) systems. ROBERTSON