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).

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Background - Slovenia,s International Contributions
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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 governmen

t, 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.

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BACKGROUND ) THE SLOVENIAN ARMED FORCES
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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