New Class of Serbian Armed Forces NCOs Promoted
Friday, 12.6.2026 | Stories from Units
A military ceremony on the occasion of admission to professional military service of NCOs who have completed the 3rd NCO Course for Civilians has been held at the Guard’s Club in Belgrade today.
The ceremony, at which 253 course participants were promoted to the rank of sergeant, was attended by the Deputy Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, Lieutenant General Tiosav Janković, MOD State Secretary Mile Jelić, Bishop of Lipljan and Military Dositej, members of the extended Collegium of the Chief of the General Staff, representatives of the units of the Ministry of Defense and Serbian Armed Forces, and families and friends of the newly admitted NCOs.
In his address, General Janković has pointed out that an NCO is the pillar of any armed forces, and that with his character and function, he is not only the immediate superior to the soldier, but also an educator, instructor, organizer and leader, who must be ready at all times, to at the highest level of his abilities and capabilities, to contribute to the unit he belongs to.
— Through your dedicated, expert and professional work, and especially by your personal example, strive to carry out all assigned tasks responsibly, completely and safely. This is only possible if you continue to work on yourself and transfer your knowledge to soldiers and younger colleagues — said the Deputy Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, noting that the NCOs promoted today are supposed to undergo new training and advancement in the Serbian Armed Forces units, as well as professional and specialist courses, having an opportunity to acquire new knowledge and skills.
After reading the orders of Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, General Milan Mojsilović on the promotion to the rank of sergeant, General Janković presented awards to the best of the course — the gold-plated NCO sword to the first in rank Sergeant Nikola Petrović, the silver-plated NCO sword to the second in rank Sergeant Đorđe Tešić and the standard NCO sword to the third in rank Sergeant Aleksandar Novaković.
While thanking the instructors, commanders and families for their support, the best participant in this class Sergeant Nikola Petrović has pointed out that it is an extraordinary honor for him to stand in front of his colleagues and speak on their behalf.
— We have new tasks, new duties and new trials ahead of us. But we know that there is no obstacle that a member of the Serbian Armed Forces could not overcome when defending his country, his family and his flag — said Sergeant Petrović.
The NCO Course for Civilians lasts six months and is implemented in three modules. The first two modules are implemented at the NCO Training Center “Sergeant Milunka Savić” in Pančevo, during which participants acquire knowledge to perform basic military tasks and train themselves methodically to perform close-order drills, firearms, tactical and physical training, as well as to command a group and a squad. Then, in the third module, they are supposed to receive specialist training at training centers and units of the Serbian Armed Forces, concluding with internships at appropriate workplaces. Those who successfully master all planned contents are promoted to the rank of sergeant, joining the ranks of professional members of the Serbian Armed Forces.
