Training of Civilian Candidates for Serbian Armed Forces NCOs
Friday, 24.4.2026 | Training
At the NCO Training Centre “Sergeant Milunka Savić” in Pančevo, a six-month training of civilian NCO candidates is underway.
The training includes close-order drills, firearms, tactical and physical training, military topography and the use of modern weapons and military equipment.
The 4th class of civilian candidates is currently undergoing the second of a total of three training modules, where they will learn to command a team, a group and a squad, but also to train soldiers on military service and future NCO candidates.
Sergeant Miroslav Mrđan, a training instructor, has pointed out that the first two modules are implemented in Pančevo, after which the trainees go to the specialist centres for 17 weeks, where they are closely trained for initial NCO duties.
— This is the 4th class of civilian candidates accepted by the NCO Training Centre, and with the previous three classes, we made extremely great success. All individuals who applied for the competition showed exceptional results, thereby participating in strengthening and raising the operational capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces. “Sergeant Milunka Savić” NCO Training Centre strives to accept as many civilian candidates as possible every year with all its capacities, in order to train them and prepare them for initial duties. We have exceptional teaching teams. The training instructors are experienced officers who, with their knowledge, attitude and example, show in the right way what an NCO of the Serbian Armed Forces should look like — said Sergeant Mrđan.
Course participant Petko Milosavljević from Kraljevo says that his goal is to return to his hometown, after being promoted to the rank of sergeant, and through work in the transportation service of the Serbian Armed Forces, to grow into a capable NCO who will teach future soldiers their initial duties.
— What surprised me the most was that we became closer almost immediately, despite the fact that we come from different parts of Serbia, and by working together we master tasks more easily and learn faster — stated future NCO Milosavljević.
A candidate from Jagodina, Nevena Stojanović, signed up for the NCO Course because she wanted to prove to herself how much she can achieve and says that the army is not just a uniform for her, but a way of life that brings responsibility, discipline and perseverance.
— After completing the course, the army provides us with permanent employment, retirement benefits, health insurance for us and immediate family members, and advancement — pointed out Stojanović, who, to the delight of her family, performed military service voluntarily before the course.
Future NCOs are supposed to undergo specialist training and internships in appropriate positions in specialist training centres and units of the Serbian Armed Forces, after which they will be promoted to the rank of sergeant and assigned to initial duties in the units.
Those willing to reach the first NCO rank in the Serbian Armed Forces in this way can apply until the end of the month for a public competition for the NCO course for civilian candidates that starts in October.
