dedicated to the army day of both countries – January 1st
People exist not only you see at the window, my grandmother often has told me. This urge to meditate and an imagination exercise about life beyond the village, the country in the current conditions has turned into real possibilities. Money, time and desire are enough to know other lands. Moreover, thanks to the study and work offer, the world influence our future, implicitly on the National Army.
Which countries interact with Moldova on the military segment, how evolve the connections we will find out one by one, based on the National Day or the Armed Forces of each state.
Bohemia is not bohemian at all
The Moldovan-Czech first steps cooperation was in 1998. The Agreement’s negotiation took several years because the Czech Republic’s priority was to join the North Atlantic Alliance. Thus, the document of bilateral cooperation was signed only in 2011. Since then, Moldovan defense ministers and Czech officials, especially ambassadors and military attachés, meet practically every year.
Detailing by areas, we have to notice: the cartography field started in 2016 and remained at the initiative level because nobody the draft agreement promoted it at the national level. The industrial of defense and military logistics fields were, also, limited to discussions.
Instead, the Czech Republic contributed financially with 61,000 euros to the NATO/ PfP Trust Fund Project on the destruction of pesticides and hazardous chemicals in the Republic of Moldova.
Continuous collaboration is registered in the education field. In 2012-2020, 79 soldiers of the National Army were trained in various specialities, Vasile Pugacescu, senior officer, International Cooperation Directorate, informed us.
The kingdom of castles and mountains
Slovakia has shown military interest to Moldova since 1996, and only in 2005, the parts passed to a legal framework. Even after the signing of the bilateral relationship agreement, it had a modest evolution: no the annual plans, only meetings of officials, exchange of messages and a few courses in the logistics field and for staff officers. Specifically, one Moldovans officers are invited to study at the National Defense Academy of the Slovak Republic in Liptovsky Mikulas.
Among the first beneficiaries of both countries’ courses is Lieutenant-Colonel Ion Pruteanu, Chief Officer of the Transformation Directorate, Ministry of Defense. Due to his experiences, we can afford a comparative analysis: „The goals for these trips were different. I went to the Czech Republic to get acquainted with the offer and to understand how much it’s used for our military. In Slovakia, I went for a professional development.”
The impact? The Czech Republic was focused on short courses with British trainers, who initiated participants in the operations planning field. Otherwise, the beer and jewelry country remained unknown to the Moldovan military: „Two weeks weren’t enough for me to delve into the details of the field and not even to know the culture, its beauties because I was far from the city. I had only one weekend on my own, plus the expenditures had to be rationalized.”
As a result of this experience, the National Army organized several similar courses at home for its own inferior leaders with British support.
On the other hand, Slovakia excelled as the host, concept and course content, and teachers: „It was a career course for the battalion staff personnel. During the 6 weeks, I learned how a battalion staff works; they explained each type of weapon’s attributions, what skills must be possessed, and how to plan operations. I was impressed by the dedication of the Slovak trainers. One of them was so deep and involved. He had deep knowledge down to the smallest details and answered any question: he understood that the army’s quality depended on him and was very severe with his students from the Slovak army.
I also traveled around the country organized and individually. Obviously, I couldn’t pass through this beautiful mountainous area.”
The officer also told us that the course’s information applied to the National Army in the proportion of 80-90%, but this was the reality of the 2010-2011 years. About present experiences at the army level are difficult to say. At least the individual level is useful, judging by Homer’s ideas as I am a little of everything I have met.
The Czech Republic army comprises the land and the air force, and support units. Between 1940 and 1989 the large Czechoslovak armed forces (about 200,000) formed one of the Warsaw Pact military alliance pillars. After the Velvet Divorce of January 1, 1993, the Czech Republic made a major reorganization and reduced the armed forces, which began a new development direction after joining NATO on March 12, 1999.
The active state reserve is part of the professional army of the Czech Republic. Compulsory military service ended in 2004, and volunteers must have an army or attend 8-week training. The reservists have to serve up to three weeks a year and can be called up to serve two weeks during a non-military crisis. Source: https://bit.ly/3ieoymN
The Slovak Republic army includes the land and air forces, the Command and Training Command, and the Central Staff (including medical). The country joined NATO on March 29, 2004, and two years later the conscript was abolished. Source: https://bit.ly/3ifEvch
According to the website, https://www.globalfirepower.com/ Slovakia ranks 58th out of 138 strongest armies for 2021, being outdated by the Czech Republic 24 positions.
In Romanian: https://dragostinavicol.org/2021/01/18/armata-moldoveana-intre-cehia-si-slovacia/
Other articles about military colaboration:
https://dragostinavicol.org/2021/03/24/developing-security-traditions-with-austria/
Arma-ta DV 
3 gânduri