NATO Force Integration Unit Slovakia gets new commanders

Col Marián Kurilla has been appointed the new Commander of the NATO Force Integration Unit Slovakia (NFIU SVK). Today (2 August 2022), Col Peter Brauner relinquished command of the unit to Col Marián Kurilla in a change of command (COC) ceremony at Vajnory Barracks, Bratislava. Apart from this change of leadership, the Deputy Commander of the NATO Force Integration Unit Slovakia was replaced earlier this month.

Also in attendance at the COC ceremony was Deputy Defence Minister Marian Majer. In his speech, he thanked Col Brauner for his leadership of the unit in the years 2019-2022. Over the period, he has overseen the NFIU's successful accomplishment of tasks, including in support of multinational Ex Slovak Shield and Ex Saber Strike. Mr Majer also appreciated the unit's deeper and more intense communications and engagement with the NATO Force Integration Unit Hungary (NFIU HUN) and the Headquarters Multinational Division Command - Centre (HQ MND-C).

Speaking at the ceremony, Marian Majer said: “Among others, the NFIU SVK has been providing effective support to the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia as part of a further strengthening of the Allianceʼs eastern flank. I trust the new commander, Col Marián Kurilla, too, will be an asset to the unit insofar as he will be performing tasks efficiently and to the highest standards. I wish him a lot of strength, determination and every success in his new role.”

He also wished the new Deputy Commander, Lt Col Lukáš Kyrych, the very best in his new position in succession to Lt Col Marek Štětina. The completely new Command Group, led by COM and DCOM NFIU SVK, is in command of 41 service members, of which 21 are SVK military personnel and the rest come from the Czech Republic, the USA, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

The aim of the NFIU SVK is to support NATO's collective defence in its planning processes and to provide assistance on joint exercises and training events, as well as facilitating the reception, staging, onward movement and integration (RSOI) of Allied forces in the region.

The COC ceremony at Vajnory Barracks was also attended by Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) Lt Gen Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart. Headquartered in Szczecin, MNC NE forms part of the NATO Force Structure and oversees the operations of the NFIU SVK.