Allied service personnel based at Training Centre (TC) Lešť receive containerised housing units (CHUs)
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- Date: 30.11.2022
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At today's official handover ceremony at the Training Centre (TC) Lešť, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď and Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová handed the first brand new Containerised Housing Units, or CHUs, over to Allied service members who have come to strengthen NATO's presence in Slovakia in response to Russia's unprecedented aggression against Ukraine.
As the accommodation facilities for the troops deployed on the training estate are limited due to years-long neglect of investment in local defence infrastructure, the multifunctional CHUs are here to provide them with the comfort of living quarters.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “I want to thank all those involved in this express delivery of the containerised living units for Allied service members who have left their close ones and homes to protect us, our homes, and that what is most precious to us. I am delighted that the new rotation of Lešť-based Czech troops will already be living in dignified conditions over the Christmas festivities.”
Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová said: “The Slovak side is doing the maximum to enable both Allied and our troops here to feel as comfortable as possible. I appreciate that the incoming Czech rotation will have the standard of living thatʼs been missed up until now and that will improve the overall level of local infrastructure. In view of Russiaʼs continued aggression against Ukraine, I have made a strengthened military presence on NATOʼs eastern flank one of my priorities and I will definitely give my support for the extension of the mission further into the future.”
The “Container City” with a total accommodation capacity of 2,000 Mixed Accommodation bed spaces is scheduled to be complete on the training estate in April 2023. Individual containerised housing units are being supplied and prepared for the final inspection before being handed over for use, whereas the target accommodation capacity is expected to be achieved in stages.
The Ministry of Defence approached 15 companies specialising in container manufacturing and conversions in a direct negotiated procedure, in other words, the contracting authority got directly in touch with the firms to come in with a bid. This allowed the processes with reduced time limits to be applied and so get things done faster than usual. With the coming of the winter, it is now possible to provide Allied service personnel who have come to defend Slovakia with adequate basic accommodation standards on the training estate.
Commanding Officer of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia Col Ladislav Bujárek (CZE A) said: “My thanks go out to the Host Nation, especially to the Director of the Training Centre Lešť, Mr Maštalský, because what we can see here today is a small miracle. To build accommodation facilities that meet the 21st century housing standards in such a short time is something worthy of respect.” He added that the CHUs will serve the needs of Allied service personnel deployed on operations in Slovakia as well as those of the Slovak Armed Forces. “This points to the right direction the MOD and the Slovak Armed Forces are keeping,” Col Bujárek concluded.
New CHUs will be deployed to Sliač Air Base (AB) as well. Overall, the SVK Government has set aside €31.42 m to cater for the demand for this type of accommodation.
As the accommodation facilities for the troops deployed on the training estate are limited due to years-long neglect of investment in local defence infrastructure, the multifunctional CHUs are here to provide them with the comfort of living quarters.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “I want to thank all those involved in this express delivery of the containerised living units for Allied service members who have left their close ones and homes to protect us, our homes, and that what is most precious to us. I am delighted that the new rotation of Lešť-based Czech troops will already be living in dignified conditions over the Christmas festivities.”
Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová said: “The Slovak side is doing the maximum to enable both Allied and our troops here to feel as comfortable as possible. I appreciate that the incoming Czech rotation will have the standard of living thatʼs been missed up until now and that will improve the overall level of local infrastructure. In view of Russiaʼs continued aggression against Ukraine, I have made a strengthened military presence on NATOʼs eastern flank one of my priorities and I will definitely give my support for the extension of the mission further into the future.”
The “Container City” with a total accommodation capacity of 2,000 Mixed Accommodation bed spaces is scheduled to be complete on the training estate in April 2023. Individual containerised housing units are being supplied and prepared for the final inspection before being handed over for use, whereas the target accommodation capacity is expected to be achieved in stages.
The Ministry of Defence approached 15 companies specialising in container manufacturing and conversions in a direct negotiated procedure, in other words, the contracting authority got directly in touch with the firms to come in with a bid. This allowed the processes with reduced time limits to be applied and so get things done faster than usual. With the coming of the winter, it is now possible to provide Allied service personnel who have come to defend Slovakia with adequate basic accommodation standards on the training estate.
Commanding Officer of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Slovakia Col Ladislav Bujárek (CZE A) said: “My thanks go out to the Host Nation, especially to the Director of the Training Centre Lešť, Mr Maštalský, because what we can see here today is a small miracle. To build accommodation facilities that meet the 21st century housing standards in such a short time is something worthy of respect.” He added that the CHUs will serve the needs of Allied service personnel deployed on operations in Slovakia as well as those of the Slovak Armed Forces. “This points to the right direction the MOD and the Slovak Armed Forces are keeping,” Col Bujárek concluded.
New CHUs will be deployed to Sliač Air Base (AB) as well. Overall, the SVK Government has set aside €31.42 m to cater for the demand for this type of accommodation.
