The acting inspector of the Tactical Support Brigade of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH), Colonel Amer Rikovic, was yesterday in Sarajevo awarded individual NATO accreditation and the title of Quality Assurance Specialist, the duty of Quality Assurance Manager, as well as the Medal for Military Merits of the Ministry of Defense of BiH.
Colonel Rikovic is the first individual outside the NATO alliance to be awarded this title, while the Medal for Military Merits is the highest decoration that an active member of the AFBiH can receive.
The Deputy Commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, Muharrem Aydin, emphasized that Rikovic successfully fulfilled all the necessary criteria for the mentioned position of specialist, thereby joining the small number of highly qualified staff who provide assistance in maintaining high training standards.
He stated that Rikovic officially became a member of the group of experts at the Supreme Allied Command Transformation of NATO in the quality control department as an external expert for a specific subject area.
“Colonel Rikovic is an exceptional ambassador both for the Ministry of Defense of BiH and for the Peace Support Operations Training Center, and we extend to him our sincere congratulations,” said Aydin.
Assistant Minister of Defense of BiH Dzenan Redzo emphasized that yesterday’s event goes beyond the framework of individual achievement, because yesterday BiH received one of the most important recognitions for its staff and institutions.
“From this moment, one of our officers has the authority, on behalf of the NATO Supreme Allied Command Transformation, to select and evaluate experts who aspire to the highest level of professional recognition in this field,” said Redzo, and added that the ministry is proud of that fact.
Rikovic stated that he is proud of this achievement, emphasizing that, besides his work and effort, the support of the ministry and the AFBiH also played a major role.
He underlined that at present in the world only three people have the same certificate, and that he received it first, followed by one person from Finland and one from the United States (U.S.).
Rikovic conveyed that he will pass on all the knowledge he has acquired to the younger generations of officers of the AFBiH.
The formal ceremony at the AFBiH House was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Defense and the AFBiH, as well as NATO Headquarters Sarajevo.
