And while all eyes have recently been on Brussels and our country’s European path, the Atlantic path or NATO integration are in the shadows. After the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina received the first declared unit that can fully participate in NATO-led operations last year, they can now boast the first certified air traffic controller in their ranks.
After lieutenants Adžem and Pamuk climb the control tower, shortly before noon, the chirping of birds in the Rajlovac barracks will be replaced by the sound of steel birds ready for flight and flight training. The pilots in the craft will take to the sky, but only when the flight controller approves.
In order to do this job, after the Faculty of Economics in Sarajevo, Lieutenant Adžem studied at the prestigious Royal Aviation Academy in Great Britain, and then in Italy. He speaks excellent English, and he knows his way around space and time even better. He must think of every detail, both in heaven and on earth.
Lieutenant ARMIN ADŽEM, flight controller in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina
“He must also think of support services, such as medical services, such as the fire fighting and firefighting services that we have here at the Rajlovac airport, and of course, down to the details, if we have any flocks of birds nearby and it’s something we have to pay special attention to. Of course, the crews take care of it, but another pair of eyes comes in handy.”
Even when it’s just flight training, it’s very important to have a reliable and experienced person at the control tower to guide you, says this pilot instructor who has hours of flying and successfully completed the most complex tasks.
Major MEVLUDIN AGIĆ, pilot instructor in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina
“The cooperation between the flight controller and the pilot during the flight is at the highest possible level when it comes to professionalism. When we are not in the cockpit and when they are not in the tower, then it is, I can freely say, a brotherly relationship”.
Education and training of members of the Armed Forces has been one of the priorities of the Ministry of Defense since its establishment, says former Minister Marina Pendeš. He points out that it is necessary to update the defense and security policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, so that it would be easier to solve many doubts.
MARINA PENDES, Commission for Defense and Security of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina
“Of course, we may currently have certain challenges when it comes to the education of members of the Armed Forces, when we are talking about helicopter pilots, but even that is remedied in a way by the education of our people with the countries with which we have signed agreements on education”.
Armin is just one of the many members of the Armed Forces, who took advantage of the opportunity to study at the most prestigious military schools as a Ministry scholarship.
Contests are an opportunity for others as well.
Lieutenant ARMIN ADŽEM, flight controller in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina
“I would invite all young girls and boys to apply, to test themselves, to try, to find some of their limits, that is, to examine them”.
Armin has already proven himself in this. A high stress tolerance helped him achieve his boyhood dream and do what he loves. And, he is one of the few who can say that the sky is no longer the limit for him, BHRT writes.
