Saint Michael´s Day

     The Friday, September 29th, 2023, is also the day Saint Michael, the patron of paratroopers, was perfectly suited for a ceremonial gathering in the premises of the 5th Regiment of Special Forces (5th SFR). During this event, medals were awarded to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Regiment, and the FOX 23 exercise was ceremoniously concluded. A portion of the program was dedicated to the members of the 5th SFR who are leaving for reserve duty or other units, and the winner of Gabčík´s Drop of Blood was drawn.
     The assembly took place with the participation of the highest representatives of the Special Operations Forces Command (SOF Command), led by Brigadier General Jaroslav Krám, and the commander of the 5th SFR, Colonel Peter Žochňák. Former Commanders and Chiefs of Staff of the regiment were present at the gathering. Among the units assembled were not only the awardees but also participants of the FOX 23 exercise.
     During the assembly, both commanders expressed their gratitude to everyone for their work, without which the Regiment would not be what it is today.
     Colonel Žochňák conveyed his thanks in his speech: "My biggest thanks go to you, colleagues - members of the 5th SFR. Thanks for your professionally executed work, for your daily dedication and support, which I have been feeling for years." In addition to his thanks, he mentioned the history of Saint Michael, which has its roots in 1944 and originates from Great Britain. On this occasion, he presented a coin with the image of Saint Michael to all the Michaels present at the assembly.
     The last items on the program included bidding farewell to colleagues leaving the unit. The Commander expressed his gratitude for what they had done for the Regiment and wished them success.
     The final point was the evaluation of the "competition" of Gabčík´s Drop of Blood. In August, as many as 102 members of the Special Operations Forces decided to donate blood and contribute to a good cause. Special Forces are known for their dedication and strong team spirit, so they decided to initiate Gabčík´s Drop of Blood with the National Transfusion Station. The winner was a member of the 51st Training Base."