The General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces is a body within the Ministry of Defence and acts as the most senior military professional command authority of the Slovenian Armed Forces.
It accomplishes its core purpose and mission by carrying out professional tasks related to force planning and development, as well as organization, trainig and operation of the Slovenian Armed Forces. The General Staff provides military-professional support to the Minister of Defence, the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Slovenia, translating political decisions into military ones. It also serves as the liaison authority for the participation and operation of the Slovenian Armed Forces in international organizations.
Mission statement
The mission of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces is to provide effective support to the Chief of the General Staff’s command function and to provide professional foundations and resources necessary for the development, operation and maintenance of the Slovenian Armed Forces’ required level of readiness.
Functions of the General Staff:
- to lead the professionalization and transformation of the Slovenian Armed Forces;
- to oversee NATO and EU standardization initiatives;
- to provide military advice to the Minister of Defence;
- to plan force structure, capability development, modernization, and otganization of the Slovenian Armed Forces;
- to direct and implement personnel policy, and to plan the recruitment and management of Slovenian Armed Forces personnel;
- to plan the development and manage the logistic support of the Slovenian Armed Forces;
- to oversee financial resource planning and allocation of the Slovenian Armed Forces;
- to plan and provide material resources to increase the capabilities of the Slovenian Armed Forces;
- to plan and develop military infrastructure;
- to direct education and training in the Slovenian Armed Forces;
- to plan and lead the deployment and operations of the Slovenian Armed Forces at home and abroad;
- to conduct planning and crisis management activities for the Slovenian Armed Forces;
- to assess and report on the readiness of the Slovenian Armed Forces;
- to organize and conduct staff and functional supervision;
- to plan and direct military intelligence and security activities in the Slovenian Armed Forces;
- to prepare reports and share information with international organizations (NATO, EU, UN, OSCE);
- to direct and develop the system for the protection of classified information in the Slovenian Armed Forces;
- to direct the development of communications and information systems;
- to perform administrative, technical and supervisory functions related to the airworthiness and certification of military aircraft, the licensing of military aviation professionals and other military professionals, military air traffic and airspace surveillance and control;
- to implement international arms control and disarmament treaties;
- to define and implement strategic communications and public relations policies and to plan promotional activities;
- to plan and organize international military cooperation at the strategic level;
- to direct the activities of Slovenian military representations abroad;
- to plan and direct spiritual care activities;
- to plan and direct comprehensive care and
- to take part in joint tasks of the Ministry of Defence and other administrative bodies.
STRUCTURE OF THE GENERAL STAFF
- Leadership
- Chief of the General Staff's Office
- Military Police Section
- Staff
The Military Aviation Authority is the highest professional authority in the field of military aviation and is organized as an independent and professionally autonomous military organizational unit of the Slovenian Armed Forces, directly subordinate to the Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces.
Mission statement
In accordance with its mission and powers, it ensures the enforcement and implementation of aviation standards and recommendations, and performs the professional functions of the Military Aviation Authority (MAA).
Tasks
The Military Aviation Authority performs administrative, professional and supervisory functions in the following areas:
- military aircraft airworthiness
- flight safety
- air operations
- military air traffic and airspace surveillance and control
- licensing of flight crews and other professionals
- military airports and airfields
Key tasks
- to verify the suitability of aviation establishments and organizations performing maintenance, repair and overhaul of military aircraft and providing personnel training
- to certify military aircraft and extend their airworthiness
- to certify and license airspace surveillance and control systems
- to verify maintenance systems and approve maintenance programmes for military aircraft and airspace surveillance and control systems
- to certify training organizations
- to verify training programmes and approve training manuals
- to keep a register of licensed personnel, and issue or renew licenses or certificates
- to manage examination boards and other expert commissions, or participate therein
- to prepare legal bases, contracts, agreements and expert opinions
- to conduct civil-military cooperation and coordination in the fields of military aviation and air defence
- to participate in national and international boards
Structure
The Military Aviation Authority is composed of pilots, aviation technical personnel and airspace and air traffic control personnel
The Military Aviation Authority is composed of pilots, aviation technical personnel and airspace and air traffic control personnel
It consists of the Planning, Analysis, IT, and Logistics Section, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Section.
The Verification Centre plans, implements and oversees arms control activities in the Slovenian Armed Forces and participates in fulfilling the Republic of Slovenia's obligations arising from international arms control treaties. It welcomes and escorts inspectors from OSCE participating states during their arms control activities in the Slovenian Armed Forces and carries out verification activities in non-NATO OSCE participating states. The Verification Centre cooperates with other state authorities of the Republic of Slovenia in the field of arms control as well as with foreign verification centres and arms control agencies.
ORGANIZATIONAL UNITS OF THE GENERAL STAFF
The Military Chaplaincy regularly provides spiritual care to members of the Slovenian Armed Forces and their family members, thereby enabling members of the Slovenian Armed Forces to live in accordance with fundamental human rights, the right to act according to one’s conscience, belief, or religion, and the possibility of professing their faith in private and in public, individually and together with others.
Military Chaplaincy:
- provides spiritual care to members of the Slovenian Armed Forces and their family members, regardless of their religion or world view, if they so desire, at home, during military exercises in Slovenia and abroad, in international operations and NATO commands
- facilitates opportunities for conversation, counseling or confession for members of the Slovenian Armed Forces
- provides advice to commanders on religious, moral and ethical issues
- provides for human dignity during life, death and after death
- organizes spiritual, cultural, religious and social gatherings and pilgrimages for members of the Slovenian Armed Forces and their family members at home and abroad
- provides sacramental support to members of the Slovenian Armed Forces and their family members, if they so wish
- cooperates with local religious communities and civil society institutions (including veterans and relatives of those who died in the War for Slovenia) at home and in international operations and missions, and also participates in spiritual care in an international environment
- participates in other projects related to care for Slovenian Armed Forces members and their family members