VZCZCXYZ0014
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLJ #0612/01 2641202
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211202Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1122
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5183
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000612 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE, OSD FOR MSADOWSKA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR MOPS NATO PGOV PREL PTER SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: SLOVENIAN ARMED FORCES BACKGROUNDER 
 
 
¶1. (U) In preparation for the Secretary of Defense's visit to 
Slovenia for the NATO Defense Ministerial in Portoroz, 
September 27-29, 2006, and his bilateral discussions with 
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa and Minister of Defense 
Karl Erjavec, please find below a current summary of 
Slovenia's international military contributions, as well as a 
status report on the makeup and transformation of the 
Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF). 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Background - Slovenia,s International Contributions 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶2. (U) Slovenia is actively engaged in eight international 
operations, including NATO operations in Iraq, Afghanistan 
and Kosovo, and the EU Operation Althea in Bosnia and 
Herzegovina. 
 
¶3. (SBU) IRAQ.  Since February 2006, Slovenia has had four 
military trainers in support of NTM-I at the Ar Rustamiya 
training facility near Baghdad.  A second rotation of 
trainers arrived in August 2006.  In addition to deploying 
the trainers, Slovenia donated 5 million Euro worth of small 
arms and ammunition to the Iraqi Security Forces; 300,000 
Euro to the NATO Training Mission - Iraq (NTM-I) Trust Fund; 
and covered approximately 172,000 Euro worth of transport 
costs and port fees for the movement of 77 T-72 tanks from 
Hungary to Iraq (across Slovenian territory).  Since 2003, 
five Slovenian police trainers have been training the Iraqi 
Police Force at the Jordan International Police Training 
Center (JIPTC). Additionally, the Slovenian NGO "Together" 
has trained over 200 Iraqi psychiatrists in psychosocial 
rehabilitation for children affected by war.  Finally, 
Slovenia,s contribution to Iraq includes two liaison 
officers (LNO) assigned to Central Command (CENTCOM) 
Headquarters in Tampa, Florida.  The Government of Slovenia 
(GoS) decided to send trainers to NTM-I in spite of very 
strong opposition from the general public and opposition 
parties.  The decision was an important milestone for the 
current government, aligning Slovenia more closely with U.S. 
foreign policy objectives and once again demonstrating 
Slovenia,s willingness under the Jansa government to 
contribute to security operations in global "hot spots." 
 
¶4. (U) AFGHANISTAN: Slovenia has participated in the 
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan 
since 2003. Currently, Slovenia has 52 troops deployed to the 
Italian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Herat, as 
well as two troops operating in ISAF headquarters in Kabul. 
In addition, Slovenia contributes one LNO to CENTCOM 
Headquarters in Tampa, Florida to support ISAF operations.  A 
new rotation of troops left for Afghanistan in August 2006, 
and Slovenia plans to maintain its current force levels in 
ISAF through 2007. 
 
¶5. (U) KOSOVO:  The current GOS contribution to the Kosovo 
Force (KFOR) totals 86 troops, including a Military Police 
platoon and forces supporting various headquarters elements. 
Slovenia plans to increase its presence in KFOR to 
approximately 600 personnel in 2007 with the deployment of a 
Motorized Battalion. 
 
¶6. (U) BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: In 2004, the Slovenes 
contributed approximately 100 troops in support of the 
Stabilization Force (SFOR), which in December 2004 was 
transferred from NATO to the European Union (EU) as Operation 
Althea. The Slovenes continue to support Operation Althea 
with 81 troops, as well as 5 staff personnel at NATO 
Headquarters in Sarajevo. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
BACKGROUND ) THE SLOVENIAN ARMED FORCES 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) FORCE STRUCTURE: The Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) 
continues the process of transformation, including 
downsizing, modernizing, restructuring, and reorganizing, in 
order to meet NATO Force Goals and its military commitments 
to the EU. The SAF, again in the midst of changing its force 
structure, is primarily a ground-based force with limited air 
and naval assets, with approximately a division-size force 
composed of two major commands subordinate to the General 
Staff: the Forces Command; and the Doctrine, Development, 
Training and Education Command (DDTEC). Forces Command is 
composed of combat, combat support, and combat service 
support elements. Within Forces Command, the First Brigade 
provides combat forces, the 72nd Brigade provides combat 
support (CS) forces, and Support Command provides combat 
service support (CSS). DDTEC is generally responsible for all 
training and doctrine development missions, similar to the US 
Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). 
 
¶8. (U) PERSONNEL: The SAF is meeting its downsizing goal by 
transforming itself from a primarily conscripted, 
territorially oriented defense force of 87,000 personnel, of 
which 95 percent were reserves. The SAF today is a 
professional volunteer force currently consisting of 
approximately 7,300 (44%) active duty personnel, 1,300 (8%) 
contracted reserves, and 8,000 (48%) conscripted reserves, 
and is restructuring to become an expeditionary force capable 
of meeting its NATO and EU responsibilities and obligations. 
The goal of the SAF is to downsize the force by 2010 to 8,500 
active duty personnel and 5,500 contracted reserves. 
 
¶9. (U) GOALS AND PRIORITIES: The overarching goals of the SAF 
include strategic integration into NATO and the EU, 
stabilization of the SAF structure and organization, 
development of SAF capabilities for national defense and 
integration within NATO and the EU, improving education and 
training at the individual and collective level, developing 
better logistics capabilities, and improving command and 
control (C2) support systems. 
 
¶10. (U) PROCUREMENT AND FORCE MODERNIZATION: The SAF,s 
modernization and procurement objectives are focused on NATO 
interoperability. Procurement in FY 2005 was focused on 
equipping combat units and enhancing command and control 
capabilities; continuing the process of upgrading individual 
soldier combat gear and protective equipment; continuing the 
procurement of wheeled-vehicle transportation assets in order 
to upgrade SAF logistics support capabilities; investing in 
the upgrading of Cerklje airbase, the sole military airfield 
in Slovenia; and improving helicopter transport capabilities 
and determining fixed-wing transport needs for the future. 
The Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) assisted the SAF by 
supporting some of its procurement objectives, specifically 
with funding in the areas of High Mobility Multi-Wheeled 
Vehicle (HMMWV) spare parts and Command, Control, 
Communications, Computer and Intelligence (C4I) systems. 
ROBERTSON