2024 Was the Year of Breakthrough for the Defense Forces

The Chief of the General Staff called 2024 the year of breakthrough in the end-of-year broadcast of the M1 channel’s magazine program HadERŐ (Defense Force). General Gábor Böröndi emphasized that last year, almost 3,500 additional men and women have chosen to serve in the Hungarian Defense Forces, which, in his opinion, means that they are doing something right and have made this profession attractive. 

He reminded that at the same time, the number of professional and contracted members of the armed forces had increased. Gábor Böröndi said that for him, the most important thing is that a large part of the soldiers are proud of themselves. A soldier’s soul is at ease when he sees that he is proud, safe and cared for, and that his family is looked after, he added.

In the broadcast, the Chief of the General Staff highlighted the work of the soldiers who guard the borders during the holidays. He stressed that

today, a powerful army is born between our hands, and there is no greater experience for a professional soldier.”

The General emphasized the tasks carried out by the Hungarian Defense Forces during the year, including flood protection, and the importance of the meeting of military leaders in Brussels in Budapest. Europe needs to have a defense footprint outside NATO, he stressed, adding that the meeting was a practical demonstration of where Europe stands in this respect.

The Chief of General Staff highlighted in the broadcast that the deployment of new technical equipment must continue next year. In his opinion, they were on the right track, but he called it a longer process. Regarding the tasks for the coming year, Gábor Böröndi said:

We must continue to put new technical equipment into service, change the way we think and continue to improve the training of non-commissioned officers as well as officers.”

In the television program, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovnicky conveyed the message of the Hungarian people to the soldiers serving in the mission, reports Honvedelem.hu. As he said, missionary service, especially during the holiday season, is particularly stressful for soldiers serving in a foreign environment away from their families. Thanks to the cameras of the HadERŐ, many of them have had the opportunity this year to deliver their messages to those who remain at home. This is perhaps the noblest service you can do for your country, be proud of it, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovnicky emphasized, adding that while on mission, Hungarian soldiers should always remember that they are needed there, in that uniform, with that specific task.

As Hungary Today reported earlier,

over the past seven years, Hungary has established six new arms factories, including one of Europe’s most advanced ammunition facilities.

The arms factories are either joint ventures with NATO allies or collaborations with Israeli partners. For instance, tracked and wheeled vehicles are produced in Zalaegerszeg (western Hungary) with Rheinmetall, munitions and explosives in Várpalota (western Hungary), and armored combat vehicles in Győr (northwestern Hungary).

Featured Image via Hungary Today