ZAGREB, May 23, 2018 - Croatian Defence Minister Damir Krstičević was formally inducted into the US Army War College International Fellows Hall of Fame on Tuesday, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
"This is a great honour for me, for the Croatian Army and for Croatia," Krstičević said at the ceremony.
Krstičević is the first Croatian military officer and the first Croatian defence minister to receive this prestigious recognition. He graduated from this esteemed educational institution in 1998.
Founded in 1901, the US Army War College was attended by US commanders and officials such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, George S. Patton and Omar Bradley, as well as the highest-ranking officers in the present US Army structure.
In addition to American students, every year the school is attended by about 80 international students from the US partner countries and allies from all continents.
Eleven Croatian Army officers have graduated from the US Army War College to date, and one is currently attending this school - Brigadier Davor Dabo.
"My year at the War College really showed me what source of strength of international cooperation in the modern global society is. I will always feel privileged to have been able to be part of this eminent institution and this honour will be a source of pride for the rest of my life," Krstičević said.
