International Symposium on Applied Military Psychology Begins in Sarajevo

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina Marina Pendeš today opened the 54th International Symposium on Applied Military Psychology
(IAMPS 2019) at the Armed Forces of BiH House in Sarajevo, together with other hosts, representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in BiH, and the Ministry of Health of the Federation of BiH.

The gathering is organized in Sarajevo for the first time and lasts until May 10, 2019, the Ministry of Defense of BiH announced.

IAMPS is an annual symposium of military psychologists from around the world, where experiences are exchanged and best practices in the field of applied military psychology are developed.

As such, it is considered one of the most prestigious meetings of experts in the domain of applied military psychology, industrial psychology, and the military profession in general.

"Our wish is that at this Symposium, through examples of good practice, research projects, and scientific papers, we present new global trends regarding the care and
preservation of the mental health of armed forces members to colleagues in the region and around the world," said Minister Pendeš.

"In Bosnia and Herzegovina, military psychology does not have a long tradition, and the Armed Forces of BiH themselves are relatively young. Despite this, starting from mid-2015, the need for the development and
preservation of the mental health of AF BiH members was recognized, as well as for the employment of psychologists within the AF BiH and under the jurisdiction of the MoD BiH," added the Minister of Defense of BiH.

"Today, psychologists of the AF BiH operate within four recruitment and transition centers. Their primary task is the preservation of the mental health of armed forces members, participation in the recruitment and
selection of officers and non-commissioned officers, training and counseling of new soldiers in the adaptation process, preparation of units for deployment in peacekeeping missions, and preparation of soldiers for the transition process from military to civilian
life, after the end of their military career," concluded Minister Pendeš.

At the opening ceremony, the Symposium program was presented, and introductory remarks were also given by the Head of the IOM Mission in BiH Peter Van der Auweraert, Assistant Federal Minister of Health for
International Cooperation Goran Čerkez, Norwegian Military Attaché Geir Agnar Myrseth, and civilian psychologist in the AF BiH Vesna Ležaja.