Who wants to shut down the BiH military: More than 50 brigadiers retired in their 40

During the past 12 months, more than 50 brigadiers of the BiH Armed Forces retired from the service. Those highly educated members of the Armed Forces personnel, retired at their best age of 40 to 45. Now the state pays them monthly pension of app. 2.200 KM.

Some of their colleagues told us that their retired colleagues were not fair to the country and its citizens.

BH tax payers paid hundreds of thousands KM for their education and training. The brigadiers of the BiH Armed Forces underwent training programs in the United States, Turkey and other parts of the world. Having returned to BiH, instead of continuing their service, they retired! The citizens who paid for their training and education have no use of them.

Who is sending brigadiers to early retirement?

According to the Article 48 of the Law on the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the brigadiers can opt for an early retirement from the service on at a proposal by the Ministry of Defense. The decision has to be confirmed by the BiH Presidency.   

Therefore, the proposal to the BiH Presidency for an early retirement of over 50 brigadiers of the Armed Forces on the past 12 months had to be submitted by the Minister Marina Pendes.

Exceptionally, at a proposal by the BiH Ministry of Defense, a person may meet the conditions for an early retirement, based on a decision of the Presidency, if s/he has the minimum 20 years of service and the brigadier rank, regardless of the age, it is said in the Article 48 of the Law.

Zekerijah Osmic, the former Defense Minister, told us that during his 4-year mandate, from 2010 to 2014, he submitted a proposal for an early retirement of 1 brigadier only because of a heavy accident he had been involved in. That brigadier passed away several months after.

The enormous increase of number of the retired brigadiers, Osmic perceives as the road to the collapse of the BiH Armed Forces.