On 25 October 2025, a three-member team of the Slovak Association of Reservists (SZVvZ), composed of
The event was held on the occasion of Sovereignty Day of the Republic of Slovenia – one of the country’s most important national holidays.
Event Overview
The competition took place at the Slovenian Armed Forces shooting range in Velenik near Slovenska Bistrica. Competitors took part in both three-member team and individual categories. Apart from ZSČ teams, the event also hosted teams from veteran and patriotic organizations, as well as members of the Slovenian Armed Forces and Police.
Participants were welcomed by Brigadier General (Ret.) Martin Jugovec, former Secretary-General of the ZSČ, and the current chairman of the regional ZSČ organization, Captain (Ret.) Andrej Godec. Registration and team briefing were held at the Veteran Center Brinje. During the briefing, participants were also introduced to safe handling procedures for the FN F2000S, one of the infantry weapons in service with the Slovenian Armed Forces.
Competition and Results
The competition discipline consisted of shooting at 100 meters at the international target 50/20 – three sighting shots and ten competition shots. The final score was determined by the sum of the ten best hits.
For the Slovak competitors, the event posed a challenge, as the FN F2000S is not commonly used in Slovakia, and no prior adjustment of optics or function checks were possible.
Despite this, the SZVvZ members achieved solid results. The most successful was Rastislav Maršálek, who scored 89 points, placing 5th overall, missing the bronze position only due to a lower grouping tightness.
Social Program and Meetings
After the shooting portion of the event, a social gathering and the results ceremony were held at Veteran Center Brinje. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Sajovic, who delivered a brief address to the participants.
SZVvZ representatives used the opportunity to exchange experience with their Slovenian counterparts, particularly with Brigadier General Jugovec. Slovenian partners presented a wide range of their activities – from defense-sport and shooting events to youth defense education programs, patriotic art competitions, and cooperation with organizations such as the Red Cross and hunting associations.
These activities are carried out thanks to an annual ZSČ budget of approximately € 300,000, with members participating on a voluntary, unpaid basis.
International Cooperation
The participation of the SZVvZ team in this prestigious event is the result of many years of systematic work in the area of the Union’s foreign affairs, led by Vice-President (Ret.) Ladislav Balázs.
Thanks to SZVvZ’s active involvement in the CIOR (Gaminger Initiative), where our Association represents the Slovak Republic, cooperation with partner organizations abroad continues to deepen, creating opportunities for new international projects.
In the future, these projects will make it possible to involve a broader membership base, thereby strengthening the Association’s role as a competent and reliable partner of the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic and as a representative of the Slovak Republic at the international level.