The annual meeting of soldiers from the Active Reserve of the Czech Armed Forces and their employers with senior representatives of the Czech Armed Forces is an opportunity to express gratitude for their support of the country's defence capabilities. On this occasion, the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, Army General Karel Řehka, commended employers for their contribution and support for the active reserve and presented them with letters of appreciation as a token of recognition for enabling their employees to combine work duties with service to their country.

The tradition of these meetings has continued since 2016 and emphasises the key role of employers in supporting the defence of the Czech Republic. Participants in this year's meeting included, for example, the Commander of the Czech Army Ground Forces, Major General Josef Trojánek, the Director of the Logistics Section, Major General Robert Bielený, Commander of the Training Command – Military Academy in Vyškov Brigadier General Ladislav Rebilas, Commander of the Information and Cyber Forces Brigadier General Radek Haratek, and Deputy Commander of the Czech Air Force Brigadier General Petr Tománek.

The active reserve is an important part of the Czech Republic's defence system. It currently has 4,582 members serving in 57 military units and facilities across the country. In his speech, General Řehka said: ‘The very fact that you are here shows that we all realise that the security and defence of the country, conditions in the army and joint efforts are in our common interest.’ Řehka also recalled the significance of the venue – Vyškov, where the transition from civilian determination to military readiness takes place.

"The active reserve is specific – these are soldiers with a high level of readiness. We are able to deploy them, we do so, and the army cannot function without them today. They are absolutely essential. For example, the territorial forces are directly based on the active reserves. The active reserve is invaluable to us – it is something we need to fulfill our tasks. And we can see that today, for example in Ukraine," added the Chief of the General Staff.

One of the award-winning employers was LYRECO, for whom cooperation with active reservists is a novelty. Although this requires some adjustment to the corporate culture, the company does not face any significant costs and sees this cooperation as beneficial.

The importance of active reserves was also confirmed by the commander of the Training Command-Military Academy. "We must promote the army's openness towards companies – not only in communication, but also in creating long-term relationships. These can lead to good PR and the utilization of the potential of these organizations, for example in the field of development and armament. Cooperation with companies offers new, real potential for the army. In the case of active reserves, it is crucial for us not only to reach out to those interested in serving, but also to convince employers, who are the ones who actually decide whether to release them. Cooperation with companies therefore plays a key role. Active reserves are an increasingly important part of the army, and I believe it is important to raise awareness of their importance across the population. It is not the only way, but it certainly increases the likelihood of success," Brigadier General Ladislav Rebilas told CZ DEFENCE, adding that active reservists primarily bring expertise to the army. "We are definitely looking for ways to utilize this expertise. With reservists, it is often easier than with professionals because reservists usually come with a clear idea of where they want to serve and what expertise they can offer. It is easier to keep track of their specialisation and use it in the right place," Rebilas added.

In conclusion, General Rebilas also commented on the issue of training: "We are not changing the training criteria – the conditions are the same and transparent for everyone. Since January, we have introduced a new evaluation system with clear and measurable limits, which increases the motivation of participants. The only exception for reservists is the possibility of completing basic training in two blocks of three weeks, which is based on legislation and the willingness of employers – few can afford to release employees for six weeks at a time. Otherwise, however, the same rules apply as for professionals."

Yesterday's meeting also included a tour of the Military Academy's training facilities, including demonstrations of selected equipment and gear used by the Czech Army's Land and Air Forces, including training simulators, which helped employers better understand the demands and importance of the training their employees in active reserve undergo.