A ceremonial handover of the position of Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces took place at Vítkov in Prague as part of the celebrations marking Armed Forces Day of the Czech Republic. Earlier, at Prague Castle, President Petr Pavel had appointed Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč to lead the Czech Armed Forces, effective July 1, 2026. After four years in office, Army General Karel Řehka bid farewell to the army, symbolically concluding his tenure on the very day commemorating the tradition of the Czechoslovak Legions.

Armed Forces Day in the Czech Republic traditionally commemorates the oath taken by members of the Czechoslovak Legions in Darney, France, on June 30, 1918. This historic moment is considered one of the symbolic foundations of Czechoslovak statehood and military tradition. The ceremonial parade at the National Memorial on Vítkov therefore combines, every year, a commemoration of the legionnaires’ legacy with an honor for current soldiers of the Czech Armed Forces. This year, the ceremony held special significance because it included the handover of the country’s highest military office.

Even before the ceremony itself, President Petr Pavel appointed Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč as Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces at Prague Castle. At Vítkov, the new Chief of the General Staff then took possession of the General Staff’s battle standard as a symbol of command over the Czech Army. At the same time, other changes took place within the top leadership of the Czech Army. Major General Petr Čepelka will assume the position of First Deputy Chief of the General Staff, and Brigadier General Petr Tománek will succeed him as commander of the Air Force.

In his speech, President Petr Pavel recalled the historical context of Armed Forces Day as well as the current security environment, which, in his view, unequivocally confirms the importance of strong armed forces. He emphasized that the security of the Czech Republic cannot be separated from the responsibility of society as a whole. “The security environment has been deteriorating over the long term, confirming that the era when we could rely on the so-called peace dividend has come to an end. Responsibility for defense cannot be delegated to anyone else. Every state must, above all, be capable of ensuring its own defense capabilities,” said President Pavel. At the same time, he noted that membership in NATO and the European Union remains a fundamental pillar of the Czech Republic’s security, but cannot replace its own military capabilities. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces also thanked the soldiers for their daily service. “As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I would like to thank you for everything you do to ensure the security of our country. I greatly appreciate it. You deserve the respect of our citizens, but also the clear support of the state,” said President Pavel.

Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna noted that Vítkov is a symbolic site representing Czech military tradition and the legacy of the Czechoslovak Legions. He thanked Army General Karel Řehka for his service at the helm of the army during an exceptionally complex security situation and, at the same time, wished the new Chief of the General Staff every success in carrying out the tasks that lie ahead for the Czech Army. “You are taking over leadership of the army at a time of great challenges. You will be tasked with implementing a series of strategic measures in the development of the Czech Armed Forces, modernization projects, and the strengthening of the army’s active-duty and reserve forces,” Minister Zůna said, addressing Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč. He identified personnel stabilization as one of the main priorities. “I expect the new Chief of the General Staff to take measures that will ensure soldiers view service to their country as a promising career path and a secure foundation.”

An emotional moment during the ceremony was Army General Karel Řehka’s farewell to the Czech Army after thirty-seven years of service. “Thirty-seven years ago, I put on a uniform for the first time as a student at a military high school. It never occurred to me that I would one day hold the highest position in our army. For me, military service was a lifelong mission, an absolute commitment, and at the same time a tremendous privilege. I am immensely glad that I was able to serve this country,” said the outgoing Chief of the General Staff. In his speech, he also summarized the achievements of the past four years. “The Army has made significant progress in modernization and rearmament. We have increased combat readiness and the intensity of training, strengthened the Czech Republic’s role in the Alliance, and actively supported Ukraine. I believe that, just like my predecessor, I am handing over an army that is stronger than the one I took over,” said Karel Řehka. He also noted that the Czech Army can expect continued modernization, the strengthening of the reserves, the introduction of new technologies, and further increases in defense spending.

The new Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč, emphasized continuity and the further development of the army upon assuming his new role. In his first address, he thanked Karel Řehka for leading the army during a period of fundamental changes in security. “You have been able to clearly identify the risks and challenges we face and set the course for further development. For your more than thirty years of service, you deserve respect, recognition, and sincere thanks,” Hlaváč told his predecessor. He then outlined the four main priorities of his tenure. The first is the completion of the heavy brigade and the start of the transformation of the medium brigade. The second priority is building a multi-layered air defense system fully integrated into the Alliance’s system. The third area will be the digitization of the army and the introduction of modern technologies, including the modernization of the command and control system. The fourth – and, in his words, the most important – priority is people. “Equipment is essential, but the true strength of the army lies in its people. Without determined, motivated, and well-prepared personnel, the army will never be truly combat-ready. That is why I want to retain experienced personnel, simplify recruitment, reach out to younger generations, and create conditions in which soldiers will be able and willing to serve for the long term,” emphasized the new Chief of the General Staff. Lieutenant General Hlaváč also noted that the army’s primary mission remains the defense of the Czech Republic and its citizens. “I will do everything in my power to ensure that the Army of the Czech Republic is ready to fulfill its mission whenever necessary,” he concluded in his first speech in this role.

The handover of the position of Chief of the General Staff thus brought to a close a significant chapter in the modern history of the Czech Armed Forces and, at the same time, ushered in a new phase of its transformation. In the coming years, the Czech Armed Forces will see the completion of the largest modernization projects in its history, the development of new capabilities, the expansion of air defense, the digitization of command structures, and further personnel buildup. In this regard, the army’s new leadership is continuing the strategic direction set in recent years – to build modern, prepared, and trustworthy armed forces capable of defending the Czech Republic and fulfilling its commitments to its NATO allies.

The ceremony at Vítkov was then concluded with a joint press conference featuring Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna, outgoing Chief of the General Staff Army General Karel Řehka, and his successor, Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč. In addition to taking stock of the past four years, the discussion focused primarily on the priorities of the army’s new leadership, the preparation of the Concept for the Development of the Czech Army 2040, personnel development, and other changes in the command structure.

We asked all participants at the press conference a question. When asked when practical cooperation between the Minister of Defense and the new Chief of the General Staff would begin and what their first joint tasks would be, Minister Jaromír Zůna stated that cooperation is already effectively underway. He identified the preparation of the Ministry of Defense’s state budget for 2027 and the completion of the Concept for the Development of the Czech Army 2040 as the immediate priorities. “Cooperation has essentially already begun. The most pressing tasks are preparing the state budget for 2027 and finalizing the Concept for the Development of the Czech Army, which must be based on the approved budgetary framework. We have prepared three budget options so that we are ready for negotiations with the Ministry of Finance,” said the Minister of Defense.  In response to a question regarding planned personnel changes at the General Staff, Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč stated that this would not be a revolution, but rather a natural continuation of the prepared personnel plan. “This is not a dramatic shake-up. Some commanders are leaving, while others are moving into higher positions. We prepared the personnel changes together with General Řehka, and in principle, I am not changing anything in this plan. Further changes will naturally occur toward the end of the year as individual generals retire to the reserve,” explained the new Chief of the General Staff. At the same time, we asked Army General Karel Řehka whether he was considering serving in the active reserve after ending his active duty. The outgoing Chief of the General Staff admitted that he does not rule out this possibility. “I wouldn’t be opposed to serving in the active reserve, even though my rank is somewhat limiting. However, the Czech Republic can call me back into service at any time, because I will still be a soldier in the reserve,” replied Karel Řehka.