The 7th Jäger Brigade celebrated its 20th Brigade Day on Thursday in the Windisch barracks. A “Soldier of the Year 2018” from each of its six battalions and the brigade command was honored for special achievements by brigade commander Brigadier Josef Holzer in the presence of Secretary General Wolfgang Baumann and Governor Peter Kaiser.
Secretary General Wolfgang Baumann brought greetings from Defense Minister Mario Kunasek from Vienna. He emphasized the achievements of the 7th Jägerbrigade and its solidarity with the country, the authorities, blue light organizations and the population. Wolfgang Baumann also informed the guests of honor about measures planned by the Ministry of Defence to strengthen the Austrian Armed Forces. “Over the past 20 years, the 7th Jäger Brigade has proven that it is a mission-oriented unit and that it has been able to positively fulfill all the demands placed on it, albeit with great effort,” said Brigade Commander Holzer, proud of the achievements of his soldiers. At the end of his speech, Holzer wished “that our comrades who are deployed or go on deployment return healthy and accident-free, that our daily commitment and efforts are rewarded accordingly and that you give your broad support to the military so that it is still able to fulfill its core task: to protect the Republic of Austria and its people, if necessary also with weapons”.
The numerous guests of honor from Austria and abroad were welcomed by the deputy commander, Colonel Bernhard Köffel, who also gave the guests an informative review of the achievements of the “seventh” in 2018. The civilian partners of the 7th Jäger Brigade, the Carinthian State Fire Brigade Association, Kelag and Helvetia Insurance, presented challenge trophies to Pioneer Battalion 1 and Staff Battalion 7 for their sporting successes in military patrol running, team pentathlon and orienteering, as well as for being the brigade’s “sportiest unit”. Governor Peter Kaiser thanked the soldiers of the 7th Jäger Brigade for their unique achievements at home and abroad, especially in disaster relief operations. The Austrian Armed Forces represent the Republic of Austria excellently on the world stage. “What you do is important, indispensable and contributes greatly to the quality of life in the country,” said Kaiser.
The “Soldier of the Year 2018” was awarded and honored:
- Constable Kevin Gugler from Jäger Battalion 12,
- Vice Lieutenant Robert Österreicher from Jägerbataillon 18,
- Vice-Lieutenant Gerhard Weiß from Jägerbataillon 25,
- Major Ulrich Baumgartner from Staff Battalion 7,
- Major Andreas Graßmugg from Reconnaissance and Artillery Battalion 7,
- Stabswachtmeister Günther Schaar from Pioneer Battalion 1 and
- Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Kristof from the command of the 7th Jäger Brigade.
