Around 200 Guard recruits took their oath of allegiance at the swearing-in ceremony in Eggenburg town hall. The Deputy Military Commander of Vienna, Colonel Gerhard Skalvy, and the Mayor of Eggenburg were delighted to welcome the Chief of Staff from the Cabinet of the Federal Minister for National Defense, Brigadier Anton Wessely, and, on behalf of the Governor of Lower Austria, Provincial Councillor Ludwig Schleritzko, in addition to the many visitors and guests who attended.
In his speech, the mayor of Eggenburg, Georg Gilli, discussed the indispensability of the Austrian Armed Forces in protecting the population, particularly emphasizing the soldiers’ achievements in the area of disaster control. In addition to their representative duties, the soldiers of the Guard are also highly trained infantrymen. The Deputy Military Commander of Vienna, Colonel Gerhard Skalvy, emphasized this dual mission in his speech and thanked the inductees for their decision to serve in the Armed Forces: “You will personally contribute to fulfilling the mission of the Armed Forces and provide effective protection and assistance to the population at all times. Your contribution will be decisive in the context of representational duties, in infantry tasks or as a soldier in the context of service operations.”
The security aspect for the Republic is a priority for Provincial Councillor Ludwig Schleritzko. “Security is not a static state, security is not a work of art that is completed with the last brushstroke, security is much more like a house that takes a lot of effort to build and maintain. It is the primary task of the state to ensure the integrity of its population and you support us in this,” said the Provincial Councillor in his speech to the honorees. A delegation of recruits then stepped up to the insignia to recite the pledge of allegiance with their comrades. With the pledge, the soldiers promised to provide the population with effective protection and assistance at all times. The event began with a concert in the square. After the ceremony, the visitors were able to sample the quality of the catering provided by the armed forces in the troop kitchen.
