Competencies of the Ministry of Defense

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

SUPPORT DEPARTMENT

This Department performs tasks related to expert and advisory support to the Minister of Defence, the Deputy Minister and the State Secretary. It provides expert analyses and proposes the work plan of the Department and the Ministry, prepares reports and opinions on documents prepared by the organizational units in the Ministry that are prepared so as to be submitted to the General Secretariat of the Government, the competent commissions and sessions of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia; implements activities in accordance with the plans and programs for the work of the department by undertaking activities in collecting and processing data; prepares opinions on documents received from the General Secretariat, commissions and sessions of the Government and performs administrative tasks for the current affairs of the Minister, Deputy Minister and State Secretary; performs planning and organizational tasks related to protocol affairs for the needs of the Minister, Deputy Minister and State Secretary as well as translations and proofreading of documents and materials for the needs of the organizational units in the Ministry.

INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT

This Department carries out the work related to the assessment of compliance of the Ministry’s operations with the laws, by-laws and agreements, and conducts a thorough assessment of the functioning of the internal control system, the needs for auditing based on the audit principles for risk management; establishes priorities for the scope of the audit and develops strategic, med-term and annual audit plans that need to be approved by the Minister; checks the accuracy, completeness and legality of the accounting records and financial reports of the Ministry, coordinates audit activities and provides a thorough assessment of the operation of the information technology systems.

INSPECTION DEPARTMENT

This Department carries out the work related to the inspection supervision of the implementation of legality in the work of the Ministry, the General Staff and the Army, and in certain areas of interest to the defence, in the state government bodies, local self-government, organizations and companies, public enterprises, institutions and services of importance to the defence, in accordance with the law and the Rulebook on the Inspection Supervision in the Field of Defence, i.e. performing inspection supervision in all areas and subjects of operation.

SECTION – SUBREGISTRAR FOR CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

This Section performs tasks and works related to the planning and directing of the work related to the receipt, recording, processing, dissemination and transmission of classified information to end users in accordance with the “need to know” principle; controls the manner of using, storing and protecting classified information; selecting of documents, keeping archives and destroying classified information; keeping records and updating the number of issued security clearances for access to classified information; developing security and operational procedures for working with classified information; participating in the development and implementation of security arrangements related to the accreditation of systems, machines and devices used for the processing of classified information; providing professional assistance and informing personnel about their rights and obligations when using classified information.

DIRECTORATE FOR SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE IN THE DEFENCE

The function of this Directorate is the implementation of essential competencies of the ministry related with the security, intelligence and counterintelligence for the needs of the defence, achieved through the following tasks:

– Intelligence for the needs of the defence
– Counterintelligence for the needs of the defence
– Prevention and discovery on criminal offences in line with the Defence Law
– Protection from risks and threats to the safety of personnel, documents, material assets and property and the operations of the defence system
– Physical security and checks
– Cyber security and forensics
– Analysis on information, hybrid threats and other dangers from the defence aspect
– Planning and management of resources for the needs of the Directorate
– Internal control
The functions on the Directorate for Security and Intelligence in the Defence are achieved through the:

•  Intelligence Department
•  Counterintelligence and Security Department
• Analytics Department
• Resource Management, Information and Cooperation Department

DIRECTORATE FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The Directorate for Human Resource Management, Education and Training has a support function and a policy-making function, which are achieved through the following tasks:
– drafting human resources management, education and training strategies, policies, programs, plans and analyses,
– financial planning, programming, budgeting and monitoring of documents concerning human resources, education and training,
– preparation of the functional analysis of the ministry,
– organization of the human resources management system, education and training,
– preparation of by-laws regulating the rights and obligations arising from employment,
– personnel planning and recruitment, development and career management of defence personnel,
– staff retention and motivation, care for employees and their mental health, and resettlement and transition,
– improving language skills according to STANAG 6001,
– organization of specialized trainings,
– organization of pre-deployment trainings for standardization and reconstruction,
– planning, organizing and conducting individual defence-related training,
– developing communication skills of public affairs personnel, by planning and conducting media trainings, and
– support to the training with respect to the public affairs, strategic communications and countering disinformation (national and international).
The functions on the Directorate for Human Resource Management, Education and Training are accomplished through the following:

• Human Resource Department

The Human Resource Department performs the tasks related to drafting strategies, policies, programs, plans and analyses for human resource management; implementing financial planning, programming, budgeting and monitoring the human resource documents; implementation and drafting of the functional analysis of the ministry; drafting the Rulebook on the Internal Organization and Rulebook on the Work Post Systematization in the Ministry; organizing the system for human resource management through drafting of by-laws and acts for regulating the rights and obligations deriving from the employment for each category of personnel in the defence; planning, manning in the country and abroad and defence personnel career management; care for the standard, health and working conditions, implementation of the procedures for reception and career guidance on employees in the defence; monitoring the effect on employees in the ministry; civilian life resettlement and personnel transitioning; records and data bases for each category of personnel in the ministry; drafting and analytical materials and analyses in the human resource area.

• Education and Training Department, 

The Education and Training Department performs the tasks related to drafting strategies, policies, programs, plans and preparation of reports and analyses concerning the education and the training in Ministry and the Army; adopting and updating the Strategy for Education and Training in the Defence; financial planning, programming, budgeting and monitoring of documents on education and training; organization of specialized trainings, promotion of linguistic skills according to STANAG6001; planning, organizing and implementing individual trainings in the defence in the country and abroad for each employee in the Ministry and the Army; participating in the coordination, monitoring and implementation of NATO Capability Targets: S1106 – Training on own personnel in Stabilization and Reconstruction and S5202 – Deployable Stabilization and Reconstruction Support Coordination Capability; drafting an Annual Plan for Education, Training, Specialization and Professionalization; communication with higher educational institutions in the direction of establishment of cooperation and development of education and the training; coordination of the procedure for implementation of the training of candidates for participation on courses for non-commissioned officers for branches and services in the Army; drafting of analytical materials for education in the country and abroad.

• Department – Public Affairs Regional Center (PARC)

The department Public Affairs Regional Center (PARC) performs tasks related to trainings in public affairs, strategic communications and countering disinformation (national and international), national trainings intended for the public affairs personnel from the Ministry for Defence, the Army and other government institutions; implementation of international trainings intended for public affairs personnel from NATO countries, Partnership for Peace (PfP), Mediterranean Dialogue (MD), Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) and NATO Global Partners; development of communication skills of public affairs personnel and securing the necessary expertise in public affairs with the aim of providing capabilities for ensuring the efficient work with the media and implementing an efficient public affairs system in peacetime, crisis and when working in multinational environments (international missions and operations); this department is the responsible entity with respect to the preventive function as part of the disinformation countering in the Ministry, through trainings with the aim of developing media literacy, enhancing the awareness concerning the harmful influence on disinformation and the promotion of personnel capacities regarding their detection in the direction of strengthening the institutional resistance on misinformation.

DIRECTORATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS

The function of the Directorate for Communications is to provide support which is accomplished through the following tasks:
– Organizing and developing strategic communications, public affairs, media monitoring and publishing activities in the Ministry;
– Maintaining the high level of transparency of the Ministry;
– Developing and operating the disinformation countering system.
The operations and the tasks of the Directorate for Communications is accomplished by the following departments:

• Information and Communications Department

The Information and Communications Department carries out work related to the strategic communications of the Ministry, including public affairs, the operating the disinformation countering system in its proactive and reactive function, the performance of analysis of the information environment, the publishing activity of the Ministry; the promotion of the active transparency of the Ministry and its visibility, as well as the development of internal communications; countering disinformation, in its proactive and reactive function, which together with preventive function ensured by the Department–Public Affairs Regional Center create an integrated and comprehensive functionality of this this System.

• C-4 ICT Department

The C4 – ICT Department performs work related to the continuous and safe functioning of the Information and Communication Technologies-ICT and systems for needs of the C4 – (Command, Control, Communications and Computers) of the Ministry of Defence; planning and participation in the development of rules and guidelines in the field of informatics, telecommunications, frequency management and information documentation; bilateral cooperation within NATO in the field of informatics; administration and maintenance and protection of operational systems, databases in use by the Ministry; participation in military exercises; normative and administrative, as well as developmental and investment functions and tasks in the field of telecommunications and frequency management; development of rules, guidelines, curricula (publishing activity); plans, organizing and implementing crypto-protection for the needs of the Ministry, other state administration bodies, public enterprises, institutions and services in the country; carries out the international cooperation; drafts the annual plans for archive numbers for the distribution of acts in the Ministry and the General Staff of the Army, annual plans for archive materials of lasting value for the Ministry and the General Staff of the Army and annual plans for documentary material with deadlines for its storage for the Ministry and the General Staff of the Army; receiving, reviewing, classifying, filing and distributing documents by organizational units of the Ministry and the General Staff of the Army; arranging, archiving, categorizing and selecting documents and acts of the Ministry and the General Staff of the Army; filing, storing, protecting and securing documentary material and archival material, as well as inventory material to be destroyed; planning and securing office supplies for the needs of the organizational units of the Ministry and creating and completing accounting documents for the afore-stated; printing and duplicating documents and acts for the organizational units of the Ministry and the General Staff of the Army.

DIRECTORATE FOR LEGAL AFFAIRS

The function of the Directorate for Legal Affairs is to provide support which is accomplished through the following tasks:
– Organization and development of the laws and by-laws in the defence;
– Harmonization of the legal framework with the NATO and EU regulations;
– Coordination and conclusion on contracts in the defence;
– Exercise of citizens’ rights in the defence area in administrative procedures;
– Advocacy of the interests of the Ministry of Defence before competent judicial authorities.
– Care for interests of the Ministry for Defence in criminal offenses, debt and fiduciary cases, and in property and labour disputes.

The function and the tasks of the Directorate for Legal Affairs is accomplished through the following departments:

• Legal and Administrative Affairs Department

The Legal and Administrative Affairs Department carries out the following activities: preparing proposals for the adoption of laws, drafts and proposals for laws in the defence, as well as decrees, decisions and resolutions that the Ministry proposes to the Government for adoption; preparing rulebooks, instructions, orders, resolutions, plans and programs falling in the competence of the Ministry and the General Staff of the Army; providing expert opinions on laws and other regulations and general acts when requested by the Government and other bodies of state administration, as well as other expert services of the Ministry and the General Staff of the Army; administrative and legal matters related to the exercise of citizens’ rights in the area of defence; preparing decisions in administrative proceedings when an appeal is filed against a decision adopted in an administrative procedure in the first instance by citizens called upon to exercise rights and duties in the field of defence and preparing a response to lawsuits in administrative disputes; providing expert assistance in proceedings for disciplinary liability and material liability for employees of the Ministry of Defence; acting on proposals and complaints, as well as providing responses and opinions on requests submitted by the Ombudsman on issues of administrative and legal matters.

• Advocacy Department

The Advocacy Department performs activities related to: advocacy before competent judicial authorities, i.e. representation of the interests of the Ministry before competent courts and other authorities regarding property relations arising from the work of the Ministry and the Army; conducting a procedure for concluding agreements (out-of-court settlement) for compensation for damage caused to the Ministry by third parties; providing professional assistance to persons serving in the Army before regular courts for proceedings initiated against them in connection with the performance of their service.

DIRECTORATE FOR FINANCE

The Directorate for Finance has two functions, namely a support function and a policy-making function, which are accomplished through the following tasks:
– Planning and budget coordination in the process of adopting plans, programs and the budget;
– Allocation of financial assets for the defence in accordance with the budget;
– Budget monitoring and analysis;
– Financial control of cash and Ex post payment documentation;
– Financial control of cash and Ex ante payment documentation;
– Accounting records;
– Cashless and cash paid turnover;
– Calculation and payment of salaries and allowances.

• Budget Planning and Control Department

The Budget Planning and Control Department performs tasks related to: budgeting and budget analysis; creating and adopting a financial plan of the Ministry; analysis of the execution of the financial assets determined by the budget; analysis of the situation regarding financial resources and budgeting in the Ministry and proposing possible solutions to overcome possible problems; proposing ways to provide financial resources for the implementation of the adopted programs; monitoring the situation regarding the execution of the financial resources determined by the Ministry’s budget; planning of material and financial resources; harmonization and preparation of programs for the allocation of the necessary material and financial resources and budgeting and budget analysis; preparation of analytical documents with proposals for amendments to the existing legislation.

• Accounting and Payments Department

The Department carries out the work related to: execution of financial resources determined by the Ministry’s budget and financial plan; keeping financial and material accounting; calculation and payment of salaries and allowances.

DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

• Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation Department

The Department carries out the following activities: planning, managing and directing international cooperation of the Ministry of Defence in the field of defence; implementing the policy and legal affairs of the Ministry regarding multilateral, regional and bilateral cooperation with NATO and partner countries; harmonizing, coordinating and implementing bilateral, regional and multilateral plans and programs; activities for the implementation of obligations arising from international agreements in the field of defence, plans and programs concluded by the Ministry of Defence within the framework of international cooperation.

• Defence Diplomacy, NATO and EU Department

The Department carries out the following tasks: ensuring NATO standards and working on the preparations for NATO standards and working on the preparations and organizations related to operations and exercises by NATO and partner countries; coordination regarding the deployment of our forces to peacekeeping missions abroad and military exercises in the country and abroad; forwarding information to the institutions of the Defence Attachés of the Republic of North Macedonia on cooperation activities with the countries of their accreditation and reception, monitoring and forwarding of information from the Defence Attachés of the Republic of North Macedonia abroad to the competent structures; ensuring communication and cooperation with the military and diplomatic representatives of foreign countries accredited to the Republic of North Macedonia; contacts with relevant services and agencies.

DIRECTORATE FOR SERVICES, SPORTS AND RECREATION

The Directorate for the Services, Sports and Recreation Department has a support function that is accomplished through the following tasks:
– Organization and implementation of the overall work of the Directorate
– Coordination and conclusion of Contracts of interest to the Directorate
The function and tasks of the Directorate for Services, Sports and Recreation are accomplished through:

•  Services Department

The Department carries out work related to planning, organization and implementation of all catering services that are implemented both in coordination with other organizational units in the Ministry and the Army, and on a commercial basis; planning of cultural events and projects; organization of manifestations; administration of the needs of the canteens in the Ministry and the Army; organization of transportation of employees and delegations and maintenance of the Ministry’s motor park.

• Sports and Recreation Department

The Department carries out the following activities: organizing, implementing and supporting activities that are in function of the physical fitness, health and recreational life of the employees in the Ministry and the Army; planning and organizing sports and recreational activities for employees; participation in national and international military sports events; development of projects and programs for sports, maintenance of recreational centers and their improvement; planning and procurement of sports equipment and assets.

DIRECTORATE FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

The Directorate for Property and Infrastructure Management has a support function which is accomplished through the following tasks:
– Records of real estate owned by the Ministry of Defence and the Army;
– Monitoring of contracts for the use of leased real estate;
– Investment and ongoing maintenance of facilities and infrastructure owned by the Ministry of Defence and the Army;
– Implementation of performance and maintenance contracts.
The function and tasks of the Directorate for Real Estate are accomplished through:

• Construction Works and Projects Department

The Department carries out the work related to the preparation of documentation for planning, designing, budgeting and execution of construction works and projects; keeping records for investment maintenance of the facilities of the Army Commands and units; cooperation with the General Staff sections for the care of military locations, their arrangement and equipment; performing professional and administrative work related to the construction of military and other facilities of importance for defence; construction of investment facilities for the needs of the Army.

• Real Estate Department

The Department performs the following tasks: preparing normative acts in the field of real estate used by the Ministry of Defence and the Army; preparing reports, analyses, information and other documents for the Ministry, the Government and the state administration bodies in the field of turnover, replacement and granting the right to use real estate in possession of the Ministry of Defence and the Army; registering real estate rights to which the Ministry and the Army are the right holders; keeping records of real estate; controlling real estate transferred for use by legal entities and individuals; preparing opinions, programs, draft contracts and draft decisions for the transfer and exchange of real estate; monitoring the implementation of contracts; initiating procedures for terminating concluded contracts in case of non-compliance with the contractual provisions; ensuring timely invoicing and collection of rent in cases where the Ministry of Defence acts as the lessor.

• Military Museum

The Military Museum carries out the following activities: studying military historical materials; modernizing military history as a specific military science; establishing cooperation with the Military History Consortium with NATO member states; exchanging historical assets (weapons, tools, archival documentation) and other materials with NATO member states; purchasing, protecting, and conserving museum assets; organizing exhibitions and presenting museum assets; organizing visits and education regarding the collections of the Military Museum.

DIRECTORATE FOR ACQUISITION

The Directorate for Acquisition has a support function and a policy-making function, which is accomplished through the following tasks:
– Public procurement;
– Procurement in the field of defence and security;
– Procurement planning and analysis;
– Quality assurance;
– Administrative and legal support;
– Management of acquisition processes and projects;
– Standardization and codification;
– Modernization and armament project management;
– Quality control;
– Support to companies entering the NATO market;
– Aviation personnel training control;
– Checking the aviation personnel competences;
– Issuance of work permits;
– Normative regulation of the aviation department for defence needs;
– Publishing of aviation professional literature.
The function and tasks of the Directorate for Acquisition are carried out through:

• Procurement Department

The Department carries out the work related to the implementation of public procurement procedures; implementation of procurement in the field of defence and security; procurement planning and analysis; quality control implementation; administrative and legal support of defence procurement related processes.

• Logistics, Modernization and Armaments Department

The Department carries out the work related to the organization and preparation of the logistics system with proposed measures for development, expansion and improvement; planning and organizing reserves for the needs of defence in a state of war; participation in the planning of reserves for the needs of the citizens; coordination with the Agency for Commodity Reserves; participation in the planning of reserves for the needs of the Army; organization and storage of reserves for the needs of the Army; conducting logistics policy; planning and organizing material provision for the needs of defence; contacts with NATO institutions, Directorates, Agencies, Bureaus of the Ministries of Defence of NATO member states and partner countries, other state bodies, production enterprises, scientific and research institutions on issues of logistics, modernization and armament; cooperation with other organizational units of the Ministry and the Army in the field of logistics, modernization and armament for adoption, approval, promotion and implementation of projects within its competence; main stakeholder of the nomenclature system for the material assets in the Ministry and the Army; planning and support of acquisition projects; organizing, directing, coordinating and participating in the process of analyzing the established policies and implementing the planning and support of acquisition processes; proposing measures to improve the quality of planning and implementation of acquisition projects; providing expert and technical support to the Integrated Acquisition Project Teams; monitoring and supporting capital equipment acquisition projects, meeting the requirements set out in the technical standards and specifications when determining the operational requirements and technical characteristics and controlling the correctness of the requirements of the integral logistical support; integrating and engaging the resources of the existing national industry for the needs of defence; participating in and preparing feasibility studies, reports, analyses and information on the selection, method and cost-effectiveness of equipment in accordance with the applicable methodology for equipping with new assets.

• Military Aviation Authority Department

The Department carries out activities related to flight safety, aeronautical engineering, issuing special aeronautical technical bulletins for changes in aircraft construction, aviation personnel, checking the quality of education and training of military pilots and military air traffic controllers; aviation management, airspace management, which includes activities related to checking flight procedures at military and mixed airports; issuing licenses and investigating accidents and serious incidents of military aircraft or parachutes; application of civil regulations and NATO standards in military aviation in the area of aircraft airworthiness and the completeness of aeronautical personnel; functioning of the military aeronautical information service; airspace management; implementation of procedures for obtaining certificates for personnel working with aviation communication systems, navigation systems, airspace surveillance systems, marking and lighting systems at airports and heliports for military needs; determination of the rules for English language knowledge and training for English radiotelephone communications; keeping records of military aviation personnel who have licenses and certificates to work in this area.

DIRECTORATE FOR POLICY AND PLANNING, CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND CIVIL-MILITARY COOPERATION

The Directorate has two functions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence, which are a support function and a policy-making function, which are accomplished through the following tasks:
– Defining the strategic defence framework;
– Defence policy development;
– Assessment of potential military and other threats to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of North Macedonia;
– Management of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution System (PPBES);
– Coordination and implementation of the NATO defence planning process within national frameworks;
– Planning participation in humanitarian operations, international operations, NATO missions and operations, operations in the application of the right of individual or collective self-defence, crisis management and cooperative security operations, outside the territory of the Republic.
– Organization of the functioning of the defence system in a state of war;
– Preparation of the public institutions and services, local self-government units, enterprises and other entities of special importance for defence to function in a state of war, emergency and crisis;
– Planning the use of the Army in wartime conditions;
– Determining the total required defence resources (material, human and financial) in a state of war, emergency and crisis.
– Assessment of possible threats and other dangers that cause crisis and emergency situations in the Republic of North Macedonia;
– Development of the Defence Plan of the Republic of North Macedonia in a state of war, crisis and emergency;
– Organization of the functioning of the defence system in a state of war, emergency and crisis;
The function and the tasks of the Directorate for Policy and Planning, Crisis Management and Civil-Military Cooperation are accomplished through:

• Policy and Planning Department

The Department carries out the following tasks: planning, managing and directing the cooperation in the field of defence of the Ministry of Defence with other national and international institutions; drafting strategic documents in the field of defence; preparation and monitoring of the implementation of planning documents for the development of defence.

• Defence Preparations and Crisis Management Department

– The Department carries out the work related to organizing the state defence system; organizing the functioning of the state in a state of crisis, emergency and war; organizing the territory of the Republic for the needs of defence, as well as providing resources in the event of a state of crisis, emergency and war.

• Civil-Military Cooperation Department

– The Department carries out the work related to the popularization of military conscription, military records and manning with reserve personnel; planning, analyzing and monitoring the implementation of medical and other examinations and psychological tests to assess the health capacity for military service, recruitment and referral for voluntary conscript service; recording and selection of candidates for professional training of officers in the reserve; military records for military conscripts; planning, analyzing and distributing human potential, material and technical resources and livestock; personnel records for officers in the reserve and participation in the procedure for producing and promoting military officers in the reserve; planning, organizing and monitoring the mobilization system of the Army’s reserve personnel; studying and analyzing concepts, processes, techniques and procedures related to civil defence; cooperation with the entities of the defence system for the purpose of pursuing the vital and strategic interests of the national security policy; preparation of analyses, reviews, information and reports in the field of civil defence.