Serbian Armed Forces Officer

An officer is a professional military person, trained to perform military duties, who holds command, leadership, and expert roles within the Serbian Armed Forces.

An officer in the Serbian Armed Forces is not merely a soldier with a rank — he is a leader, an educator, a planner, a protector of the people, and a moral pillar of the unit. As part of the most elite personnel in the military, an officer commands, makes critical decisions in key moments, builds team spirit, and fulfills duties that are both responsible and noble.

Becoming an officer is never accidental — it is a life choice for those who aspire to more: more responsibility, more honor, and more service to the community.

To become an officer, a diploma alone is not enough. Determination, honor, the ability to make swift and sound decisions under pressure, and a constant desire for learning are essential.

This is the most prestigious path — academic education for young high school graduates who want to pursue a lifelong officer career.

Civilians who are graduating or have graduated from a four-year secondary school and want to become officers can apply for admission to the Military Academy and the Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy. Interested young men and women submit their applications to the local branch of the Ministry of Defence in their place of residence.

The call for applications to the Military Academy and the Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy is usually announced at the beginning of the calendar year, typically in February or March.

Candidates who pass the general medical examination proceed to additional testing at the Military Academy, which includes:

Based on high school performance and the results of the assessments, ranking lists are formed for admission to the Military Academy and the Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy.

Students graduating from the Military Grammar School are also eligible for enrollment.

A citizen of the Republic of Serbia may be admitted to professional military service as an officer — either for a fixed or indefinite period — if they have completed:

Civilians who have obtained appropriate higher education may apply for public competitions. These competitions are announced in the Odbrana magazine, on the websites of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, and in at least one daily newspaper with nationwide distribution. The notice is also submitted to the competent branch of the National Employment Service.

Internal competitions are open to officers on fixed-term contracts, non-commissioned officers (NCOs) on fixed or indefinite contracts, professional soldiers, military employees and staff serving in the Serbian Armed Forces, and civil servants and employees of the Ministry of Defence who have obtained appropriate higher education. These competitions are published in the Odbrana magazine and on the Ministry of Defence website.

Entry into professional military service as an officer without a public competition, i.e., through direct recruitment, is possible after completing military training for reserve officers at the Military Academy.

Persons admitted into the professional military service as officers of the Serbian Armed Forces are promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, the first officer rank.

Throughout their careers, there are opportunities for further advancement and leadership. Promotion to a higher rank is granted to officers who meet the requirements prescribed by the Law on the Serbian Armed Forces and related bylaws.

Additionally, there are opportunities for professional development through courses and advanced training in Serbia and abroad, master's and doctoral studies at the Military Academy or other faculties, specialization at the Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy or other medical faculties, as well as command and general staff training at the “Vojvoda Radomir Putnik” School of National Defence.