Defense in transition: Handover of the Burgenland Jäger Battalion

Defense in transition: Handover of the Burgenland Jäger Battalion

Last Saturday a solemn ceremony took place at the military training area in Bruckneudorf. Colonel Peter Krauss handed over command of the Burgenland Jaeger Battalion to Lieutenant Colonel Werner Winkler. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner took part in the ceremony and acknowledged the importance of the battalion for Austria's security.

“This battalion is an important part of our national defense and makes an indispensable contribution to security in Austria,” explained Tanner. She stressed that at a time when the world situation has become more uncertain, the role of the militia is becoming more important. Minister Tanner also expressed her gratitude to Colonel Krauss for his long and responsible leadership.

Details about the handover and the new commander

Colonel Krauss, who has led the Burgenland Jaeger Battalion since 2006, handed over the battalion field symbol at the ceremony in the Benedek barracks. The new commander, Lieutenant Colonel Werner Winkler, has a long military career behind him. In 1987 he joined what was then the Landwehr Stammregiment 11 in Neusiedl am See as a one-year volunteer and later served in the Jägerregiment 11 and in the press and information service in the Ministry of Defense.

After his time in the military, Winkler worked in the private sector, where he excelled in human resources management, organization and marketing. He was also active as a management consultant for many years. Since the Burgenland Jäger Battalion was founded in 2006, he has held the position of deputy battalion commander. Winkler is also the father of a daughter.

The Burgenland Jäger Battalion, stationed in southern Burgenland, has a long history that goes back to the former territorial militia battalions 43 and 1. It combines civilian qualifications with military training. The soldiers are mainly from the federal states of Burgenland, Vienna, Styria and Lower Austria and are ready for both national and international missions.

The main mission of the Jaeger Battalion is military national defense. In order to fulfill this mission, the battalion generally conducts militia exercises every two years. It works closely with the Jägerbataillon 19 from Güssing.

In addition, the Burgenland Hunter Battalion maintains close partnerships with Helvetia Versicherungen AG and the four communities of the Lafnitz Valley: Grafenschachen, Loipersdorf-Kitzladen, Neustift an der Lafnitz and Markt Allhau. This collaboration underlines the interconnectedness between the military and the civilian population.

The hunter battalion therefore not only has an important military function, but is also part of the social fabric in the region. The handover of command marks a change that brings hope for continued successful and responsible leadership of the battalion. The new commander, Lieutenant Colonel Winkler, can draw on numerous experiences from his long career that will be of use to him in his new role. For more information, see the current reporting on www.bvz.at.