Proposal of the concept for future development of the Slovenian Armed Forces.

Slovenia is a small country in Central Europe with a population slightly over two million. It was the most economically developed Republic of former Yugoslavia, had short independence war (1991) and after independence quickly integrated into European Union and NATO (2004). The development of the Defense System is characterized by inconsistent phases and was badly influenced by economic recession (2009-2014). Currently Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) are entrapped with constant transformations, because of unaligned Defense Policy and Military Expenditure. Almost ten years of deprived resources caused structural problems in the SAF. From 2013, the SAF was evaluated from the President of the Republic as non-ready for war. The main reasons for negative evaluations are equipment readiness and capabilities and status of personnel. Equipment Readiness mostly concerns combat platforms for two medium battalion groups as a main land capability of Slovenia for national and collective defense. In February 2019 the procurement of 8x8 combat platforms was delayed, which means delayed battalion groups and on-going negative readiness evaluation. Slovenia's limited financial resources over the last decade had an impact on personnel. The long-term program planned for 8,000 active duty and two thousand contractual reserve billets, equaling ten thousand personnel totals for the SAF. At the beginning of 2019 the SAF had 6,562 active duty and 768 contractual reserve (7,330). This shortage is more than ¼ of the potential force and the second reason for negative readiness evaluation. This thesis uses the U.S. Army Design Methodology in framing current environment and problems, and proposing solutions to allow SAF to be capable force for national defense and participation in collective defense.