Gen. Domínguez Buj: ‘I am receiving the best Army that Spain has had in recent years’

 

Presentation of the command baton during the handover (Photo:Army Communication Department)

The minister after arriving at Headquarters (Photo:Army Communication Department)

Being sworn in at the post, yesterday at the Ministry of Defence (Photo:M.A.Romero/Ministry of Defence)

‘The experience accumulated throughout my military life allows me to proclaim that you are extraordinary’.  With these words the new Chief of the Army Staff, Army General Jaime Domínguez Buj, has addressed the members of the Army.  He has done so during his investiture ceremony, held this morning at Army Headquarters.  And, although he has admitted that he is assuming command of the Army at a ‘certainly difficult’ moment, he has expressed his confidence in the future because ‘It is during difficult times,’ he has said, ‘when the worthiness of people and institutions is shown, and I, who know you because I am one more of you, know what we are capable of and therefore I know that, together, we will forge ahead’. 
 

Army General Domínguez Buj’s investiture ceremony has been presided over by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Pedro Morenés, and it has been attended by, as well as outgoing Chief of the Army Staff, Army General Fulgencio Coll Bucher, the entire Army leadership and a delegation of senior military officers who are at present in the reserve. 
 

The new Chief of the Army Staff has acknowledged that, on receiving the telephone call from Army General Coll to inform him of his appointment, two sentiments came to him:  preoccupation –in view of the magnitude of the mission that he was being mandated-, and confidence –in knowing that  he has at his disposal everyone’s support for this, especially that of all members of the Spanish Army, civilians and service personnel, who are ‘extraordinary, capable of successfully meeting all challenges, as difficult as they may be, because for you nothing is impossible’-.  
 

Army General Domínguez Buj has highlighted that the objective that he has set is ‘to preserve capabilities critical for the Nation’s defence and to engage the remaining ones in such a manner that, once difficulties are overcome, the Army will be in the best conditions to recuperate the potential that might have been lost. 
 

On the sacrifices that his period at the head of the leadership entails, he has wished to remind that the Army has already undertaken a severe optimisation and efficiency process, and that ‘further optimisation will not be easy, either of its structure or its asset employment’ without this involving ‘loss of necessary capabilities’. 
 

In turn, the outgoing Chief of the Army Staff has expressed gratitude to the minister for having separated the relief in the Chief of the Army Staff from the change of Government; he has expressed gratitude for everyone’s collaboration; he has given congratulations on the excellent professionalism and spirit of sacrifice that he has found in all his subordinates; as well, he has underlined that his replacement is a great leader, which is what the Army needs in complex situations.  Lastly, he has received from Lieutenant General  Roldán Pascual, as senior member of the Army High Council , the Field Flag that flew on his last visit of 12th Armoured Brigade ‘Guadarrama’, as a memento and  in recognition of his four-year labour.

trabajo.

Oath of Office at the Ministry

Previously, yesterday afternoon, Army General Domínguez Buj had taken the oath of office at the Ministry of Defence along with the new Chief of the Navy Staff, Admiral Jaime Muñoz-Delgado and the new Chief of the Air Force Staff, General Francisco J. García Arnaiz.