Meet the woman training Croatia’s next generation of soldiers

Sara Arić Mikolčević (Morhologija)

Sara Arić Mikolčević is soon to become one of the instructors responsible for shaping Croatia’s newest recruits.

Her path from a secondary-school commercial studies student to a member of the Croatian Armed Forces is a story of determination, discipline and finding a true calling in uniform.

Sara says her interest in the military began as early as the end of primary school. Although she enrolled in secondary school to study commerce, her long-term goal never changed.

Immediately after graduation she applied for voluntary military training.

“I submitted the documents, completed all the administration, the call came, and that was it. I went straight into voluntary military training,” she recalled on the latest episode of Morhologija podcast.

Her family supported her entirely. “I was always a bit of a ‘dad’s girl’, and everyone saw this path as something that suited me. Everything else seemed too tame, the army felt like exactly what I needed.”

The two-month training programme she entered, she says, was nearly identical to today’s, with equal treatment for male and female recruits.

“There were no excuses like ‘women can’t do that’ or ‘men must do this’. There was no discrimination then, and there isn’t now.”

A Day in the Life of a Recruit

Life in training is strict, structured and early.

“Reveille is at 6am. By 6.30 the recruits must complete hygiene routines, shaving or tying their hair, and tidy their beds,” Sara explains.

A light morning exercise session follows, already in full uniform and boots.

Breakfast is served at 7am, now in buffet style, before recruits clean both the barracks grounds and indoor areas.

The morning parade is at 8am, with training running in two blocks: 8.30am to 12.50pm, and again from 3pm to 5.30pm. Lunch is at 1pm, and recruits have personal time until 3pm.

Evenings are spent socialising, walking, studying or further exercise, with phones allowed during free time. There is even a television in the classroom for watching matches or programmes of choice.

At 9pm, recruits assemble again for the evening roll call, and lights-out is at 10pm.

(Photo credit: MORH/ F. Klen)

According to Sara, the routine quickly becomes second nature and builds a strong sense of camaraderie.

Climbing Through the Ranks

After completing specialist training in Petrinja, Sara served with the famed Tigrovi unit for nearly two and a half years, where she also met her husband.

She later worked in a school and the Motorised Battalion Vukovi before taking on her current role in Požega with the Battalion for Basic Military Training.

She has completed mentoring, the Instructor Course and the Basic NCO Education Programme. Outside the barracks, she is a mother to a three-year-old son, while her husband works in Zagreb with the Military Police Regiment.

The fast pace, she says, is simply part of their rhythm.

Sara Arić Mikolčević (Morhologija)

“We’ve adapted. Sometimes we only have ten minutes together between duties, but everything works.”

Preparing the Next Generation

As a soon-to-be instructor, Sara expects physical readiness to be the biggest challenge for new recruits.

“Many people aren’t active enough because of the busy pace of life. Some are even leaving their jobs to come here,” she says.

Her solution is a personalised approach. After initial fitness assessments, recruits will be divided into ability-based groups.

“We can’t have everyone running at the same pace. We’ll adjust the training so each group can progress.”

Her message to future recruits is simple: don’t be afraid.

“There is so much to learn. They will gain invaluable experience, knowledge, and meet many people. And if they stay in the system, even more opportunities open up. There’s no reason to fear it.”

Sara’s own generation of voluntary recruits largely chose to remain in service, a sign, she believes, that the Croatian Army can offer a fulfilling and meaningful career to those who discover their passion for it.