Armed Forces: Change of command during service operations of the Salzburg military command
Colonel Markus Bender was appointed as the new commander of the service operations department of the Salzburg Military Command. He is taking over this responsible task from the previous manager, Lieutenant Colonel Roland Bock, who retired at the end of August 2022.
Current challenging tasks
The new commander, Colonel Bender, explained his future in his inaugural speech: “Today I would like to thank Lieutenant Colonel Bock for being able to run a good department. My job as commander is to ensure that the service works and that the general conditions of your work are suitable for the troops in the Salzburg garrisons.”
The new commander thanked the employees of the service operation in advance for their active cooperation and mutual support. “They are the key to our joint success and our working atmosphere,” says Colonel Bender.
The new commander
Colonel Markus Bender was born in Tyrol and retired in 1990 at the military academy as a lieutenant in western Austria, in St. Johann im Pongau. There he gained experience in various functions in the Army Communications Regiment, which later became Command Support Battalion 2, and as commander was able to assume responsibility for personnel in the first command functions.
In 2016 he was called to the position of press officer in the Salzburg Military Command. In this function, he was immediately entrusted with numerous responsible tasks. After a few years, he was able to take on the responsible task of head of the public relations and communication department.
“In his function as head of public relations, Colonel Markus Bender had access to many areas of the armed forces, public life and the media and shaped public perception of the armed forces in the state of Salzburg over the past six years. I would like to thank him for his commitment and his comradely cooperation and wish him a lot of luck and success in his new position as commander of service operations,” Salzburg’s military commander, Brigadier Anton Waldner, praised the officer.
Service operations as the backbone of the administration
The service operation is the operational element of the Salzburg Military Command and consists of 60 employees and employees. All organizational elements that are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the actual properties in the broadest sense are summarized here. This includes catering, medical care, telecommunications and care facilities as well as security services. The task of the service operation is to ensure the operation of the barracks and properties and to support the troops housed there.