Command Sergeant Major (OR-9) Dražen Klanjec

Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the Croatian Armed Forces

Command Sergeant Major (OR-9) Dražen Klanjec was born on April 19, 1974, in Zabrđe, Zagreb County, Republic of Croatia.

On July 11, 1994, he enlisted in the Croatian Armed Forces. Upon completion of Basic and Advanced Individual Training, he served his country in the Croatian Homeland War as a member of the 7th Guard Brigade „Puma“.

His initial military assignment was a Fire Direction Specialist, and during the course of the next 26 years of his military career he has served in a vast variety of enlisted leadership positions, from Squad Leader to brigade Command Sergeant Major.

CSM Klanjec has been appointed to the position of the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the Croatian Armed Forces on August 1, 2020.

CSM Klanjec's military education includes Basic NCO Course and Advanced NCO Course at the Croatian Army NCO School and Military Diplomacy School at the Croatian Military Academy. Also, he completed Basic NCO Course at the U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, USA, and U.S. Army Sergeants Major Course, Class 53, Fort Bliss, USA.

CSM Klanjec was deployed to Afghanistan in support to missions ISAF and Resoulte Support three times serving as a member of the Operational Mentoring Liason Team, as a FDC instructor in Artillery Team, and as a member of the Army Institutional Advisory Team.

He was promoted to Sergeant (OR-5) in 1995, to Staff Sergeant (OR-6) in 1999, to Sergeant First Class (OR-7) in 2001, to First Sergeant (OR-8) in 2005, and to Command Sergeant Major (OR-9) in 2009.

His military decorations and awards include Homeland War Memorial Medal, Homeland Gratitude Memorial for 5 years of meritorious service, Operation Storm Medal, Operation Summer 95 Medal, NATO Medal ISAF, NATO Medal Resolute Support, and Meritorious Service Medal (United States).

He is father of four children and lives in Zagreb with his family.