The 1,002nd milestone photograph by academic photographer Šime Strikovan was captured at the 'Colonel Predrag Matanović' barracks in Petrinja, on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the 1st Brigade 'Tigers' and the 19th anniversary of the 1st Mechanised Battalion 'Tigers'. The photograph is titled 'For Croatia like a Tiger' and was captured on 7 October 2026.
Strikovan stated that more than 30 years ago, when he saw the 'Tiger' insignia, he had a desire to create something similar. He described the milestone photograph as participatory art in which many people participate, from the idea to the realisation. Twelve people arranged the scene over two days, with 180 people positioned in their designated places. The shoot was carried out with the assistance of four Patria vehicles and firefighters from the city of Petrinja at a height of 30 metres.
Strikovan emphasised that the milestone photograph is not an ordinary visual record, but a lasting memory and historical testimony. He added that the photograph is assigned the number 1,002, entering the official register.
The 'Tigers' have passed through all battlefields, from east to south in Croatia, with more than 11,000 personnel passing through the brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Tomislav Gorec, the senior non-commissioned officer of the 1st Mechanised Battalion 'Tigers', stated that the milestone photograph is extremely important for future generations to see who the 'Tigers' were and the sacrifice they made in the Homeland War. Gorec urged young recruits to join the Croatian Army, describing it as a large family.
Private First Class Nikola Ivanković stated that the 'Tigers' are best described by one word: persistence. He stated that there is no standing still for them, and that all tasks, whether in the field, on guard, or in the barracks, are carried out on time and to a high standard. Ivanković told young people: 'Come to the Tigers, we are the best, we are always first, and you will learn a lot here.'
The commander of the 1st Battalion, 'Tigrovi', Lieutenant Colonel Tihomir Kastmiler, presented a certificate of appreciation to Šime Strikovan for his selfless support, promotion, and the exceptional effort and artistic contribution to the 1st Mechanised Battalion 'Tigers'.
