Ohio National Guard, Serbia strengthen fledgling relationship

Courtesy Photo | Serbian President Boris Tadić (left) and Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, Ohio adjutant general discuss State Partnership plans during Wayt's visit to Serbia September 24-30. Photo courtesy of Serbian armed forces.  

09.30.2006

Story by Staff Sgt. Kim Snow 

Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

by Sgt. Kimberly Snow
Ohio National Guard JFHQ PAO

Senior leaders from the Ohio National Guard returned Sept. 30 from a weeklong visit to Serbia to meet with senior Serbian civilian and military leaders to discuss their recently formed partnership.

Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, Ohio adjutant general and an American delegation met with Serbian President Boris Tadić and his team of advisors in Belgrade, and with Maj. Gen. Zdravko Ponoš, Acting Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, and his staff. They traveled throughout Serbia, meeting with air and ground force commanders and gaining a greater understanding of the Serbian military.

The National Guard State Partnership Program links State National Guards with partner countries for the purpose of improving bilateral relations with the United States. The program goals reflect an evolving international affairs mission for the National Guard, to promote regional stability and civil-military relationships in support of U.S. policy objectives. Wayt stated that Ohio and Serbia will actively participate in a host of security cooperation activities from bilateral familiarization and training events, to exercises, fellowship-style internships, and civic leader visits.

"I feel honored that Major General Wayt and I have been given the privileged role of restoring the tradition alliance and friendship between the United States and Serbia," Ponoš said.

"This was a critical first exchange," said Wayt upon his return from Belgrade. "The Serbian Minister of Defense recently completed a Strategic Defense Review and the Serbian Armed Forces are now beginning to transform to a smaller, more capable force. The Serbian Armed Forces are highly professional and have been battle-tested. This truly is a partnership because both sides will bring something to the table and we will learn from each other."

Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Muncy, the Ohio Air National Guard's senior enlisted man, said the delegation was treated to displays, demonstrations and Serbian hospitality throughout the visit. They discussed the budding partnership, namely what each can gain by learning from the other.

State Command Sgt. Maj. William Gilliam agreed: "The Serbs have a rich history and a seasoned military that is getting ready to go through major reductions in forces and bases, sort of like BRAC and transformation, so we clicked on many levels."

The Ohio and Serbian military leaders are working with state and federal agencies to facilitate an exchange of troops as soon as the end of the calendar year. The long term plan will include training events in Serbia and Ohio.

"The major focus of this visit," Wayt said, "was for General Ponoš and I to begin to set the parameters and put plans in place for the next year. We hope to pursue very aggressively a series of mutual exchanges with our Serbian colleagues."

Muncy said both sides have much to gain from the partnership. He said cultural awareness is important for Ohio's Soldiers and Airmen, particularly in light of the Ohio National Guard's involvement in the Balkans over the past decade.

"It's great for them to see changes happening in the area, and happening rapidly," he said. "In addition, to see nations reach out to be partners after all this says volumes for both sides. And it says great things about our Buckeye Citizen-Soldiers and their diplomacy as well as mission strengths."

Col. John Harris, the Ohio National Guard's Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, was part of Ohio's official party. He met with members of the Serbian Defense Force's personnel offices to discuss, among other things, how to organize and staff a citizen-military organization like the National Guard.

"We are witnessing a sea change in a critical region of Europe and the world," Harris said, "but we are not just sitting on the sidelines as spectators. The National Guard has engaged and is contributing to create a positive outcome and a very different world."

• Date Taken: 09.30.2006
• Date Posted: 10.05.2006 12:51
• Story ID: 7933