Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Elizabeth Holliker | Members the Serbian Armed Forces lead a parade including their newest commissioned...... read more read more
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As part of the Ohio National Guard’s annual capstone visit and marking the 17th anniversary of its partnership with the Republic of Serbia, Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general, attended the country’s annual military academy graduation in September 2023 to celebrate the promotion of the Serbian Armed Forces’ newest commissioned officers.
“For me, this is one of the most important events I am able to participate in,” Harris said. “The promotion of new officers is an event I have been participating in for years. It’s a tradition between the Ohio National Guard and the Serbian Armed Forces.”
Harris led an Ohio National Guard delegation that also visited various military facilities during the weeklong capstone event, where he received briefings on current training initiatives and equipment upgrades. He also had the opportunity to observe several demonstrations including SAF weapons, training tactics, techniques and procedures exercises.
“The SAF is modernizing quickly,” Harris said. “The Humvee is a great example of (modernizing) such equipment — equipment that can be used in a variety of ways.”
Harris highlighted that these armored vehicles are essential in disaster response and peacekeeping operations.
The Ohio National Guard is known for its dedicated support to its communities across the state, and during the capstone visit, Harris was honored to take part in supporting Serbian communities by donating blood at the Red Cross in Belgrade.
“Serbia and the U.S. have a long history of relations,” Harris said. “Whatever I can do, whether it’s donating blood or just reminding the people of the wonderful bond between the Serbian and American people, I will do, because it is important for our countries.”
When the partnership between the Ohio National Guard and Serbia was established in 2006, the main goals were military-to-military engagements. Over the years, however, the partnership has expanded to include civil-military relationships, including industry and economic development to community support and involvement, as evidenced during the local blood drive.
“I have said this many times before,” Harris said. “This partnership runs deeper than many people realize or expect. It has led to true friendships among soldiers and airmen, and military leadership as well.”
As the 2023 capstone event marked another successful year of partnership and plans were established for 2024 and beyond, Harris emphasized the strategic significance of the Ohio-Serbian partnership.
“If I were to describe the cooperation between the Ohio National Guard and the Serbian Armed Forces in just two words, I would say ‘robust and enduring,’” Harris said. “Just this year, we had nearly 40 joint events ranging from small-scale, subject expert exchanges to a large-scale Platinum Wolf exercise.”
“Our cooperation takes on many different forms — cyber, engineering, medical, disaster response, chaplaincy, military education and development, and technical training,” Harris said. “This speaks to the level of trust and respect we have for one another and how we truly value our partnership.”
This year the Department of State Partnership Program, managed by National Guard Bureau, marks 30 years of relationship building across the globe, counting 88 partnerships with 100 nations.
In addition to its pairing with Serbia, the Ohio National Guard has maintained a partnership with Hungary since 1993, among the oldest through the SPP.
| Date Taken: | 12.21.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 12.21.2023 13:39 |
| Story ID: | 460518 |
| Location: | BELGRADE, RS |
| Web Views: | 205 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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