Maine National Guard Adjutant General Visits Montenegro

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Brig. Gen. James Campbell, adjutant general for the Maine Army National Guard examines one of the recently acquired weapons for the Montenegrin defense forces.

AUGUSTA, ME (12/12/2012)(readMedia)-- Brig. Gen. James D. Campbell, the Adjutant General for Maine, led a delegation of Maine Air and Army National Guardsman to the Republic of Montenegro this week to strengthen the partnership between Maine and Montenegro and explore new initiatives including joint training opportunities.

The Maine National Guard and the Republic of Montenegro have been partners in the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program since 2007.

Campbell will be discussing with the Montenegrins how they will expand further coordination in the areas of defense support to civil authorities, and potential co-deployments in support of NATO missions.

Partnerships are created through discussions among countries, ministers of defense, the U.S. ambassador, regional combatant commanders, adjutants general, governors and the chief of the National Guard Bureau, which administers the State Partnership Program. The program's goals reflect an evolving international affairs mission for the National Guard, to promote security cooperation in support of Homeland Defense and Civil Support Missions.

To date the partnership has conducted numerous exchange visits and trainings for Montenegrin military forces and civilian agencies. Montenegro has participated in several International Security Assistance Force rotations, has continued to refine their membership action plan towards NATO membership and has recently become a candidate for inclusion in the European Union. Since declaring independence in 2006 Montenegro has been working toward NATO membership through the modernization and reorganization of its military forces.

This visit also corresponds with a Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear defense training being lead by specialists from the Maine Army National Guard. The delegation will attend the culminating event of this training during their visit.

Photo Cutlines:

798895.jpg - Brig. Gen. James Campbell, adjutant general for the Maine Army National Guard examines one of the recently acquired weapons for the Montenegrin defense forces. Campbell, who assumed his role in August of this year, is very interested in working with the Montenegrin military and taking full advantage of the state partnership program for enhanced training opportunities, for both Maine soldiers, and Montenegrin soldiers, and share expertise on training, equipment, and standardization procedures. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Angela Parady, 121st Public Affairs Detachment.)

798886.jpg - Col. John Mosher, deputy chief of operations for the Maine Army National Guard talks with Col. Zivko Pejario, Commander of the Montenegrin Air Force, during a tour of the Golubovci Air Base, Dec. 11. As part of the adjutant general's first visit to Maine's state partner, he and the rest of the staff are working closely with the embassy and their staff to develop new initiatives including more joint training between Maine soldiers and Montenegrin soldiers. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Angela Parady, 121st Public Affairs Detachment.)