November GuardME Nov. 2013 | Page 22

Maine’s Developing State Partnership Program Story and Photos by Sgt. Angela Parady The United States Army National Guard history can be traced to Dec. 13 1636 when the Massachusetts General Court declared that all able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60 were required to join the militia. Thousands of miles and centuries later on June 3 2006 Montenegro declared independence from Serbia, making it the world’s youngest country at the time. Six months later, on Dec. 7, the oldest military institution in America, the National Guard, became formally associated with the youngest country. Military leadership from Maine and Montenegro met on Dec. 10 to review their progress over the last six years and discuss the future of their partnership. Since 2006, Montenegro has made significant improvements to their overall military doctrine, officer and non commissioned officer development programs, training plans and equipment. They have improved their emergency management programs, and bettered their posture towards becoming a NATO member, and gaining entry to the European Union. capabilities and significantly improvethe overall preparedness of the state to respond in natural emergencies. which resembles Maine in landscape, in December 2012. Campbell said it is continue to develop their relationship. Together they review training and how they are improving the Montenegrins posture for membership, Campbell has some additional objectives he is planning to meet in the next year to provide invaluable training to Maine Guardsmen and Airmen. In order to establish partnerships with both the United States and the European Union, one of the first steps the government of Montenegro took after gaining independence was to take part in the National Guard State Partnership Program. The program aligns states with nations around the world to assist those nations in both civilian and military matters. Maine submitted their application and paired with Montenegro in 2006 to help advise the newly formed country as it began to develop its institutions. “The great thing about this program is it is a two-way street,” he said. “They train in Maine, and we can train here. One of my goals is to be able to have soldiers and airmen from Maine National Guard work with foreign military, in an area that is outside the norm. Have them doing things like working with interpreters, with a military that has different traditions than ours, because in my eyes, that is the new normal. We no longer fight wars as a single, separate country, and I don’t see that changing.” During the last six years, the state partners have accomplished a great deal. Montenegrin Army Lt. Col. Ilija Dakovic said that through different joint activities, the State Partnership Program has hel Y[\??HB?[?[?Y?[?Z[]\?B???\ ???\??\?[?YK?\?X???H?[?XZ[?B?Y?YY?H[\?[??H??\????[H?H?][?[??X\? ???\?^H??Y??[???[Y\?[\?[ H?]?Y?][???[?\?[??H?]H??XZ[?KXYH\??\?????X[?\?]?H??[??K???\??X\?H]HY?][???[?\?[?\?]]X\???B?HYX\?[??XX??]H[?[?Y?[?Z[]\?B?[??]?[X[?XY\??\???U?Y[X?\??\ ???\?Y\?H[[X]B???X?]?H?[[??[?[?Y??X?Y]?H?U???'H?[?Y?]??B?XZ[?H??Y\?HXZ[?B?Z\?X[?\?\??]X[?Y?K??[?\??][?[^??\?H\??