THE State Partnership Edition MarylandLINE

Celebrating 20 Years with

Celebrating 10 Years with Bosnia and Herzegovina

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE MARYLAND MILITARY DEPARTMENT 2

WWW. THE LINE MD.NGB.ARMY Maryland Maj. Gen. James A.Adkins Gen. Maj. 22 20 16 10 6 Feature Stories Inside thisissue: Maryland celebrates Maryland Assembled frompast Sabre Strike 2013 SpecialForces inEstonia The Forgotten Front Estonian pilots Adjutant : Design &Layout: /MDGUARD Martin O’Malley National Guard deploy withMaryland Bosnia andHerzegovina partnerships: Estonia& publications Governor: .MIL [email protected] Military De Military Maryland NationalGuard Fifth Regiment Armory Fifth Baltimore, Md.21201 Public Affairs Office /MDGUARD 29th DivisionSt. 410-576-6179 22 partment 24 13 12 9 8 4

Adjutant GeneralHostsBosnian signs StateofMaryland with Guard Maryland partners State Partnership Program StatePartnership EstonianBorder Guard Guard Maryland trains

Cross ofMerit Estonian Air Force pilots Deputy MinisterofDefense Memorandum with Estonia for peace, security Bosnia andHerzegovina (AF) Staff Sgt.BenjaminHughes Staff Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington American ForcesPressService 1st Lt.KristoferBaumgartner 2nd Lt.JessicaDonnelly Lt. Col.CharlesKohler Staff Sgt.JohnHiggins /MDNG Capt. Joseph WinterCapt. Spc. LoniKingston Maj. WadeMinami Spc KiethMuckler Contributors: 16 10 /MDNG 6 Mostar June5,2008. Education andTraining programin funding oftheInternationalMilitary continued confirming Understanding of of DefensesignedaMemorandum The and BiHMinister Ambassador ern Estonia Aug. 9,2007. Erna Raid2007militaryevent in north dier sightopposingforces duringthe A Maryland Army NationalGuard Sol On thecover: 14 tests Soldiers’ skillsandenduranceoversixgruelingdaysofcompetition. Capt. Adolphus HouckmakeshiswayacrossanorthernEstoniawaterfallduringtheErnaRaid2007competitioninnorthe 12

On The The Maryland

LINE /MDNG 20 18 12 8 9 - - r Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers from the 253rd Engineer Company (Sapper) hitched a ride with the New Hampshire Air Guard to Puerto Rico this year for annual training. Nearly 50 Citizen Soldiers from the La Plata, Md., based unit along with eight soldiers from Bosnia and Herzegovina flew to Camp Santiago Joint Maneuver Training Center July 13-27. While there, they trained side-by-side with the 1013th Engineer Company (Sapper) and the 232nd Dive Team from Puerto Rico. The Maryland and Puerto Rican Citizen Soldiers shared best practices, experiences, and lessons learned with each other during the two-week AT.

1st Appeared April 2006

Line State Partnership Edition 2013 3 Maryland Guard partners with Bosnia and Herzegovina for peace, security

1st Appeared that Bosnia’s highly-trained and capable force shows March 2013 promise that would have seemed unachievable in the mid-1990s. But the Maryland National Guard, she said, has brought a sense of community that distin- By Amaani Lyle guishes itself from conventional joint training mis- American Forces Press Service sions. Armed forces from Bosnia and Herzegovina de- “The Bosnians display a great sense of pride, confi- ployed with a military police task force to Afghani- dence and teamwork that has, in part, been built during stan’s Kandahar these military and security exchanges,” province in Janu- “ his partnership is a testament Farkas said. “The work they’re doing ary, thanks to on- Tto the great strides Bosnia with the Maryland National Guard has going training and has made to become a real con- not only primed them to support Inter- integration with the tributor within the international se- national Security Assistance Force Af- Maryland National ghanistan missions, but [also has] pre- Guard. curity landscape pared them for international security The integration, ” involvement around the world.” which began in 2003 through the National Guard State NATO officials said they have long since champi- Partnership Program, ranks among the Bosnia Armed oned nation partnership and collaboration, concepts Force’s top accomplishments since civil unrest began that have gained particular interest in an era of fiscal in the former Yugoslav republic region two decades uncertainty. earlier, said Evelyn Farkas, deputy assistant secretary “The partnership with Bosnia yields benefits that of defense for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian af- are hard to quantify on paper, but definitely result in fairs. forces that are now better equipped, more credible and “This partnership is a testament to the great making prog- strides Bosnia has made to become a real con- “ t’s all about sharing our ress toward tributor within the international security land- Iexperiences as the Nation- meeting NATO scape,” Farkas said. “The troops are stepping al Guard and building trust and standards -- up and showing significant progress in their confidence in the citizens of which ulti- capabili- their country mately creates ties and ” efficiencies,” professionalism, Farkas said. moving them clos- Army Maj. Gen. James A. Adkins, Maryland’s ad- er toward the goal jutant general, said the program builds partnership of membership capacity and relationships as it facilitates Bosnia and in the NATO alli- Herzegovina’s journey to NATO membership. ance.” “We build relationships at the squad, platoon and Citing one of company level, where these individuals work together the most recent time after time, and we’ve seen that come together in success stories the Bosnian deployment with us to Afghanistan,” he of U.S. National said. “The Bosnians are willing and able partners in Guard and foreign anything we do on the battlefield.” nation pairings, In many cases, the general added, the training is re- Farkas explained ciprocal.

4 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland “They’ve provided sound instruction and expertise and ideally allows U.S. and Bosnian troops to tackle in dealing with mines and other things they’ve expe- problems, place resources against those problems and rienced in their country [so] we can take advantage of brainstorm on final solutions, Adkins added. their knowledge,” he said. “It’s critical that everyone in the command sees the Adkins also has seen the 20-year jour- value of the exchanges ney in Maryland’s ad- and partnerships to devel- ditional partnership with op that trust,” he said. Estonia, noting that both Farkas said she remains Maryland and Estonia are optimistic that Bosnia and coastal states with popu- Herzegovina will con- lations centered in a large tinue to thrive within the port city. State Partnership Pro- “It’s all about sharing gram, which now features our experiences as the Na- 65 participating nations tional Guard and building that enhance U.S. com- trust and confidence in the batant commanders’ capa- citizens of their country,” bilities around the world. Adkins said. “It’s also “There is still work important to show the relevance of what the military to be done, but Bosnia certainly continues to move does to support the local community in their country.” forward with the support of the National Guard,” she Trust at the senior level resonates at all levels, said.

Line State Partnership Edition 2013 5 Maryland celebrates partnerships:

1st Appeared May 2013

By the Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office

overnor Martin O’Malley recognized the 20 and 10 year anniversaries of the Maryland GNational Guard’s partnerships with Estonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina with a reception for se- nior delegations from the two nations May 13, 2013, in Annapolis, Md. The Maryland National Guard established its State Partnership Program with Estonia in 1993 to assist with the Baltic state’s transition to an independent nation after the collapse of the . In 2003, the Maryland National Guard began another partnership, this time with Bosnia and Herzegovina, to help stabilize that country following the break-up of Yugoslavia and the ethnic conflict that followed. The program promotes civil and military coop- eration to promote peace, stability, prosperity and democratic principles. During the past two decades, the State Partner- ship Program enhanced relationships between the and these countries through hundreds of military and civilian exchanges. Cooperation spread, over the years, beyond military-to-military

6 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland Estonia & Bosnia and Herzegovina

exchanges to civilian collaboration. Salisbury Univer- ering Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Some sity in Maryland and University in Estonia, for states have two programs. Although many of the example, established a relationship as a result of the partner nations have deployed together, in 2012, State Partnership Program. Maryland’s became the first program ever to have “Over the last 20 years, the Maryland National supported two co-deployments with two different Guard has been a pioneer in this type of interna- partner nations at the same time. tional engagement,” said O’Malley. “The organiza- “Over the past 20 years, we have achieved great tion’s success with two state partnerships has been success through our partnerships while supporting a terrific benefit to not only the state of Maryland, U.S. foreign policy objectives,” said Maj. Gen. James but also to the nation as a whole.” A. Adkins, the adjutant general of Maryland. “As we Two pilots from Estonia, Capt. Rene Kallis and look forward to Capt. Martin Noorsalu, are serving with the Mary- the future, the SPP land National Guard on a 3-year tour. They recently remains a cost- returned from Afghanistan with the Maryland Army effective engage- National Guard’s C Company, 1st Battalion, 169th ment program that Air Ambulance Company where they flew medical produces results evacuation missions alongside Maryland pilots. beneficial to the Twenty-six military policemen from the Armed United States and Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina deployed last fall our partners.” to Afghanistan with the Maryland National Guard’s 115th Military Police Battalion to support the Inter- national Security Assistance Force. These soldiers are fully integrated into the unit and conduct opera- tions with Maryland Guard members. “The partnership between Maryland and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a classic example of how it works,” said Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the Nation- al Guard Bureau. “We took a country out of war, and we worked together as they went from a consumer of security to a producer of security.” Nationwide, the State Partnership Program cur- rently involves 65 different partner counties and nearly every state and territory in the nation cov-

Line State Partnership Edition 2013 7 1st Appeared May 2009

State of Maryland signs Memorandum of Understanding with Republic of Estonia

overnor Martin O’Malley was originally designed as outreach and Mr. Nicolai Vojeikin, by the U.S. to new democracies in Gdeputy governor of the Eastern and Central Europe and the municipality of Harju County in the former Soviet Union. Republic of Estonia, signed a memo- The Maryland National Guard’s randum of understanding designed relationship with the Estonian mili- to encourage and strengthen cultur- tary has encompassed a wide range al and social relationships between of military-to-military, military- the state of Maryland and Harju to-civilian and civilian-to-civilian County on May 18, 2009. efforts with an emphasis on civil “This agreement is further affir- and military cooperation–all within mation of our long-standing part- the context of civilian control of nership between the state of Mary- a professional military. The Mary- land and the Republic of Estonia, land Military Department also has and in particular, Harju County,” shared best practices related to state said Governor Martin O’Malley. emergency management processes, “This memorandum of understand- procedures and techniques through ing provides us a tremendous op- the Maryland Emergency Manage- portunity to combine our respective ment Agency. rich knowledge and resources to In 2003, Maryland was also further research in academia as well selected to partner with Bosnia as our industrial and public sectors.” and Herzegovina as part of the The Maryland National Guard State Partnership Program, in large has partnered with the Republic part due to the state of Maryland’s of Estonia si nce 1993 through the relationship with the Republic of State Partnership Program, which Estonia.

8 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland n 1st Appeared osnia April 2010 B osts efense H D l of enera G inister nt M djuta A Deputy

(from left to right) Lt. Col. Alija Kozljak, advisor for military diplomatic and international affairs for Bosnia-Herzegovina; Mr. Zivko Marjanac, deputy minister of defense for policy and planning; Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins, the adjutant general of Maryland; Mr. Sasa Konjevic, Bosnia-Herzogovina chief of cabinet of the deputy minister of defense; and Lt. Col. Bozo Skopljakovic, Embassy of Bosnia-Herzegovina defense attache. The minister and his men visited the Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Md., where he received a briefing on the Maryland Military Department and it’s capabilities.

By Sgt. John Higgins derstanding of how the Military brings together U.S. states and Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Department and the National territories with partner nations he Maryland Military De- Guard manage emergency situa- through a range of military, civil- partment greeted members tions. They discussed the recent military and civil activities under of the Bosnia-Herzegovina record-breaking back-to-back the Maryland Military Depart- T snow storms in February and the ment. The partnership program Defense Ministry April 15, 2010, in Reisterstown, Md., under the department’s response to Hurri- emphasizes civil and military co- auspices of the National Guard cane Katrina. operation with civil control of a State Partnership Program, to dis- The delegation had a chance for professional military. Maryland cuss the state’s military and emer- some hands-on training with was selected to partner with Bos- gency response capabilities. Camp Fretterd’s Engagement nia-Herzegovina in 2003. Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins, the Skills Trainer 2000. Lt. Col. Bozo adjutant general of Maryland Skopljakovic, Embassy of Bosnia- hosted the Bosnian delegation, Herzegovina defense attaché and lead by Mr. Zivko Marjanac, dep- Mr. Sasa Konjevic, Bosnia-Her- uty minister of defense for policy zogovina chief of cabinet of the and planning. Marjanac is respon- deputy minister of defense, were sible for international coopera- able to fire air-powered M-16 as- tion, military intelligence affairs sault rifles to test their skills at and security as well as command, shooting. control and communications for The State Partnership Program (From left to right) 1st Lt. Michael Kehs the Bosnia-Herzegovina Ministry was launched in Europe as part of from the 32nd Civil Support Team explains the initial outreach by the Unit- how to use chemical detection equipment of Defense. to Lt. Col. Alija Kozljak, Mr. Zivko Mar- The briefing at Camp Frettered ed States to new democracies in janac and Lt. Col. Bozo Skopljakovic of the Military Reservation gave the Central and Eastern Europe and Bosnia-Herzegovina defense ministry. minister and his staff a better un- the former Soviet Union. The SPP Line State Partnership Edition 2013 9 Estonian Air Force pilots deploy By 2nd Lt. Jessica Donnelly Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office

Pilots with the Estonian Air Force, who have been assigned to the Maryland National Guard for the past year, deployed from Weide Army Airfield in Edgewood, Md., Aug. 24, 2012. Once overseas, Capt. Rene Kallis and Capt. Martin 1st Appeared Noorsalu will be attached to August 2012 C Co., 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment which de- ployed to Afghanistan earlier this year. “[Our deployment] is a (Above) Capt. Rene Kallis and Capt. Martin Noorsalu review their big step for the Estonian Air flight plan before leaving on their deployment. (Opposite page) Force,” said Kallis. Capt. Rene Kallis and Capt. Martin Noorsalu, along with Family He added, that the de- and Maryland National Guard members, walk out to the UH-60 ployment is the first of its Blackhawk that the Estonian Air Force pilots left in. (Below) Capt. kind and that hopefully it Rene Kallis and Capt. Martin Noorsalu say goodbye to their wives and children during the deployment ceremony, Aug. 24. will pave the way for more Estonian service members to deploy in the future. The Estonian pilots learned to fly UH-60 ‘Black- hawk’ helicopters with the Maryland National Guard after completing the qualifi- cation course at Fort Rucker, Ala. Kallis explained that the Blackhawk is much dif- ferent than the aircraft they are used to flying in Estonia, which is much smaller, but they have been conducting plenty of flying hours to get familiar with the new air- craft. “We’re glad that you’ve made it to this point in your training,” said Maj. Gen. James A. Adkins, the adju- tant general of Maryland. “We can’t wait to have you back.” When the Estonian pilots return from their deploy- ment, they will continue

10 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland with Maryland National Guard

“We want you to feel like one of our Soldiers because you are our Soldiers. You’ve trained for a year with us, you’re going into combat with us, and when you get back, you will still be flying with us.” -Maj. Gen. James A. Adkins Adjutant General of Maryland

serving with the Maryland National Guard as part of mer Soviet Union. National Guard, rotating the State Partnership Pro- The Maryland Military De- through various positions to gram. The National Guard's partment has had a partner- include flying, maintenance 65-nation, 20-year-old SPP ship with Estonia since 1993, and operations. provides unique partnership and has another partnership “It will be a tremendous capacity-building capabili- with Bosnia-Herzegovina that experience and training for ties to combatant command- has been in place since 2003. you both,” said Adkins. “We ers and U.S. ambassadors C company is a medi- want you to feel like one of through partnerships be- cal evacuation aviation unit our Soldiers because you are tween U.S. states, territories that is deployed in support of our Soldiers. You’ve trained and the District of Columbia Operation Enduring Freedom for a year with us, you’re go- and foreign countries. The with approximately 40 mem- ing into combat with us, and SPP was launched in Europe bers and six of their UH-60 when you get back, you will as part of the initial outreach “Blackhawk” helicopters. still be flying with us.” by the United States to new The helicopters are based at The Estonian pilots are democracies in Central and Weide Army Airfield. assigned to the Maryland Eastern Europe and the for-

Line State Partnership Edition 2013 11 1st Appeared Maryland Guard trains Feburary 2012 Estonian Air Force pilots for deployment By 2nd Lt. Jessica Donnelly Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office Maryland National Guard … and we relationship with hope to act as co-pilots,” added Kallis Estonian through the National Guard’s ilots with the Estonian Air Force about the deployment. State Partnership Program, which have been training with the After they return from deployment, brings together Maryland Army National Guard, Kallis and Noorsalu will remain with U.S. states and territories with part- P the Maryland Army National Guard, learning to fly rotary wing aircraft and ner nations to enhance international preparing for deployment with the rotating through various staff posi- security and promote understanding, unit. tions to get more first-hand experience trust and stability. Capt. Rene Kallis and Lt. Martin and training on how a rotary wing unit “Maryland has a long history of Noorsalu have been attached to C is Maryland National Guard trains Es- partnership with Estonia,” said Maj. Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Avia- tonian Air Force pilots for deployment Gen. James Adkins, adjutant general tion Regiment, training on UH-60 managed. of Maryland. ‘Blackhawk’ helicopters in preparation During their time in the U.S., Kal- “We’ve been partnering with Esto- for a deployment to Afghanistan in lisand Noorsalu have completed the nia for nearly 19 years, we’ve grown up support of Operation Enduring Free- UH-60 qualification course at Fort together. … Long-term, enduring rela- dom. Rucker, Ala., as well as conducted high tionships have developed through this The unit mobilized during a ceremo- altitude training with the OH-58 partnership.” Adkins added, “There is ny held Feb. 3, 2012, and departed for ‘Kiowa’ helicopters in Colo. They also no program with a greater value be- training at Ft. Hood, Texas, before participated in pre-mob training, cause of the relationships it creates.” continuing on to Afghanistan. such as chemical warfare training and C Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Kallis and Noorsalu will join the squad lanes, with the 169th to prepare Aviation Regiment is a medical evacu- unit overseas and are scheduled to for the deployment. ation aviation unit. The unit, which is participate in six months of the year- “We’ve gotten a lot of experience known by their nickname…”the Mis- long deployment. and good training,” said Kallis of his fits,” is commanded by Capt. Teresa time with the MDNG. Parrotta and is based out of Weide “We’ll be working together with the The Maryland National Guard has a Army Airfield.

12 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland Estonian Cross of Merit 1st Appeared Nove Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office mber 2010

hief Warrant Officer Gaven Meadows, tactical Coperations officer in the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade’s down to this shopping mall Charlie Company 2-224 Aviation where he’d stay at this ar- Regiment, received the Estonian cade machine [helicopter Border Guard Cross of Merit simulator], and he drew a Class III award during a ceremony crowd. Seems he was the at the Estonian Embassy in Wash- only one that was able to fly ington D.C., Nov. 24, 2010. it.” The award was established in “We are so thankful,” said 1997 to recognize public ser- Bonnie Meadows, mother vants, in exceptional cases, and of Chief Meadows. “We’re other persons determined worthy thankful that other people of merit by the Estonian Border can see the merit in him, not Guard. It has three grades; the just his dad and mom.” highest class is first class. The National Guard’s The Class III Cross of Merit is The military was something he State Partnership Program began awarded for: Due diligence for wanted to do early on stated Bob in 1993 following the collapse of border surveillance, border con- Meadows, father of Chief Mead- the Soviet Union. The program is trol, at sea, ows. intended to increase cooperation marine pollution detection, local- While his father traveled to the between former Warsaw Pact ization and liquidation or other ac- District of Columbia on business, countries and the United States. It tivities related to internal security. the then 13-year-old Chief Mead- also fosters mutual interests and Chief Meadows was selected ows asked his father to pick up a establishes long-term relation- for this award because of his sup- book on helicopters. In the Smith- ships across all levels of society. port of the Office of Defense sonian National Air and Space Mu- It introduces these countries to Cooperation in Estonia and the seum library, Bob found an Army democracy, assists them in build- Estonian Border Guard during his basic helicopter-training manual. ing professional military intuitions 2006-09 tour as part of the Na- “He read the whole thing many and helps their responses to civil tional Guard’s State Partnership times,” said Bob. “He took me emergencies. Program. He worked to get a U.S. grant through the U.S. European Command’s Counter Narcoter- rorism Program to construct two helicopter bases of operation for the Border Guard. The two bases established counterdrug aviation support in the eastern part of Es- tonia. “I greatly appreciate the award and the recognition. The biggest award for me was being able to work with the Border Guard and all the Estonian defense forces,” said Chief Meadows. “It was just an amazing experience. It felt re- ally great to be able to help a part- ner develop a capability.”

Line State Partnership Edition 2013 13 On the

Staff Sgt. Thaddeus A Special Forces Harrington, a Soldier navigates an photojournalist for the obstacle during Erna Maryland National Guard, Raid 2007, held in dons an Explosive northern Estonia. The Ordnance Disposal 9 suit annual Erna Raid while on a Humanitarian tests Soldiers’ skills Mine Action mission in and endurance over Estonia May 21, 2013. six days of grueling The U.S. Government competition. humanitarian mine action program assists selected countries in relieving human suffering and in developing an indigenous mine action capability while promoting U.S. interests.

his summer Maj. Gen. James A. Adkins the adjutant general of Maryland traveled to Estonia Tto meet with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves. Twenty years earlier, they stood for a similar photo when Adkins was a assigned as the Bilateral Affairs Officer in Estonia and Ilves was the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time.

14 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland Senior Master Sgt. A woman awaits Brian McNabb, treatment from 175th Maintenance physicians from the Operation Flight senior 175th Wing, Maryland controller, discusses , the A-10C with Maj. in a schoolhouse Slobodan Simic and in Luka, Bosnia as Capt. Zeljko Krajina, part of a joint force Armed Forces of medical humanitarian Bosnia-Herzegovina effort to provide public affairs officers, medical attention to during their tour of the people of Bosnia Warfield Air National and Herzegovina July Guard base in Middle 2006. River, Md., Sept. 14.

Mr. Zeljko Komsic, chairman of the tri- presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina visits the Annapolis Armory and observes the capabilities of the Maryland National Guard's 32nd Civil Support Team.

Eight Soldiers of the MDARNG’s 115th Military Police Battalion spent more than three weeks in Visoko, Bosnia and He rzegovina Sept. 8-30, 2010. The MDARNG Soldiers personally verified the destruction of nearly 12,000 M16A1 rifles of a 30,061-rifle stockpile identified by the BiH Ministry of Defense as excess inventory. The United Nations Developmental Program provided funding for a local contractor to do the actual demilitarization of the weapons.

Line State Partnership Edition 2013 15 The 1st Appeared Forgotten July 2006 Front

t has been more than 11 years since the leaders said Master Sgt. John Wissman, acting first of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia signed a cease- sergeant of the 175th Med. Group. fire agreement that halted the war in Bosnia. Preparation for this mission was extensive. But the damage was done. More than 200,000 “We embarked upon two site surveys, worked Ipeople perished during the conflict. The war was with local non-government organizations, with devastating and the scars are visible to this day. the local embassy and Eagle Base, Tuzla, said “The economy took a huge hit after the war,” Lt. Col. Steven Benden, commander of the said Air Force Lt. Col. Phillip “Randy” Brown, 175th Security Forces Squadron, Maryland Air commander of the 175th Medical Group, Maryland National Guard. “[We] went out and selected Air National Guard. “Fifty percent of the sites. We went to each area and selected schools population is without jobs. The people of Bosnia and/or community centers to set up the medical and Herzegovina are under resourced, they don’t mission.” have access to medical care; at least not to the level A reconnaissance team was sent to BiH a they should.” week before the first medical teams to make sure In July 2006, the 175th Med. Group of the the sites were ready, said Senior Master Sgt. Maryland Air National Guard spent a month in their Steve Bloodsworth, senior health technician for “sister-state” BiH, during their annual training, the 175th. administering basic aid to local villages. “Flyers and radio announcements were made The humanitarian effort was a joint effort that to inform the Bosnians of the mission,” said combined members of the Maryland Air National Bloodsworth. Guard and Maryland Defense Force with Bosnian United States Air Forces in Europe provided soldiers and translators. It was the first mission to $70,000 that was utilized for medication, said bring the three forces together. Bloodsworth. Approximately 80 members of the Maryland Each day the group would travel to individual Military Department ventured to BiH as part of villages and set up a makeshift clinic, making a humanitarian relief mission. Among the group due with what was available to them. were dentists, optometrists, physicians, physicians’ Triage was the first stop for incoming patients. assistants, medics and nurses, many of whom Interpreters were present to help patients fill out perform their job on the civilian side as well. paperwork that described the patients’ medical Most of these people do their job on a daily basis issues. and are good at their job on the civilian side, said Once they were finished with their “in- Brown. processing” they were sent to the appropriate The mission gave the troops an opportunity to do clinic: dental, optometry, general practice or something different than the normal annual training, urgent care. In many instances, patients were

16 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland Text and photography by Spc. Loni Kingston

Air Force Lt. Cols. Richard Colgan (left) and Robert Barish of the Maryland Defense Force, attached to the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, review a patient’s heart condition outside a community center in Banovici, Bosnia as part of a joint force effort to supply basic medical assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

seen at more than one clinic. infections. Each clinic saw its fair share of patients with The medical laboratory technicians provided their fair share of problems. chemistry testing to further assess the patients’ “Small children have rampant decay; a lot of conditions. adults are already missing many of their teeth,” said Once patients have been treated they either went Lt. Col. Rita Kurek, dentist with the 175th Med. to the pharmacy for medication or out-processed. Group. People walked for miles to reach the clinic; “My job is to provide basic dental care, help in some instances they walked all day to receive them understand what is causing their decay and medical care. teach them preventative measures,” said Kurek. “There is practically no health care available,” Medical Laboratory Technician, Staff Sgt. said Semsudin Mujic, president of the village of Robert Davis of the 175th said the medical Luka. issues that he saw were diabetes and urinary tract

Line State Partnership Edition 2013 17 The Forgotten Front

A local woman is given the gift of sight after not having the proper treatment for many years, as 1st Class Jocelyn Campbell of the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, tests her new prescription glasses in a schoolhouse in Skugric, Bosnia as part of a joint force humanitarian effort to supply medical treatment to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

18 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland On an average day medics saw approximately 200 people. However, there are still many people who will continue to go without the critical health care they need. “It’s a drop in a bucket, but it’s a drop,” said Brown. “It’s a step in the right direction. You have to start somewhere.” And local residents agreed. Adem Ustrlic, municipality representative, Bonovici BiH said, “If we help one man, we help the whole world.” The fulfillment these service members have gained during this mission is immeasurable. “Seeing the faces of those people who have received care is totally rewarding,” said Wissman. “I think we all want purpose in life and this is definitely a purpose,” said Brown. The mission was meant to accomplish two things; provide Airmen with training and to provide medical relief to those in need. “We are here to train and to make ourselves better medics, but sometimes I think making yourself better is actually helping others and that’s why we are here,” said Brown.

“It’s a drop in a bucket, but it’s a drop. It’s a step in the right direction. You have to start somewhere.” -Air Force Lt. Col. Phillip “Randy” Brown, commander, 175th Medical Group-

Line State Partnership Edition 2013 19 Capt. Adolphus Houck makes his way across a northern Estonia waterfall during the Erna Raid 2007 competition in norther tests Soldiers’ skills and endurance over six grueling days of competition.

12 20 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland 1st Appeared August 2007

fter six grueling days ranging over year’s team for the highest international 247,000 acres in northern Estonia, ranking. Athe United States team fi nished The competition started August 6th third among international countries and with an amphibious assault landing and 15th overall in Erna Raid 2007, matching then continued with day and night tasks, last year’s results against international including orienteering, individual and entries. Erna Raid is billed as one of the vehicular obstacle courses, river crossing, world’s longest and most diffi cult military rifl e marksmanship, knife throwing, urban competitions. combat, negotiating a minefi eld, setting Although Germany and ’s two explosives on a bridge, a medical casualty teams were fi rst through third respectively response and a fi nal 10K run (6.2 miles) among non-Estonian international with equipment and weapons that ended competitors, the United States was actually in a 40-yard low-crawl under barbed third among international countries since wire. All tasks were timed and judged by they entered only one team. Multiple international military umpires. Estonian teams competed to round out The team commander explained a total of 30 four-man teams from nine that “The competition area covered 1,000 nations in the fi nal standings. In addition square kilometers [247,000 acres] and to Finland, Germany and the United States, the actual route that the competition team the other countries at this year’s Erna Raid covered was 250 kilometers [155 miles.] were Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Czech It’s important to know they did it in 3-1/2 Republic, as well as host country days.” The balance of the time was spent Estonia; China and Romania sent offi cial in other competitive activities. observers. The U.S. team was composed of four The team commander of the four- Soldiers from the Maryland Army National man U.S. contingent, stated that “The Guard along with a four-man support team. team did great. It was the fi rst time the Maryland and Estonia have been partners team had worked together and the fi rst for 14 years in the National Guard’s State time any of the competitors had been to Partnership Program. The State Partnership that competition. So they were competing Program helps to strengthen military-to- against [other countries] that sent the same military contacts between the U.S. and the team every year . . . we had a new team, Estonian military. inexperienced, and they did really well…It The 14th annual Erna Raid is a very, very serious competition in competition commemorates the Europe, with all the other countries…taking actions of the Erna long-range military it very seriously. And we have to go over reconnaissance units as well as the Estonian and compete against that mindset and that resistance known as the “forest brothers,” training set.” who assisted them in fi ghting Soviet Army The team commander further occupation. The competition took place in rn Estonia. The annual Erna Raid stated that this year our team placed the same area of northern Estonia where the higher [overall] than any other U.S. team original Erna group operated during World previously competing and they tied last War II. 13 Line State Partnership Edition 2013 21 Multinational partnership in the Baltics strengthening the state Sabre Strike 2013: partnership between Maryland and Estonia. By Capt. Joseph Winter Force Brig. Gen. Scott L. Kelly, 175th Wing Commander, 175th Wing, Mary- Multinational Readiness Center, land Air National Guard. "We had 5th Signal Command, 21st The- 6/26/2013 - Amari , Es- the opportunity to solidify our al- ater Sustainment Command, the tonia -- The Air Component of ready strong relationship with the United States Army and Air Na- Sabre Strike 2013 concluded June Estonia Army and Air Forces while tional Guard, and U.S. Army Cadet 10 as four A-10C, a KC-135 Air- providing comprehensive training Command. Norway and Sweden craft and over 100 Maryland and with close air support." sent observers. Air National Guard Amari Air Base hosted the Maryland Air Guard A-10C air- members departed Amari Air 175th Wing, Maryland Air National craft along with French Mirage Base, Estonia. The departure sig- Guard including four A-10C Air- and Estonian L-39 fighters pro- naled the end of two weeks of craft and over 80 personnel and vided close-air support to those multinational exercises in the Bal- the 171st Air Refueling Wing, troops on the ground while flying tics and a celebration of 20 years Pennsylvania Air National Guard out of Amari, whereas the KC- of the Maryland National Guard including a KC-135 Aircraft and 135 tanker from the Pennsylvania and Estonian Defense Forces over 20 personnel. Air National Guard provided aerial State Partnership Program. Both units led the Air Compo- refueling support. "The exercise was an over- nent of Sabre Strike 2013 which This year's exercise also whelming success," said U.S. Air was hosted this marked twenty years of partner- year by Lithu- ship between Maryland and Es- ania and now tonia, as well as Pennsylvania and in its third year Lithuania, as participants in the of execution, National Guard's State Partner- Sabre Strike in- ship Program. volved approxi- "I was a young Lt. Col. when we mately 2,000 started the program," said Mary- military per- land Adjutant General Maj. Gen. sonnel from James Adkins. "I've seen a tre- 14 nations in- mendous journey from former cluding, Lithu- republic of the Soviet union to ania, , NATO member." Estonia, Czech Those relationships have yield- Republic, Den- ed results, as Estonian pilots have mark, Finland, deployed alongside Maryland Air , Ger- National Guardsmen in Afghani- many, Great stan. That can't be accomplished Britain, , without those enduring relation- Romania, NA- ships, according to Adkins. TO's Multina- Similarly, Pennsylvania Army tional Corps National Guardsmen have de- Northeast, U.S. ployed alongside Lithuanian sol- Army Europe, diers on four rotations to Afghan- U.S. Air Forces istan. in Europe, Joint "It's a great occasion," said U.S. Multinational Air Force Lt. Col. Paul Zurkowski Training Com- of the 104th Fighter Squadron, mand, Joint Maryland Air National Guard. Multinational "teaching and learning from our Simulation Estonian counterparts on what Center, Joint their capabilities are, learning

22 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland Multinational partnership in the Baltics strengthening the state partnership between Maryland and Estonia.

what their air and ground person- "The support and collaboration lifelong friends. I look forward nel do and how they prepare to of the Estonian Defense Forces, to continued joint exercises and engage in conflict establishes a particularly the Estonian Air Force a sustained and actively engaged baseline of our joint capabilities is outstanding," said Kelly. "I am commitment with both of our or- and gives all of us an appreciation proud to call their personnel not ganizations. for the work we do, jointly." only a strong partner but also

Germany Denmark France Lithuania Romania Estonia

Finland Poland Maryland USA

Czech Republic

Great Britain

Norway

Latvia Sweden

Line State Partnership Edition 2013 23 State Partnership Program

24 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland 1st Appeared State June 2008 Partnership

ProgramPhotography and Text by Spc. Thaddeus Harrington

The National Guard’s State Partnership Program began in 1993 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The program is aimed at increasing cooperation between former Warsaw Pact Eastern European countries and the United States. It also fosters mutual interests and establishes long-term relationships across all levels of society. It introduces these countries to democracy, assists them in building professional military institutions and helps their responses to civil emergencies. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were the first countries to join the partnership program, and the Maryland National Guard was partnered with the Republic of Estonia. The Maryland Guard was instrumental in getting Estonia into NATO and in 2003, became one of the first states to have a second partnership; one with Bosnia and Herzegovina. “Maryland was setting an example with the state partnership program with Estonia,” said Maj. Jon C. Eisberg, Deputy Chief and Bilateral Affairs Officer for the Office of Defense Cooperation U.S. Embassy, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Eisberg, a Westminster, Md. native and the former commander of A/1-158 Cavalry Regiment, was asked by the adjutant general to take the deputy chief position in 2006. The SPP consists of military-to-military interactions – training exercises, unit personnel exchanges and noncommissioned officer development; military-to-civilian interactions – military support of civil authority, disaster response and consequence management; and civilian-to-civilian interactions – developing professional institutions through civic leader visits, university education exchanges, professional and chamber of commerce exchanges. “As the program matures, then we’ll start to get into the civilian aspects. We have done some civilian- to-civilian events. We’ve done two civic leader visits. We brought both civilian leaders from Maryland as well as business leaders and educators over here to meet some of their counterparts in an attempt to create self- sustaining relationships,” said Eisberg.

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The many military-to- VLASENICA, Bosnia-Herzegovina, July 17, 2008 – Airmen from military events that the Maryland the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Civil Engineer Squadron National Guard supported has pressed ahead full bore with two humanitarian construction projects in helped reform the BiH armed Bosnia-Herzegovina officials said. forces, contributing to their entrance into the Partnership for According to Lt. Col. John P. McVicker, commander of the Peace program. State Partnershop Middle River-based squadron, the Maryland Air National Guard Program is a bilateral program, helped to restore an elementary school and a monument to three while the Partnership For Peace American diplomats who died during Bosnia’s civil war. program is a multilateral NATO program and among the first steps “We’ve got 72 people into NATO accession. The two split between two locations,” programs are not tied together, McVicker said. “Obviously, but the SPP can assist a nation in most of our effort is being getting into PFP. During the June 5 put into getting the school U.S.–BiH Military Cooperation up and running. What we’re Day in Mostar, the MDNG’s doing here is something the Color Guard conducted a joint local community could never presentation of the Colors. This was the first time that they have afford on their own. It will played such a role in a Bosnian make a huge difference for event. The ceremony included the children here.” a joint U.S.-BiH paratrooper The unit began drop and a flyover by F-16s. Later the ambassador along with arriving in Bosnia on July the BiH government signed a 13, and most members stayed Memorandum of Understanding, through July 25, when troops confirming continued funding of from California took their Continuation on next page. place. Approximately 15 of the Maryland engineers stayed on to provide continuity and see the projects through to completion. In addition to the benefit the local population derives from the project, deployments of this nature also help the U.S. military meet its training objectives. “We get experience in planning and actually deploying to a foreign country,” said Chief Master Sgt. Michael W. Bosse, civil engineering manager for the 175th Wing. “You can practice your skills at home all you want, but until you have to actually go someplace and do it, with the language barriers, the infrastructure limitations, and all the other things you didn’t count on, you don’t really understand the challenges that are involved.”

Photography and Text by Cpt. Wade Minami

26 WWW.MD.NGB.ARMY.MIL The Maryland the International Military Education and Training program. In the summer of 2006, the 175th Air Wing of the Maryland Air Guard completed a medical humanitarian mission. They served more than 2,000 patients in 14 different villages, providing medical access to people who normally would not have had it. The 235th Civil Engineering Flight of the 175th Wing is renovating the interior of a primary school in the town of Vlasenica in eastern Bosnia. This humanitarian assistance project falls under the Guard’s deployment for training program to get training on real-world projects for members of civil engineer squadrons. They will work and live in the town where the school is located for 30-40 days. In addition to renovating the school, the 235th along with Bosnian engineers plan to repair the Igman War Memorial. The memorial is dedicated to a U.S. ambassador, a U.S. diplomat, a U.S. Army colonel and a French Army driver who were killed in 1995 when their vehicle rolled off the road on the side of Igman Mountain. From September 1-16, the 115th Military Police Battalion is scheduled to send 15 MP’s to Sarajevo to conduct joint training exercises. Since the begining of the State Partnership Program in 1993, the program has evolved and now pairs 59 countries around the world with 50 state Guard organizations. I see the program maturing, said Eisberg. “I see Maryland becoming an integral partner in assisting BiH refine a professional well-trained military on the road to NATO integration. I see Maryland and Bosnia conducting more and more activities together to include deploying together,” said Eisberg. “Today, our armed forces remain committed to preserving peace and stability in this region and stand ready to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina as it further integrates into NATO. The United States Armed Forces stood by Bosnia and Herzegovina during some of the most difficult times in its recent history and will remain a deeply committed friend, partner and ally as you move towards a brighter future,” said Charles English, U.S. ambassador to BiH, during the Military Cooperation Day ceremony.

Line State Partnership Edition 2013 27 Final Frame

Saber Strike is a long-standing, multilateral, multifaceted, U.S. Army Europe-led security cooperation exercise primarily fo- cused on the three Baltic States. The exercise spans multiple locations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and involves approxi- mately 2,000 personnel from 14 countries. The Maryland Air National Guard provided A-10 close air support aircraft, and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard supported with KC-135 aerial refuelers.

P h o t o g r a p h y b y Air Force Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hughes