Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Serbian chaplains visit Ohio to strengthen relationships By  Senior Airman Amber Mullen
                Ohio National Guard
 CLEVELAND – Four members of the Serbian Armed Forces chaplain corps visited in April as part of the 12-year State Partnership Program between the Ohio National Guard and Serbia. The chaplains visited the St. Sava Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church and Notre Dame College to interact with the community and strengthen military and civilian relationships between Serbia and Ohio. This visit marked the first time Col. Saša Milutinović, chief of the religion section of the Serbian Armed Forces, visited Ohio. Milutinović was accompanied by Sgt. Maj. Goran Jokanović, the chief chaplain assistant of the Serbian Armed Forces, Maj. Sladjan Vlajić, the chief Orthodox chaplain of the Serbian Armed Forces, and Capt. Aleksander Zatezalo, another Serbian Orthodox chaplain. The Serbian Armed Forces members attended a divine liturgy at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral. This service was the first time in the church’s history that military members from Serbia attended a liturgy there. Vlajić, Zatezalo, and U.S. Army Lt. Col. James Sizemore, an Orthodox chaplain assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, were able to concelebrate the liturgy with local chaplains and the Archbishop of Pec and Serbian Patriarch Irinej. “Being able to concelebrate the liturgy here and when we go to Serbia has been a great connection between the churches,” said U.S. Army Col. Andrew Aquino, the state chaplain for the Ohio National Guard. Concelebrating, or jointly officiating, serves as an example of the strengthening relationship between Ohio and Serbia. Since 2010, the Ohio National Guard has been committed to reinforcing and expanding its chaplaincy engagement with the Serbian Armed Forces. “The partnership between Ohio and Serbia is important because it provides a tremendous model for other chaplaincies to engage their state partners,” said Brig. Gen. Kenneth Brandt, the National Guard Bureau joint chaplain and the U.S. Army deputy chief of chaplains. “Trust is a key element of any relationship and Ohio and Serbia have built this trust over time because of stability in relationships.” This allows both nations to learn from one another on how to best take care of their forces, mentally and spiritually. “It’s a way to bring peace to the countries and bring us together,” Sizemore said. “We’re coming together for fellowship and worshiping together.” After the liturgy, a luncheon was held with the delegation and local community members. The event provided an opportunity for members of the ethnic Serbian community living in the Cleveland area to interact with the Serbian Armed Forces and Ohio National Guard members. “It shows this partnership at a human level,” said South Euclid Mayor Georgine Welo. South Euclid, a suburb of Cleveland, and Kraljevo, Serbia, became sister cities in September 2018. The Ohio National Guard’s partnership with Serbia, which started as a military partnership in 2006, has served as the foundation for expanding and building the relationship beyond just the two nation’s militaries to bringing prosperity and growth to the civilian sector. The relationships between Ohio and Serbia promote cultural understanding beyond the battlefield and bring benefit to civilian communities in both countries. “The sister city programs allow for the two cities to exchange commerce ideas, business ideas and increase civilian-to-civilian engagements and relationships,” Welo said. Through these vital civilian-to-civilian engagements, like the chaplaincy program, the partnership is able to continue to build ties and promote not only social and cultural relationships but also spiritual ones between nations and people. The chaplains took part in a panel discussion at Notre Dame College in South Euclid. Students, faculty and local community members had the opportunity to ask the chaplains about the State Partnership Program, the importance of religious traditions in the military and how their faiths connect with their role in the military. “I love the ability for all different faith groups to come together on one panel and share,” said U.S. Army Col. Larry Bazer, the deputy director of the joint chaplain’s office at National Guard Bureau. “To be able to come together and learn from each other strengthens what we are able to do to care for our service members.” Through leadership engagements, Ohio and Serbia have been able to learn from each other and build lasting relationships that will develop and strengthen both nations’ armed forces. “This program is so important for us,” Milutinović said. “Through it, we can achieve a lot of improvement in our chaplaincy. Through the exchanging of experience, we have the possibility to see how the program is run here in America. We get to see how our colleagues are working and how they support their units and Soldiers to do the job.” In 2013, the Ohio National Guard played a vital role in helping the Serbian Armed Forces recreate its chaplaincy program, which had not been active for 70 years. The Ohio National Guard assisted Serbia during the development of its revamped program through exchanging ideas, providing advice and sharing experiences. “I have a very deep admiration for what the Serbian Armed Forces have done in reinvigorating its chaplaincy,” said Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general. “I love the chaplaincy; it means a lot to me. The spiritual wellness of our Soldiers is one of the most important things that we can focus on.” Through the State Partnership Program, Ohio and Serbia have developed a military partnership that has blossomed and extended deeper into a civilian partnership, with more opportunities, as well. The bond between the two nations has transcended military training into relationships among friends that will last for years to come.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 New Hampshire Guard Medevacs Injured Hiker to Safety
 By National Guard Bureau
  Connecticut World War I Soldier Awarded Purple Heart
 By Timothy Koster,
  US, Central American Partners Reaffirm Security Commitment
 By Sgt. Maj. Tanya Lumbard,
  More
 New Hampshire Guard Medevacs Injured Hiker to Safety Guard News • 19 hours ago
 New York’s 109th Airlift Wing Begins 2024 Greenland Missions Guard News • yesterday
 Vermont Air Guard Tests Weapon Systems in Florida Exercises Guard News • yesterday
 New England Civil Engineers Strengthen Skills During Training Exercise Guard News • 5 days ago
 Idaho Guardsmen Train with Canadian and Polish Allies Guard News • 5 days ago
 2024 (163)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil