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
 State, federal leaders meet with Montenegro defense minister By Courtesy Story
 PORTLAND, Me., - The Bilateral Defense Consultation, a partnership between Montenegro and Maine through the Department of Defense, held its annual ceremony here on Nov. 15. The annual joint consultation is a Department of Defense review of the status of defense reform in Montenegro. “Maine is dedicated to assist Montenegro in the development of the collective security system in their region. This effort involves cooperation in the areas of the military, emergency preparedness, education and infrastructure development and improvement,” said Brig. Gen. Brent M. Boyles, Maine’s assistant adjutant general. The Maine Army National Guard hosted the Montenegrin and U.S. defense delegations in Portland to jointly review the previous year’s goals and objectives and to establish goals and objectives for the future. The ceremony was attended by: Celeste Wallander, a deputy assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia; Maine Gov. John Elias Baldacci; Boro Vucinic, the minister of defense from Montenegro; and Brig. Gen. Brent Boyles, the assistant adjutant general of the Maine Army National Guard. In 2006, Montenegro declared independence from Serbia, formerly the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The country is located in Southeastern Europe on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, comprising the size of the state of Connecticut. The State Partnership Program, part of the NATO Partnership for Peace program, links the Maine Army National Guard with the partner country of Montenegro for the purpose of promoting regional stability in the Western Balkans and eventual membership into NATO and the European Union. “I will remind you that so far, within the State Partnership Program, since the establishment of cooperation in 2007, five plans of bilateral cooperation have been signed,” Vucinic said. A few of the initiatives the State Partnership Program offers are: -- Transformation. The Maine National Guard will advise the Montenegrin Armed Forces as it transitions from a conscript to an all-volunteer force which reduces its numbers and updates 30-year-old equipment. -- Officer and Enlisted development. Members of the Montenegrin military may attend military professional development courses in Maine. -- Emergency management. Montenegro will work with the Maine National Guard and the Maine Emergency Management Agency to enhance emergency response for civil emergencies and search and rescue operations. Montenegro is vulnerable to floods and earthquakes. Maine will model the National Guard’s relationship with civilian law enforcement agencies for Montenegro, which is developing similar relationships. -- Civilian-to-civilian partnerships. Student exchanges between the University of Maine System and academic programs in Montenegro have emerged. "Although, for now, partnership with Maine includes military to military cooperation and the coop, in the area of emergency management, our desire is to improve and expand it to other areas as well,” Vucinic said. Vucinic also expressed special thanks to Baldacci and Libby for their personal engagement and contribution to establishing a good quality cooperation. “We are pleased with the progress our partnership has experienced during the past four years and look forward to our partnership for years to come,” said Boyles.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership
 By Lt. Col. Ellis Parks,
  Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School
 By Sgt. Denis Nunez,
  Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise
 By Senior Master Sgt. Joshua Allmaras,
  More
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise5/3/2024Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar5/2/2024Massachusetts Air Guard Airmen Test New Air Combat Tactics5/2/2024 View more Guard News »
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School5/3/2024
New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa4/30/2024
Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa4/19/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership5/3/2024

Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program5/3/2024

Enduring Partners 2024 Begins with Thai-US Airmen Exchange5/2/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 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