Vermont–North Macedonia National Guard Partnership

Vermont-North Macedonia State Partnership

Part of the U.S. European Command State Partnership Program
Origin	1993
Country president	Gjorge Ivanov
Prime minister	Nikola Gruevski
Minister of defense	Talat Dzaferi
Ambassador to U.S.	Zoran Jolevski
Ambassador to Macedonia	Paul D. Wohlers
Adjutant general	Major General Steven A. Cray
2012 Engagements	17
NATO member	Yes(2020)
EU member	No

North Macedonia

The Vermont–North Macedonia National Guard Partnership is one of 25 European partnerships that make-up the U.S. European Command State Partnership Program and one of 88 worldwide partnerships that make-up the National Guard State Partnership Program. The partnership between the Vermont National Guard (VTNG) and the Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM) has flourished since its establishment in 1993.[1] In 2012, the VTNG was awarded the Macedonian Military Order of Merit by President Gjorge Ivanov, in appreciation of VTNG's commitment to the ARM. Vermont continues to support Macedonia's armed forces as their professionalism and capability increase.

History

• 79 Macedonian soldiers co-deployed with the 86th IBCT (MTN) in OEF X.
• The President of North Macedonia visited Vermont in September 2009.
• In 2012, President of North Macedonia awarded Vermont National Guard with highest military decoration, the Military Order of Merit.
• 15 Military-to-Military (M2M) events scheduled for completion in 2013, to include the 2013 NATO Comprehensive Operations Planning Division (COPD) Logistical Exercise 2013, which will be held in North Macedonia.
• Contention with Greece over constitutional name continues to challenge acceptance into EU/NATO.

Partnership focus

The focus of the partnership is accession into NATO and the EU.

Military to Military (M2M):

• Continued commitment to reaching Security Cooperation Goals
• Continued support for Non-Lethal Weapon capability and PKO deployments
• Support ARM Transformations for 2015 (Med Inf Btl Grp)
• Trilateral engagements (Vermont, North Macedonia, Senegal)

2013 events include Operational Logistics, National Defense Organization and Cyber Security.

Gallery

• 
  An officer from the Vermont Army National Guard provides After Action Reporting comments to American, Armenian, Belarusian and Macedonian soldiers at the Krivolak Training Area in the Republic of Macedonia.
• 
  A Macedonian Soldier shakes hands with an Afghan National Army Soldier.
• 
  LTG Mark P. Hertling, U.S. Army Europe Commander, congratulates Macedonian troops following a training demonstration in Macedonia.
• 
  A Macedonian Soldier takes aim during a crew-served weapons range in Macedonia while a U.S. and Macedonian Soldier looks on.
• 
  A U.S. military police officer addresses Macedonian and U.S. troops during a safety brief in Macedonia.

References

1. Boehm, William B; Nestell, Derek; Stearns, Steven (2014). The National Guard State Partnership Program: Forging and Maintaining Effective Security Cooperation Partnerships for the 21st Century (PDF). Arlington, Va: National Guard Bureau, Office of Public Affairs, Historical Services Branch. p. 12.

External links

• "Items Tagged with 'Vermont National Guard'". EUCOM. News items and photographs.
• "vermont macedonia". Defense Video Imagery Distribution System (dvids). Macedonians at Camp Ethan Allen, news items and photographs.
• Office of the Historian. "A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Macedonia". Department of State, United States of America. Retrieved 22 September 2017. Outline of contemporary diplomatic relations with Macedonia.
• Baily, Jess L (30 August 2017). "Republic of Macedonia Towards Fully-fledged NATO Membership". U.S. Embassy in Macedonia.