Serbian, U.S. military cooperation

Commander of the Ohio National Guard Gregory Wayt says that the Serbian Army is "extremely professional". Wayt also said that he and Serbian Army (VS) Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponos, were "very close friends." Serbian, U.S. military cooperation “I’ve got other good friends in Serbia. The more exchanges we have, the more those friendships will spread,” he told Voice of America today. The Ohio National Guard, which is one of the reserve components of the regular U.S. Army, began its partnership with the Serbian Army in September 2006, as a result of which officers from the two countries go through the same training and compare experiences. “One of our special forces units practiced outdoor survival with the 63rd Parachute Battalion. I was told that the exercise went superbly, and that it had been very beneficial. We’ve had similar cooperation throughout the year,” said the U.S. general. Wayt, who was recently in Serbia, said that the Guard had partnerships with 56 countries, and that during the past year they and the Serbian Army had had 21 exchange visits – more than with any other country. “The program’s called IMET – International Military-Educational Training. Serbian officers and NCOs come to the States and go to a number of schools, like the Command Headquarters school or the Command school. Our officers in Serbia have mainly undergone military training with Serbian forces,” he said. The general added that, depending on the course, Serb officers spent from one to nine months in the U.S., while U.S. officers stayed in Serbia for a week or so. “Two weeks ago I spent eight days in Serbia with a delegation of 38 officers and NCOs. One of our smaller units visited the 63rd Parachute Battalion. That was the first exchange in Serbia. We’ve taken part in joint parachute jumps in Nis and have participated in joint exercises,” said Wayt. He added that there were currently 28 Serbian Army members training in Ohio, and that as a result of these exchanges, a large number of Ohio National Guard members had expressed a desire to visit Serbia.

Serbian, U.S. military cooperation

“I’ve got other good friends in Serbia. The more exchanges we have, the more those friendships will spread,” he told Voice of America today.

The Ohio National Guard, which is one of the reserve components of the regular U.S. Army, began its partnership with the Serbian Army in September 2006, as a result of which officers from the two countries go through the same training and compare experiences.

“One of our special forces units practiced outdoor survival with the 63rd Parachute Battalion. I was told that the exercise went superbly, and that it had been very beneficial. We’ve had similar cooperation throughout the year,” said the U.S. general.

Wayt, who was recently in Serbia, said that the Guard had partnerships with 56 countries, and that during the past year they and the Serbian Army had had 21 exchange visits – more than with any other country.

“The program’s called IMET – International Military-Educational Training. Serbian officers and NCOs come to the States and go to a number of schools, like the Command Headquarters school or the Command school. Our officers in Serbia have mainly undergone military training with Serbian forces,” he said.

The general added that, depending on the course, Serb officers spent from one to nine months in the U.S., while U.S. officers stayed in Serbia for a week or so.

“Two weeks ago I spent eight days in Serbia with a delegation of 38 officers and NCOs. One of our smaller units visited the 63rd Parachute Battalion. That was the first exchange in Serbia. We’ve taken part in joint parachute jumps in Niš and have participated in joint exercises,” said Wayt.

He added that there were currently 28 Serbian Army members training in Ohio, and that as a result of these exchanges, a large number of Ohio National Guard members had expressed a desire to visit Serbia.