Ohio National Guard News

Serbian ambassador, military officials visit to
celebrate 10th anniversary of State Partnership Program
pairing with Ohio National Guard

Video and photos by Sgt. Andrew Kuhn, Ohio National Guard

Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general, hosted Lt. Gen. Jovica Draganić Serbian Armed Forces deputy chief of general staff, for a visit as part of the National Guard State Partnership Program. During the visit, in conjunction with celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Ohio-Serbia partnership, Draganić and his delegation toured several locations around Columbus, Ohio.

COLUMBUS, Oh. (10/30/16) — Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general, hosted Lt. Gen. Jovica Draganić, Serbian Armed Forces deputy chief of general staff, and Djerdj Matkovic, Serbian Ambassador to the United States, for an official visit as part of the National Guard State Partnership Program. The Oct. 24-30 visit included events in Washington, D.C. and Columbus to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the SPP pairing of Ohio and the Republic of Serbia.

Maj. Gen. Mark Bartman (sixth from left), Ohio adjutant general, Lt. Gen. Jovica Draganić (fourth from right), Serbian Armed Forces deputy chief of general staff, and Djerdj Matkovic (third from right), Serbian Ambassador to the United States, led a State Partnership Program meeting Oct. 27, 2016, at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. Ohio and the Republic of Serbia marked the 10th anniversary of their National Guard State Partnership Program pairing with a series of exchanges in September-October 2016.

Lt. Gen. Jovica Draganić (second from right), Serbian Armed Forces deputy chief of general staff, and Djerdj Matkovic (right), Serbian Ambassador to the United States, tour Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Oct. 28, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. Serbian military and diplomatic representatives traveled to Ohio for a National Guard State Partnership Program exchange.

Lt. Gen. Jovica Draganić, Serbian Armed Forces deputy chief of general staff, observes equipment utilized by Ohio National Guard Soldiers.

A member of the Serbian Armed Forces sits in the cockpit of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, Oct. 28, 2016, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio.

An Ohio National Guard Soldier shows a member of the Serbian Armed Forces how to operate some of the equipment used during construction operations.

Warren E. Motts (right), founder and executive director of the Motts Military Museum, and Lt. Gen. Jovica Draganić, Serbian Armed Forces deputy chief of general staff, stand next to a 9/11 collection during a visit to Motts Military Museum.

Warren E. Motts (center), founder and executive director of Motts Military Museum, discusses military history with Lt. Gen. Jovica Draganić (right), Serbian Armed Forces deputy chief of general staff, and Djerdj Matkovic, Serbian Ambassador to the United States

Warren E. Motts, founder and executive director of Motts Military Museum, discusses military history with a Serbian delegation.

Lt. Gen. Jovica Draganić (left), Serbian Armed Forces deputy chief of general staff, and Djerdj Matkovic (back center), Serbian Ambassador to the United States, prepare for a ride in an all-terrain vehicle with a Soldier from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group.

Lt. Gen. Jovica Draganić (right), Serbian Armed Forces deputy chief of general staff, observes an Ohio National Guard Soldier demonstrate his equipment.

Maj. Gen. Mark Bartman (right, foreground), Ohio adjutant general, and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor meet with the delegation from the Republic of Serbia.

: Members of the Ohio National Guard and Serbian Armed Forces stand for a photo Oct. 29, 2016, at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, before the group attended the OSU-Northwestern football game, a 24-20 Buckeyes victory.