New Jersey–Albania National Guard Partnership Explained

New Jersey–Albania State Partnership
Origin:	2001
Country President:	Bajram Begaj
Prime Minister:	Edi Rama
Minister Of Defense:	Niko Peleshi
Ambassador1 Region:	U.S.
Ambassador1:	Floreta Faber
Ambassador2 Region:	Albania
Ambassador2:	Yuri Kim
Adjutant General:	Lisa J. Hou
Engagements Year:	2012
Engagements:	5^[1]
Isaf Pax:	199
Nato Member:	Yes
Nato Year:	2009
Eu Member:	No

The New Jersey–Albania 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.^[2] The partnership was established in 1993. The current M2M focus places emphasis on OCO support, NCO Development, Military Medical pre/post deployment medical care, Military Police mentoring, military support to civil authority and disaster response.^[3]

History

• NATO accession in 2009^[4]
• 2010 Visa Liberalization allowed Albanians to travel throughout the EU
• The latter part of 2010, conscription ended changing the nature of the AAF, with ramifications for training and development of the Force
• Albania to get EU candidate status provided it delivers key reforms in the judiciary, public administration and the functioning of parliament.
• Political instability- supporters of the Prime Minister Sali Berisha and opposition leader Edi Rama (Mayor of Tirana) have faced off in the past
• U.S. Ambassador to Albania warns of rise in nationalist rhetoric during elections
• More Parliamentary elections set for June 23, 2013
• Unexploded Ordnance program is a huge success (13 tons annually) and remains a priority for the US Embassy

Partnership focus

Over 100 NJNG to AAF events have been conducted since the partnership began with an emphasis in NCO /Officer Corps Development, Logistics, Medical and MP. The focus for 2013-2015 is a continued expansion of the NCO / Officer Corps professionalism and the expansion of Response to Natural and Man-made Disasters, and IG development. The partnership has assisted in the Preparation of multiple AAF teams for deployment, to include: OMLT/MAT 1-4, MP, medical and EAGLE teams.

Focus of Military-to-Military events:

• Develop SPP to play larger role in ODC’s programs
• Expand to regional events – Adriatic 5 country exercises
• Focus NJ units inclusion as partner on ODT opportunities

2013 Planned Events:

• Human Resource Development
• Operational Logistics Capabilities
• Civil Support Team Capabilities
• Disaster Response planning and Capabilities
• Officer Commissioning Program
• Senior Leader Interagency Engagements
• Pre-Deployment Capabilities
• Material Management
• Military Police Deployed Operations
• Wild Land Fire Management

External links

• The EUCOM State Partnership page for New Jersey-Albania
• jersey+albania Department of Defense News on the New Jersey-Albania Partnership
• EUCOM SPP
• National Guard Bureau SPP
• National Guard Bureau SPP News Archives

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2012 EUCOM SPP Events. U.S. European Command. 11 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150319185109/http://eucom.mil/doc/24602/fiscal-year-2012-spp-events.pdf. 19 March 2015.
2. Web site: National Guard SPP. The National Guard. 19 October 2012.
3. Web site: SPP Data. U.S. European Command. 22 January 2013.
4. Web site: SPP Data. U.S. European Command. 23 January 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130121155756/http://www.eucom.mil/key-activities/partnership-programs/state-partnership-program. 21 January 2013.