Maryland Guard, active duty trains with Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina soldier Maida Grabus (left), a medic with the 7th Logistics Support Battalion, trains in combat medical care with U.S. Army Sgt. Colin Winand (center), a healthcare specialist, 1-69th Aviation Regiment, and U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Billy Weber, a healthcare specialist with the State Medical Detachment, Maryland Army National Guard, at Kasarna Manjacab in Dobrnja, Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 16, 2022. Guard members assigned to the State Medical Detachment and 1-169th Aviation Regiment, Maryland Army National Guard, trained alongside active duty Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina soldiers in tactics, aviation, medical, and non-commissioned officer development. The Maryland National Guard will celebrate 20 years of partnership with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program next year. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Jasmine Mathews)

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers from the state’s Medical Detachment and Company C, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, trained with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Manjača combat training area, near the village of Dobrnja in the Republic of Srpska, July 15-19.

The focus of the military-to-military event was to train the AFBiH healthcare specialists in combat casualty care, medical evacuation, tactical movement, and non-commissioned officer development.

“It was an incredible week working with the Bosnia and Herzegovina soldiers,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rebecca Himmel, a healthcare specialist with the MDARNG Medical Detachment. “Understanding their practices and being able to share our own, proved to be such a valuable experience.”

Himmel said she felt honored to work with the “truly dedicated medical providers” of the AFBiH and see their Role 1 capabilities, which is immediate life-saving care, first aid, and triage.

During the same time, three UH-60 Black Hawks assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade from Germany practiced tactical combat maneuvers with AFBiH reconnaissance soldiers and U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) of the 173rd Airborne Brigade from Vicenza, Italy.

“This was a special opportunity to travel to a world class training area and work with partner forces that are on the road to NATO membership,” said U.S. Army Capt. Charley Falletta, commander of the 1-91st CAV.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Pamela L. McGaha, commander of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, visited units on the ground at the training site, July 16. McGaha highlighted the importance of the partnership with Maryland and its positive impact on the Balkan country.

“The Maryland National Guard is the bedrock of the U.S. military’s relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a vital part of the collective NATO allied effort to promote peace, security and prosperity in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said McGaha. “For two decades, the Soldiers of the Maryland National Guard have trained shoulder-to-shoulder with the soldiers of AFBiH. This long standing partnership has made both organizations stronger and more ready.”

The Maryland National Guard will celebrate 20 years of partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program next year.