2005 Press Releases

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Slovak Republic and United States Peace Keeping Exchange

Bratislava, July 13, 2005

For the first time, twenty five US soldiers of the State of Indiana's National Guard will work July 18-30 with approximately 100 members of the Slovak Army's Trebisov Battalion including returned Slovak peacekeepers who served in Kosovo to exchange ideas, experiences, tactics, and procedures for peacekeeping. The US soldiers will be included with Slovak army units to learn how Slovak soldiers conduct peace keeping and stabilization missions in Kosovo, while sharing lessons learned in Afghanistan and Iraq. Together the Slovak and US soldiers will work on communications and cooperation in the context of a multi-national environment. This event supports Slovak & US mutual security and NATO operations.

Background

Indiana is located in the heartland of the U.S., and saw great influxes of Slovak immigrants in the early 1900s. Shortly after Slovak Independence, Indiana leaders asked to be partnered with the Slovak Republic in a U.S. State Department program promoting stronger ties in freedom. The Indiana National Guard is part of the U.S. military's reserve forces, and like the Slovak Republic, has been playing a greater international role in peacekeeping and the war on terror. Slovak and Indiana soldiers are today serving together in Kosovo and Iraq.