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File photo of soldiers returning from a tour of duty in Afghanistan leave buses upon arriving at a Welcome Home event at the National Guard Armory in Lawrence.
(Michael Mancuso/The Times of Trenton)
LAWRENCE — In the past 25 years, Albania has ended its communist dictatorship, established a democracy, joined the North American Treaty Organization and begun to establish a relationship with the United States. Tuesday, that relationship took another step forward in Lawrence.
In what military officials called a historic event, 24 Albanian soldiers graduated from New Jersey National Guard Officer Candidate School Tuesday morning during a ceremony at the armory in Lawrence.
New Jersey’s National Guard, which has joined with Albania for the last two decades in a State Partnership Program, is the first in the nation to host such training for officer candidates from a foreign country, officials said.
“The soldiers and sailors of Albania are very fortunate to have such young, energetic, intelligent officers to lead them into the future,” said Brig. Gen. James Grant, chief of the joint staff for the New Jersey National Guard.
After beginning the intense 12-week program May 9, each of the candidates successfully completed three phases of training. Taking place at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the exercises including tactical training, grueling physical training that saw them travel on foot for miles while carrying extra weight, and weapon and leadership training intended to develop skills that the candidates will be able to take back to their fellow troops in Albania, said Chief Warrant Officer Patrick Daugherty, a National Guard spokesman.
Through the partnership programs, the National Guard conducts joint military engagements to support defense goals with partnership countries, but also incorporates broader societal relationships to increase international engagement, officials said.
While this is the first such training in the United States, the forces have worked together since establishing their partnership in 1993. This year, they have jointly deployed troops to Afghanistan in support of the government there, officials said in a news release.
New Jersey’s partnership with Albania helped the southeastern European country join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the release said.
“I know you’ve learned from your instructors, your classmates and your experiences here in our nation,” Grant said. “We’ve also learned from you.”
During their time here, the soldiers were able to experience more than just training as they traveled to Washington, D.C., New York City, Philadelphia and Gettysburg, Grant said.
Albanian officials, including their ambassador to the United States, Gilbert Galanxhi, also attended the graduation.
“What we all are witnessing today is not something that came out of the blue, as you say in your American English,” said Albanian Maj. Gen. Jeronim Bazo.
This training program, which is expected to continue in the future, is the result of a long partnership between the state and the country, he said.
“It is your turn now to bring the expected change, so much needed, to the Albanian armed forces,” Bazo said.
Contact Brendan McGrath at bmcgrath@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5731.
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