b'Brig. Gen. Arben Kingji, commander, Albanian Land Forces, (center left) greets U.S. Army Lt. Col. Nicholas Calenicoff, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard (center right) during a senior leader visit to eXportable Combat Training Capability, Fort Drum, New York, July 16, 2022.The combined field training exercise is one of more than two dozen annual State Partnership Program military-to-military engagements between New Jersey and Albanian service members, promoting interoperability, technical competence, and people-to-people ties.Photos by Army Sgt. Benjamin Martinez, 444th Mobile Public Affairs DetachmentKrah Per Krah With Albania:A Story of Partnershiphttps://www.nj.gov/military/guard/joint-staff/spp/By Maj. Amelia ThatcherDepartment of Defense and officially established the New NJNG Public Affairs Jersey-Albanian State Partnership.The State Partnership Program links unique components ofThrough the State Partnership Program, the National the United States Defensea states National GuardwithGuard conducts military-to-military engagements, guided the armed forces, or equivalent service, of a partner countryby State Department foreign policy goals, and encourages in a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship. friendship and people-to-people ties. Currently, the State The special defense relationship between the State of NewPartnership Program includes 85 partnerships with 93 nations Jersey and Republic of Albania began in 1995, when Newaround the globe.Jersey sent advisory teams to Albania shortly after the fallNew Jersey and Albania have one of the most activeof communism. The formal partnership between New Jerseypartnership programs in Europe with up to 25 events a year, and Albania began in 2001, when the Republic of Albaniasaid Brig. Gen. Lisa J. Hou, D.O., The Adjutant General of signed a bilateral affairs agreement with the United StatesNew Jersey. continued on page 16Thank You For Your Service Military Appreciation Resource Magazine 15'