Engineers from the Armed Forces of Montenegro Support Battalion, Engineer Company and the 251st Engineer Company of the Maine Army National spent two days in sub-zero temperatures practicing cold-weather operations and counter-mobility tactics as part of the Maine National Guard’s State Partnership Program. VIEW ORIGINAL
A log crib is designed to create an impedance to aggressors in a combat environment and is one tactic employed by combat engineers during wartime. The training event took place as part of the Maine National Guard’s State Partnership Program, which has conducted numerous collaboration events with Montenegro over the course of their 19-year partnership. VIEW ORIGINAL
Cratering charges impede aggressors in wartime by blasting holes in roadways and slowing the movements of the enemies. Smith, along with the visiting engineers from Montenegro, spent the weekend training, collaborating, and sharing techniques that each use to fight as part of the Maine National Guard State Partnership Program. VIEW ORIGINAL
The two Soldiers participated in a joint two-day training exercise between Maine and Montenegro as part of the Maine National Guard’s State Partnership Program. The organizations have been collaborating since 2006 and have conducted many exercises, some of which involve Maine National Guardsmen traveling to Montenegro and sharing best practices for combat engineer tactics. VIEW ORIGINAL
The engineers spent two days in frigid temperatures, eating, sleeping, and training in the elements to sharpen their cold-weather combat skills. They were joined by counterparts from the Armed Forces of Montenegro Support Battalion, Engineer Company as part of the Maine National Guard’s State Partnership Program. VIEW ORIGINAL
The engineers spent the weekend training alongside each other as part of the Maine National Guard’s State Partnership Program. Exchanges like this have been taking place between these two countries since 2006, when they entered into a long-standing bilateral security agreement. Maine National Guardsmen also have opportunities to visit Montenegro, where they conduct similar collaborations. VIEW ORIGINAL
GILEAD, Maine - Maine National Guard 251st Engineer Company Soldiers trained with the Armed Forces of Montenegro Support Battalion, Engineer Company, at Bog Brook Training Area March 1-2 as part of the State Partnership Program.
“What we’re doing here is conducting counter-mobility training with our Montenegrin counterparts,” Capt. Corey Jones, commander for the 251st Engineer Company out of Norway, Maine. “We did this in a round-robin style: building obstacles, covering use of cratering charges, and even reviewing patrolling techniques. There was also a survivability aspect due to the extreme cold-weather, adding to the value of the training and improving how we can operate in the most restrictive, austere environments.”
Temperatures plummeted to single digits the first night, with 40 mph wind gusts making it feel like -20 degrees. Sgt. 1st Class Joe Smith, 1st platoon sergeant for the 251st Engineer Company, said surviving the environment is as important as surviving against the enemy.
“The survivability lanes are a cornerstone for cold-weather operations,” Smith said. “This training deepens our ability to successfully operate in this type of environment. With the mountainous portions of Montenegro, these skills are directly relevant in the winter for our partner forces.”
Soldiers made snow shelters, started fires, created potable water from snow and used trapping snares for food.
It’s not surprising that Maine and Montenegro have become such effective partners, considering some of their similarities. The Bobotov Kuk Mountain, Montenegro’s highest peak, is the same latitude as Maine’s York Harbor entrance.
Many might find distinguishing between a photo of Montenegro’s Durmitor National Park and Maine’s Acadia National Park difficult. Glaciers and rivers shaped both regions. The terrain dictates the tactics used to defend against potential adversaries and creates challenges and opportunities for the two organizations as they train.
In addition to training for wartime operations, the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program enables the two military organizations to prepare for domestic disasters and support internal infrastructure.
“The State Partnership Program establishes alliances with critical partners,” said Maj. Patrick Rand, State Partnership Program director for the Maine National Guard. “It links U.S. states with nations across the world to develop those partnerships, influence and improve interoperability, and even share our level of understanding on how we approach different problems.”
Building roads and bridges and clearing land are projects these organizations support, especially if they positively affect training needs. Montenegro soldiers participated in the Maine National Guard’s improvements at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery last year. These types of projects are an enduring presence in Montenegro’s annual training calendar.
“We support infantry units with our engineering capabilities, [and] even provide EOD, (explosive ordnance disposal) units,” said Capt. Peko Nikolic of the Montenegrin Engineer Company. “But I’d say we spend almost half of our time supporting infrastructure projects for various municipalities. We get many requests and conduct recon missions to determine feasibility. Much of our training involves building roads and bridges, as this is conducive to our military training needs as well.”
These international knowledge-sharing events are important for the training benefit and for relationship-building, Rand said.
“Through implementation, participants develop relationships,“ he said. “Because the relationships are then in place and participants have already worked together through these events, when things do go bad, those nations tend to turn to the groups they trust and with whom they’ve already worked.”
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