Serbian Military Visits Ohio Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing

Members of the Serbian Military Medical Academy tour a KC-135 Stratotanker during their visit to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, Feb. 4, 2024. As part of the State Partnership Program, the Serbians also toured the 121st Medical Group, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the Louis Stokes Cleveland Medical Center and Defense Supply Center Columbus.

Download

Details

240204-Z-DS364-1024

Members of the Serbian Military Medical Academy tour a KC-135 Stratotanker during their visit to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, Feb. 4, 2024. As part of the State Partnership Program, the Serbians also toured the 121st Medical Group, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the Louis Stokes Cleveland Medical Center and Defense Supply Center Columbus.

RICKENBACKER AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ohio – Five Serbian Military Medical Academy members visited the 121st Air Refueling Wing Feb. 4 as part of the National Guard State Partnership Program.

The Serbian delegation included Col. Aleksandar Radunovic, Col. Branko Kosevic, Lt. Col. Nenad Nicic, Sgt. Maj. Milos Djokic, and Lt. Col. Zoran Radomirovic. The visit’s purpose was to foster ongoing relationships between the Ohio National Guard and the Serbian Military, exchange knowledge on current operations, and coordinate future collaborations.

The Serbians observed the Homeland Response Force operations in the 121st Medical Detachment and operations in the Medical Group clinic. They also toured a KC-135 Stratotanker.

“The Serbians were a welcoming group and easily felt just like members of the Ohio National Guard,” said Lt. Col. Shelly Brackman, chief nurse with the 121st Medical Group. “During the HRF case scenario, they were able to share education with Airmen on creating best outcomes when caring for certain patients in the field.”

The Serbians then visited the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and learned about its partnership with the Ohio National Guard. They also toured the new emergency department at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Defense Supply Center Columbus and the Ohio Army National Guard Medical Detachment.

“This visit was an amazing opportunity for relationship building and sharing best practices,” said Brackman. “This partnership will continue to grow and help strengthen Ohio National Guard and Serbian medical responses and care.”

The State Partnership Program is a Department of Defense National Guard Bureau program that pairs nations with National Guard units from each state. The program aims to increase regional security, advance U.S. interests, and produce enduring relationships that improve interoperability and increase readiness. The Ohio National Guard is partnered with the Republic of Serbia and Hungary.

This year will mark the Ohio National Guard’s 18th year of partnership with the Republic of Serbia.

Ohio National Guard

State Partnership Program

Serbia

Hungary

Related Articles

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. David Denlis, a firefighter with the 121st Air Refueling Wing, and the Lajes Field Fire Department, simulate a motor vehicle accident scenario at Lajes Field, Portugal, on Aug. 10, 2026. The 121st Air Refueling Wing and Lajes firefighters strengthened NATO partnerships by working side by side during duty days, sharing expertise and learning from one another to enhance readiness. Photo by Staff Sgt. Ivy Thomas.

Ohio Guard Airmen Enhance Readiness in Portugal

By Staff Sgt. Ivy Thomas, | Aug. 26, 2026

LAJES FIELD AIR BASE, Portugal – Airmen and firefighters from the Ohio National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing, the 65th Air Base Group and the Lajes Field Fire Department trained together in Portugal during a deployment...

Security Forces Airmen assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard's 178th Security Forces Squadron prepare for an ambush exercise during annual training at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, July 19, 2026. The training challenged Airmen to strengthen tactical proficiency, teamwork and expeditionary readiness while operating in unfamiliar terrain and austere conditions. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Tiffany Scofield.

Ohio Guardsmen Sharpen Readiness in Unfamiliar Jungle Terrain

By Tiffany Scofield, | Aug. 3, 2026

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii – Airmen assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Security Forces Squadron challenged themselves through annual training in July in the jungle terrain of Oahu, Hawaii, strengthening...

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Daniel Saldivar, the alternate emergency manager and noncommissioned officer in charge of the Emergency Management Flight assigned to the 151st Wing, Utah Air National Guard, uses a Joint Chemical Agent Detector to assess a potential hazard during Exercise Serow Samurai at Misawa Air Base, Japan, July 20, 2026. The exercise uses a hub-and-spoke model, with the Emergency Operations Center CBRN Control Center managing the common operating picture while a four-person response team conducts dismounted operations and real-time reporting in the field. Photo by Senior Airman Kyle Blackham.

Air Guardsmen Strengthen Emergency Response in Exercise Serow Samurai

By Senior Airman Kyle Blackham, | July 27, 2026

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan – Emergency management Airmen from five Air National Guard units completed Exercise Serow Samurai, a seven-day deployment for training at Misawa Air Base, Japan, focused on chemical, biological,...