Lieutenant General Maxim visits Indiana

Based on the invitation of the Indiana National Guard Adjutant General, the Chief of the SVK General Staff visited the USA on 28 May – 2 June. Together with State Secretary Miloš Koterec and the SVK Armed forces delegation, he attended the National Guard change of command ceremony. Maj Gen R. Martin Umbarger retired on 30 May, after 17 years in the office, which is now occupied by Brig Courtney P. Carr. On this occasion, Lt Gen Maxim awarded Maj Gen R. Umbarger the Chief of the SVK General Staff Commemorative Medal 1st Class. The Indiana National Guard has been a partner of the SVK Armed Forces for 21 years. Maj Gen R. Umbarger has personally contributed to development of relations between Slovakia and Indiana, for which he was declared a honorary citizen of Bratislava in 2011. As a sign of recognition of merit in strengthening partnership between Slovakia and Indiana, Indiana Governor Mike Pence bestowed an Indiana honorary citizenship upon the Chief of the SVK General Staff. The Indiana National Guard Adjutant General awarded the State Secretary Miloš Koterec with the Indiana Commendation Medal for an extraordinarily fruitful co-operation with the SVK MOD. The Slovak delegation was given the opportunity to view the capabilities of the UH-60 Blackhawk and the UH-72 Lakota helicopters, which are part of the inventory of the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade, Indiana National Guard. The military part of the delegation participated in a shooting competition with the short firearm, in which they took up 2nd and 3rd places.