State of NJ

NJ National Guard Soldiers train with Albanian Armed Forces This Past Week

ZALL-HERR, TIRANA, AL–The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. This past week New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to train and develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces, Land Forces Command, at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania.

Photos by: SPC Michael Schwenk, New Jersey National Guard

  • U.S. Army Sgt. David Vazquez, left, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Sgt. David Vazquez, left, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assist in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Sgt. Leonardo DePaula, right, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Sgt. David Vazquez, left, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assist in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assist in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Sgt. David Vazquez, right, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assist in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assist in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assist in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assist in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assist in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assist in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Sgt. David Vazquez, right, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Sgt. David Vazquez, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Sgt. David Vazquez, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Spc. Carmine Marchitto, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Spc. Carmine Marchitto, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assist in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • Albanian Armed Forces Soldiers, with Land Forces Command, train on 60mm mortars at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • Albanian Armed Forces Soldiers, with Land Forces Command, train on 60mm mortars at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • Albanian Armed Forces Soldiers, with Land Forces Command, train on 60mm mortars at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Spc. Carmine Marchitto, right, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Spc. Carmine Marchitto, right, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Sgt. David Vazquez, center, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, assists in land navigation training for mortar systems with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Sgt. David Vazquez, right, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, looks down the sights of a mortar system while training with the Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • An Albanian Armed Forces Soldier, with Land Forces Command, trains on 60mm mortars at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • Albanian Armed Forces stand in a formation at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • Albanian Armed Forces Soldiers, with Land Forces Command, train on 80mm mortars at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sean Horan, right, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, supervises Albanian Soldiers, with the Land Forces Command, training on mortar systems at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sean Horan, left, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, teaches Albanian Soldiers, with the Land Forces Command, on mortar systems at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sean Horan, right, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, talks with an Albanian Maj., with the Land Forces Command, at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard, pose for a photo with Albanian Soldiers, Land Forces Command, at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
  • U.S. Army Soldiers, with the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 2-113th Infantry Regiment, gather around Maj. Allani, Land Forces Command, Albanian Armed Forces, at the Land Forces Headquarters in Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Nov. 4, 2021. New Jersey National Guard Soldiers traveled to Albania to develop working relationships with Fire Support Elements of the Albanian Armed Forces. The New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces have been partners for 20 years in the U.S. Department of Defense State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
Photos by SPC Michael Schwenk, New Jersey National Guard