The Minister of Defense Todor Tagarev honored servicemen and veterans with outstanding contributions to the development of the Partnership Program between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Bulgaria and the National Guard of the State of Tennessee during the official celebration of three decades since the beginning of military cooperation between our country and the State of Tennessee . Awards were also presented on behalf of the Chief of Defense. The ceremony, which was held at the Lozenets residence today, September 28, was attended by the US Deputy Ambassador to Bulgaria Andria Brulet-Rodriguez, the Deputy Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Tsanko Stoykov, the Adjutant General of the State of Tennessee Brigadier General Warner Ross , Major General Gus Harget – Adjutant General of the State of Tennessee in the period 2002-2009, senior officers of the Bulgarian Army and the National Guard of the State of Tennessee. This was announced by the press center of the Ministry of Defense.
Earlier today at the Military Academy “G. S. Rakovski”, a bilateral conference was held on the joint training of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria with the National Guard of the State of Tennessee. “Bilateral cooperation in the field of training and exercises is a key factor in building capabilities, combat readiness and interoperability,” said Deputy Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Tsanko Stoykov at the opening of the forum organized by the Defense Headquarters on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the beginning of the partnership program.
“We will discuss the potential options for comprehensive optimization of planning based on the priorities in terms of preparation, which arise from the process of modernization of the defense system of the Republic of Bulgaria,” emphasized Lieutenant General Stoykov. He thanked the partners from the Tennessee National Guard for the fruitful cooperation and pointed out that we currently hold over 60 events a year, which is an impressive number, and the majority of these events are initiated through the US-Bulgaria Military Cooperation Program.
Attending the conference were Tennessee Adjutant General Brigadier General Warner Ross, commanders and master sergeants of the land and air components, brigade and air base commanders of the Tennessee National Guard. A special guest at the forum was Major General Gus Hargett, Adjutant General of the State of Tennessee in the period 2002-2009. Leaders and representatives of all interacting structures from both countries took part in the event. The conference was also attended by the commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, Major General Yavor Mateev, the head of the Military Academy “G. S. Rakovski” Major General Todor Dochev, the head of the Military Medical Academy Major General Prof. Ventsislav Mutafchiiski, generals and officers from the Bulgarian Army and the Ministry of Defense.
The main goals of the conference are a review of the planned exercises for the next year, coordination in conducting preparations for bilateral military cooperation and discussion of opportunities for deepening the partnership. The aspiration of both parties in terms of preparation is the planning of events with an optimal contribution to the building of capabilities according to the goals set in the Program for the Development of the Defense Capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria – 2032.
