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U.S. Ambassador visits Colorado Guardsman during project in Slovenia

By Sgt. Jesiah Dixon (USAREUR)July 15, 2015

U.S. Ambassador visits Colorado Air National Guardsman during project in Slovenia
1 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Thomas Nefe, chief of operations for the 140th Civil Engineering Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard's current project in Slovenia (left), explains details of a building renovation near Postojna, Slovenia to U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia, Br... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Ambassador visits Colorado Air National Guardsman during project in Slovenia
2 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia, Brent Hartley speaks to members of the Colorado National Guard's 140th civil engineering squadron at a construction site near Postojna, Slovenia. The 140th worked along-side the Slovenian army to renovate and retrofit a ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Ambassador visits Colorado Air National Guardsman during project in Slovenia
3 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Thomas Nefe, chief of operations for the 140th Civil Engineering Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard's current project in Slovenia (left), explains details of a building renovation near Postojna, Slovenia to U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia, Br... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Ambassador visits Colorado Air National Guardsman during project in Slovenia
4 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia, Brent Hartley tours a construction site where members of the Colorado National Guard's 140th civil engineering squadron are renovating a building near Postojna, Slovenia. The 140th worked along-side the Slovenian army to... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Ambassador visits Colorado Air National Guardsman during project in Slovenia
5 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Jerome Limoge, Assistant Adjutant General of the Colorado National Guard (middle), listens as Lt. Col. Thomas Nefe. chief of operations for the 140th Civil Engineering Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard's current project in Slovenia (r... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Ambassador visits Colorado Air National Guardsman during project in Slovenia
6 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S Air Force Senior Airman Ellie Gustafson (right), a structural journeyman with the 140th Civil Engineering Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard, measures lumber during a building renovation near Postojna, Slovenia. The 140th worked along-side the... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Ambassador visits Colorado Air National Guardsman during project in Slovenia
7 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Air Force Staff Sgt. William Bryant, a structural craftsman with 140th Civil Engineering Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard, saws through a plank during a building renovation project near Postojna, Slovenia. The 140th worked along-side the Sloveni... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Ambassador visits Colorado Air National Guardsman during project in Slovenia
8 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Holly Allen, operations chief for the 140th Civil Engineering Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard's current project in Slovenia, removes dirt and rocks from a trench as Army Sergeant Rachel Cornett, of the 193rd Military... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Ambassador visits Colorado Air National Guardsman during project in Slovenia
9 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An old, multi-use building under renovation by the Colorado National Guard's 140th civil engineering squadron, near Postojna, Slovenia. The 140th worked along-side the Slovenian army to renovate and retrofit a building for use as a range control poi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Ambassador Brent Hartley paid a visit to a construction site where the 140th was working to improve an old building for use in future exercises. Airmen got a chance to show off their building, plumbing, and construction skills while the ambassador toured the site.

"This project will not only help refurbish a historic building, and help bolster the pride of the local population," said the Ambassador. "But also provide a functional place for U.S. troops when they deploy here, or when the Guard deploys here to carry out its mission, and also be a lasting benefit to our Slovenian hosts."

The 140th is working in Slovenia as part of the U.S. Department of Defense state partnership program, an initiative designed to promote access, enhance military capabilities, and improve interoperability between the U.S. and partner nations. The program gives the Colorado Guard a unique opportunity to build lasting relationships with their Slovenian partners.

"The active duty troops do what they do, and they do it extremely well" said Brig. Gen. Jerome Limoge, commander of the Colorado Air National Guard. "What a lot of our foreign partners treasure the most, is seeing the same leaders, and the same faces every time. Instead of being greeted with a salute and a handshake, we're greeted a bear hug. There's a relationship there that carries through, to a trust."

The project is centered around improving an old, multi-use building on the base; to be used as a range control center. The building will be used by U.S., Slovenian, and NATO partner nations for joint, multinational training and exercises, including the upcoming exercise "Immediate Response."

"This event proves again how good cooperation between the Colorado National Guard and Slovenian military can be," said Slovenian Brig. Gen Miha Skerbinc, advisor to the Slovenian chief of staff. "We have more than 20 years of successful cooperation, and we're not just very satisfied with this partnership, but have very ambitious plans for the future."

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