“We are proud to partner with the Hungarian Defence Forces”

General Woodruff discussed the further possibilities of the partnership between the ONG and the Hungarian Defence Forces, with special regard to the conduct of joint exercises and training programs with the territorial defence forces. He was also introduced to some units and the new military technologies of the Hungarian Defence Forces, and also visited Exercise Adaptive Hussars 2025.

During his visit, Brigadier General Matthew S. Woodruff spoke highly of the process of military development. While at the Bakonykúti venue of the pre-planned, joint, whole-of-government Exercise Adaptive Hussars 2025, he even got in a Lynx infantry fighting vehicle, and circled round the military training area in the Lynx IFV driven by the soldiers of the HDF 30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

“The Hungarian Defence Forces have an impressive number of NCOs and officers and young soldiers” – said the Adjutant General of the ONG. “The young soldiers who grew up on technologies are going to be the key to handling these advanced technologies. We’re proud from the Ohio National Guard standpoint to partner with the Hungarian Defence Forces” – stated the general, adding that they are going to make their already great exercises even better and more focused on the training aspect so that “not only do we grow as Ohio National Guard but also build capabilities and capacities with the Hungarian Defence Forces to support NATO.”

In the near future, the three-decades-plus partnership may be expanded in the realms of cyber and air defence opportunities. General Woodruff also praised the Hungarian system of territorial defence.

“I think that one of the most phenomenal developments in the Hungarian Defence Forces is the establishment of the territorial defence system with the augmentation command mobilizing volunteers, and the fact that they’ve grown 40% over the last two years. The system of territorial reserve ensures that in the future, if something were to occur specifically in Hungary, the country can call in those reservists to support the Hungarian Defence Forces and the citizens of the country. It is what is critical about the Ohio National Guard, too, because we’re a community-based organization. So we live where we serve” – said General Woodruff.

On the first day of his visit, Brigadier General Matthew S. Woodruff was received by Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky and General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, Chief of HDF Defence Staff. The Adjutant General of the Ohio National Guard also met with Lieutenant General Ferenc Kajári, Deputy Chief of HDF Defence Staff and Lieutenant General Zoltán Mihócza, Deputy Chief of HDF Defence Staff for Territorial Defence. He also discussed the development of possibilities for cooperation with Brigadier General Zoltán Apáti, Chief Desk Officer, Liaison Office, HDF Defence Staff and Brigadier General Dr. László Drót, Commander, HDF Territorial Defence and Military Augmentation Command.

On the second day of his visit, before observing an element of Exercise Adaptive Hussars 2025, Brigadier General Matthew S. Woodruff was received by Major General László Antal, Commander, HDF Joint Operations Command in Székesfehérvár. Also present were at the discussions held by the Adjutant General of the Ohio National Guard in Hungary, among others, Brigadier General Zsolt Molnár, Deputy Commander Land Forces, Brigadier General Dr. Tamás Bali, Deputy Commander Air Force, Brigadier General Gábor Lőrincz, Hungary’s Military Attaché to Washington, U.S. Defense Attaché Colonel Kyle I. Campbell, and USAF Colonel Scott D. Christensen, Chief of Office of Defense Cooperation, U.S. Embassy Budapest.

Citizen-soldiers

Situated at the northern border of the USA, Ohio State – with an area 20% larger than that of Hungary and a population of 12 million – has had its own armed force since it officially became the 17th state of the Union in 1803. Today, the Ohio National Guard consists of citizen-soldiers, who do military service besides their civilian career. The Hungarian Defence Forces are increasingly drawing on their continuously developing all-volunteer reserve system and the reservists serving with territorial defence regiments, so the three-decades-plus professional partnership between the two military organizations is especially valuable to them.

During the development of the Hungarian system of territorial defence within the framework of the military reform, the Hungarian Defence Forces used the fundamental principles of the Ohio National Guard, utilizing the lessons learned by the organization and borrowing several functional elements of it as a model for the planning process. The reservists coming from civilian life are locally recruited and trained in Hungary, too, and they serve near their own places of residence where they perform defensive and operational tasks.