During the annual “Condition of the Guard 2026” address, Major General Stephen Osborn, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, recognized distinguished guests representing the long-standing partnership between the Iowa National Guard and the Kosovo Security Force (FSK).
Among those acknowledged were Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari, Commander of the FSK, Command Sergeant Major Bedri Zuka, the senior non-commissioned officer, and Drilon Zogaj, Consul General of the Republic of Kosovo in Des Moines.
The Iowa National Guard emphasized that this partnership has built operational capabilities and mutual trust over the years, noting that it has significantly strengthened interoperability and readiness between the two forces.
For more than 15 years, Iowa soldiers and airmen have collaborated closely with the FSK to enhance joint operational readiness.
“In 2025 alone, the partnership included 26 bilateral exchanges with over 500 participants, covering areas such as maneuvers, military medicine, logistics, cyber defense, and professional development,” the announcement noted.
A major milestone highlighted was the integration of an FSK infantry company into the 2nd Brigade of the 34th Infantry Division of Iowa during a rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center—marking Kosovo’s first participation in a large-scale international training mission.
Additionally, in 2025, the Iowa National Guard welcomed its first recruit from Kosovo, Andren Gashi, who joined the 132nd Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard as a member of the FSK.
