UPDATED Friday, September 7, 2012 --- 12:20 p.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker has just returned from Kosovo, where he says Wisconsin National Guard troops serving there are in good spirits.

The governor met with reporters Friday in Milwaukee after spending two days in the republic in southeastern Europe. He says he wanted to visit the soldiers to boost their morale.

Adjutant Gen. Don Dunbar joined Walker in Kosovo. He says the 160 Wisconsin troops there are approaching the end of their nearly yearlong deployment. About 30 came home this week.

Walker says he'd been meaning to visit troops for a while, and the timing worked out this week. He didn't announce the trip in advance for security reasons.

The Republican governor says he missed the Democratic National Convention speeches of Wisconsin Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin and President Barack Obama.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.

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Posted Thursday, September 6, 2012 --- 5:30 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker quietly traveled to Kosovo this week to visit Wisconsin Army National Guard soldiers.

The governor's office says he departed Tuesday and was expected to return to the state early Friday morning. Walker spokeswoman Jocelyn Webster says the governor spent about 30 hours in the country visiting with soldiers from West Bend-based Company F, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment and Detachment 1, Company B, 248th Aviation Support Battalion. The troops spent close to a year in Kosovo supporting a NATO peace-keeping mission.

Webster says the units are due to return to Wisconsin next week.

Walker's office didn't make his trip public until late Thursday afternoon. Webster says security concerns prevented releasing any information before he left and while was in Kosovo.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.