Vermont and Senegal: The New Partnership

By Sgt. Deborah Beckett
Vermont National Guard


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Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas is presented with a gift by Lt. Gen Abdoulaye Fall, the chief of the defense staff in Senegal, while Maj. Gen Zoran Dimor of Macedonia looks on. Both officers were in Burlington, Vt., for a State Partnership Program workshop with the Vermont National Guard from May 12-14, 2009. (Photo by Senior Airman Victoria Greenia, Vermont National Guard)
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BURLINGTON, Vt., (5/20/09) -- Nearly 100 soldiers, government officials and civilians joined a delegation of dignitaries from Macedonia and Senegal in the opening of a new partnership between the tiny land-locked state of Vermont and the small West African coastal country of Senegal.

The latest partnership joins 61 similar state/nation partnerships and is the second Vermont program. Macedonia and Vermont have had a successful partnership since 1995.

“These partnerships are so important,” stated Vermont Lt. Governor Brian Dubie. “We get the opportunity to get a whole different viewpoint on world events, and we can learn from our partners as we see things through their perspective.”

Maj. Gen. Kelly McKeague representing the Chief of the National Guard Bureau agreed:, “These enduring partnerships are highly valuable,” he said. “In the case of Vermont and Macedonia, relationships began at the major and captain level, which is the level where enduring relationships are developed and have proven to pay dividends in long run. The future leaders of our respective countries can look back on these partnerships.

“It is because of these enduring relationships, the U.S. Africa Command is very excited about this emerging partnership on that continent. “

This is the seventh partnership the National Guard has on the African continent.

Why is the National Guard such a major component to these partnerships? “Developing interagency, non-military relationships are valuable components to successful partnerships,” said McKeague. “There is not always a military solution needed to bring order to a situation. There is a diplomatic component and an economic component.

“We like to think of ourselves in the National Guard as being connected to almost every aspect of state government and when it comes to interagency relationships nobody can do that better than the National Guard.”

McKeague said the National Guard is very good in generating collaboration and cooperation among civilian partners. “We believe we know how to talk to and collaborate with our civilian partners. This is a way of solving global challenges.”

Vermont Adjutant General Michael Dubie, in addressing the various military and civilians assembled, explained why this program is being developed between Senegal and Vermont.
About a year ago, Senegalese officials said they wanted to focus on crisis management, search and rescue operations, education and development of NCOs and how we handle family support during deployments. “All are common interests we need to work on and the Senegalese need to work on,” Dubie said. “These will be some of what we will be concentrating on in the future.”

Building the relationships with our partners beyond the scope of the military is a key component to the success of this program. “Over the past few days, we have been able to share with our guests everything from visiting various military sites, to a barbeque to visiting the state capital.”

He added that the Sengalese contingent met with the governor and lieutenant governor and testified before the state’s House Military Affairs Committee where they “gave the civilian leadership a really good picture of the partnership.”

The highlight of this visit occurred when the legislators assembled in the House chambers and unanimously approved a resolution in support of this relationship. “They gave our guests a standing ovation,” Dubie said. “That ovation was spontaneous, but it was an affirmation of the relationship between Macedonia, Senegal and the state of Vermont.”

“The National Guard is like being a peace keeper,” McKeague said. “After the active duty military has left, they turn to the National Guard to sustain the capacity, the partnerships, the building of relationships.

“The State Partnership Program is the key tool in building the partnership capacity. This is an exciting partnership.”

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