California builds ties with SPP partners

Story courtesy of the California National Guard

Maj. Gen. William H. Wade II, the adjutant general of the California National Guard, presents a plaque to General of the Army Kykhtenko, chief of the Interior Troops of Ukraine, during a visit to Interior Troops Headquarters in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo courtesy of Interior Troops)
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SACRAMENTO (11/30/09) - For more than 15 years, the California National Guard has partnered with emerging countries through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program.

The Guard assists those nations in matters of security and economic development as well as in their engagement with the United States and other countries. The program partners one country with one state’s National Guard to cultivate ongoing relationships.

At its most basic level, the purpose of the State Partnership Program is to leverage the skills of the National Guard to assist other nations. The program was established in 1993 to promote cooperation with countries emerging from the former Soviet Union by employing the National Guard to assist in military and security issues.

In 2006, the program was expanded as African countries began partnering with the National Guard. There are now 62 partnerships between the National Guard and countries all over the world, and that number continues to grow.

California is partnered with Ukraine in Eastern Europe and with Nigeria in Western Africa. California partnered with Ukraine in 1993 as it emerged from the Cold War, unsure about its relationship with the United States.

The program has helped Ukraine develop its own military and civilian capacities for security, emergency management and organization.

California partnered with Nigeria in 2006 to assist that emerging democracy, and Guard programs focused on security and basic civilian government have had a great impact on Nigeria’s growth. 

In both Ukraine and Nigeria, emergency management has been a hot topic as the countries work to build civilian emergency-response and emergency-management capabilities as well as military support for those missions.

Another important area for both Ukraine and Nigeria has been the security of national points of entry, particularly ocean ports and borders.

Delegations from the Ukrainian Border Guard Service have frequently visited California border points of entry for insight into advanced practices, and Nigerian officials have expressed an desire to do the same. 

Cal Guard leaders are now considering adding a third partner-country to California’s State Partnership Program, providing a new opportunity for the Cal Guard to use its skills and capacities to further cooperation and engagement around the world.

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