An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Sept. 25, 2023

Kansas Guard, Armenian Partner Complete Eagle Partner Exercise

By Maj. Jennifer Dyrcz, 10th Mountain Division

YEREVAN, Armenia – Armenian and U.S. Soldiers from the 12th Peacekeeping Brigade and 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Task Force Mountain, and Kansas National Guard held a closing ceremony for Eagle Partner 23 on Sept. 20.

Standing in front of their nation’s flags and a custom-made “Eagle Partner” flag, the service members were recognized for their hard work and dedication. Over the 10-day exercise, Soldiers trained on medical readiness, peacekeeping operations and small arms proficiency.

“You could really see at the beginning of the exercise sort of three distinct teams with elements of Active Duty, National Guard and Armenian Soldiers,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Kennedy, Kansas Army National Guard, who served as the exercise deputy director. “But as we went through the exercise, they came together and gelled as one cohesive team.”

Col. Arsen Mangasaryan, commander of the 12th Peacekeeping Brigade and the exercise director, said the two nations worked well together.

“Of course, there are some differences on how we do things, but that’s why we conduct these exercises: to figure out those differences, “he said. “But at the end, you could see a cohesive unit that could work together and conduct missions together.”

He said the success of the exercise makes it likely there will be an Eagle Partner 24.

“There are already some talks about it happening,“ he said. “Of course, we have to come up with a decision for the future, but I hope that it is going to happen.”

As part of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, the Kansas National Guard has partnered with Armenia since 2003.

“We typically do 30 to 40 events [annually] ranging from mil-to-mil and civ-to-civ interactions between our state and the Armenian government, and it is appreciated on both sides,” said Kennedy.

Eagle Partner is a peacekeeping training exercise with approximately 85 U.S. Soldiers and 175 Armenian soldiers working together.

The exercise also prepared the Armenian 12th Peacekeeping Brigade for a NATO operational capabilities concept evaluation under the NATO Partnership for Peace program later this year.

 

 

Related Articles
The command team from 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, including Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, battalion commander, center left, and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Purdham, battalion command sergeant major, center right, joined Sgt. 1st Class Gabriel Bailey, International Affairs Operations noncommissioned officer, left, and Maj. Marci Solander, Kansas National Guard State Partnership Program director, right, in a virtual SPP exchange Sept. 8-10 with students attending the Senior Leaders Course in the Republic of Armenia. The course was conducted at the Armenian Ministry of Defense’s National Defense Research University, the Armenian equivalent of the U.S. Army War College.
Kansas, Armenian military leaders join in SPP exchange
By Maj. Margaret Ziffer | Sept. 23, 2020
TOPEKA, Kan. – The command team from 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, participated in a virtual State Partnership Program exchange Sept. 8-10 with students attending the Senior Leaders Course in the...

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Ravindra Wagh, assistant adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard, with Capt. John Willie, Liberian Coast Guard commander, at Liberian Coast Guard Headquarters, Bushrod Island, Liberia, Dec. 2, 2024. Michigan and Liberia have partnered for 15 years under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.
Michigan Guard Partner Liberia Starts NCO Pilot Course
By Capt. Andrew Layton, | Dec. 10, 2024
CAREYSBURG, Liberia – The Armed Forces of Liberia achieved a historic milestone by initiating a Noncommissioned Officer Academy at the AFL’s Armed Forces Training Center.Liberian NCO instructors are leading a nine-week pilot...

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elsa Canales, support operations officer for the 369th Sustainment Brigade, New York National Guard, speaks with members of the Swedish military as she gives them a tour of the 42nd Infantry Division’s command post exercise operations at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., Nov. 21, 2024.  The New York National Guard and Sweden entered into an official partnership as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program in July, focusing on shared values and training to build relationships and capabilities for both military forces.
Swedish Army Chief Visits New York Army Guard Exercise
By Sgt. 1st Class Harley Jelis, | Nov. 27, 2024
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Sweden’s top Army officer visited New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 42nd Infantry Division conducting a command post exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap Nov. 17-20.Maj. Gen. Jonny Lindfors,...