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 | May 2, 2024

Enduring Partners 2024 Begins with Thai-US Airmen Exchange

By Airman Jordaan Kvale and Lt. Col. Alyson Teeter, Washington Air National Guard

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - The second iteration of Enduring Partners commenced April 30 with an opening ceremony officiated by Royal Thai Air Force Group Captain Sithipol Pomtri, exercise director, and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh, Washington Air National Guard commander.

Although the ceremony looked like a standard military function, it was a groundbreaking event.

Last year, Washington and Oregon Air Guardsmen traveled to Thailand for the inaugural Enduring Partners engagement. For EP 24, while RTAF Airmen were hosted in Washington state, Washington Air National Guardsmen were simultaneously hosted in Thailand. It was an Airman exchange between the two countries.

“For the last eight years at Airman-to-Airman events, I would close out my remarks to say, ‘In the future, we’ll have a day where we fly Washington Air National Guardsmen to Thailand and bring Thai Air Force members to Washington state,’” Welsh said. “That day is today. … This is a wonderful experience.”

Approximately 30 Washington Air National Guardsmen onboard a KC-135 Stratotanker arrived at Don Mueang Royal Thai Air Force Base in Bangkok April 26. A day later, the KC-135 and WA ANG aircrew from the 141st Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, lifted off again, returning to Joint Base Lewis-McChord with 30 members from the Royal Thai Air Force.

EP 24 is designed to build upon EP 23’s success and consists of five lines of effort: humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and medical; tactical air control party and joint terminal attack controller and combat control team; cyber; ground-controlled interception; and space operations. WA ANG and RTAF Airmen will train together in optimal training environments, enhancing readiness, interoperability and combined capabilities.

Since signing their formal partnership through the State Partnership Program in 2002, the Washington National Guard and the Royal Thai Armed Forces have met regularly through subject matter expert exchanges, engagements and exercises to enhance mutual capabilities, security cooperation, and people-to-people connections beyond military cooperation.

“It’s pretty cool to have that partnership,” said Maj. Blake Fair, ground-controlled interception lead for EP 24. “Making good connections … and in exchange learning how they do things to see how we can change.”

In addition to providing valuable training, EP 24 allows Airmen to develop mutual respect, trust and partnership.

“Over the next two weeks, you’re going to have some great opportunities to learn a lot of things, but the primary thing that you’re going to do is build relationships,” Welsh said. “This is about the future. This is about a partnership that really has no limits.”

The engagement runs through May 10.

 

 

Related Articles
Members of the Washington Army National Guard, Oregon National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve, participated in Helocast training on the Columbia River, Troutdale, Ore., Aug. 8, 2025. The event, led by the 2nd Battalion, 162 Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Jungleers), Oregon National Guard, included soldiers with 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment, 96th Troop Command, Washington National Guard and 244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, U.S. Army Reserve.
Washington Guard, U.S. Army Reserve Conduct Helocast Training in the Pacific Northwest
By Joseph Siemandel, | Aug. 15, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Whether on land, in the air or on water, Guard members train to adapt to any mission. The Washington Army National Guard Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment demonstrated that adaptability...

U.S. Army Spc. Meadow Wilkins with Charlie Company, 181st Brigade Support Battalion, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Washington National Guard, triages a patient during mass casualty training at Yakima Training Center, Wash., July 20, 2025. Mass casualty training is crucial for preparing medical teams to triage, stabilize, and evacuate patients in combat environments, thereby enhancing their readiness for large-scale operations.
Washington Guard Brigade Trains at Raven Focus 2025
By Staff Sgt. Meredith Vincent, | July 28, 2025
YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash., – More than 1,500 Soldiers with the Washington National Guard’s 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team converged at Yakima Training Center this month for Raven Focus, a collective, high-intensity,...

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Zachary Williamson, right, with the 176th Engineer Company, 420th Chemical Battalion, 96th Troop Command, Washington National Guard, is instructing Soldiers in his unit about tongue and groove roof decking for the restroom facility at Charter Park, Orting, Wash, June 19, 2025. 176th Eng. Co. is partnering with the city of Orting through the Innovative Readiness Training program, a Department of Defense initiative that enables Soldiers to receive training and acquire new skills while providing valuable services to their local communities.
Washington Guard Improves Park Through Innovative Readiness Training
By Sgt. John Giltamag and Joseph Siemandel, | June 30, 2025
ORTING, Wash. – Washington Army National Guard members are making improvements to a community park while also receiving valuable training that can support domestic and overseas missions.“I believe this isn’t just a way to...