KORAT AIR BASE, THAILAND - Washington National Guard and Thai service members launched the third annual Enduring Partners exchange Aug. 17 at Wing 1 in Lopburi, Thailand.
The event, built on year-round planning through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, underscores shared learning and strengthens defense ties between the United States and Thailand. Activities are taking place at multiple locations across Thailand.
The bilateral engagement, running through Aug. 29, is designed to significantly improve readiness and joint interoperability between the Royal Thai Air Force and the Washington National Guard. This year marks a substantial expansion, with the Washington Army National Guard actively participating for the first time alongside its Washington Air National Guard counterparts. The exchange, which initially focused on air-centric expertise for its first two years, now adopts a broader, multi-domain approach under the Multidomain Operation Concept.
“Enduring Partners is about much more than our combined training opportunities over the next few weeks. It's about continuing to build on the incredibly strong relationship between our friends in the Thai military and the Washington National Guard,” said Brigadier General Kenneth Borchers, commander, Washington Air National Guard. “This year's evolution marks some historic milestones across multiple domains and disciplines. I'm excited to witness the deepening of old friendships and the creation of many new ones as we continue to grow our interoperability as well as our professional and personal bonds.”
Nearly 150 U.S. service members are working alongside their Thai counterparts in a range of training exercises, including air-to-air refueling, ground-controlled interception, tactical air control party operations and weapons systems officer integration. The exchange also incorporates cyber defense, space operations, search and rescue, communications, logistics and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
U.S. aircraft deployed in support of the exchange include two KC-135 Stratotankers from the 141st Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington and the 151st Wing, Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, as well as two UH-60 Black Hawks from the 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Enduring Partners continues to advance the State Partnership Program and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command priority of building alliances and partnerships to promote regional security and stability.