PIARCO, Trinidad and Tobago - Approximately 40 Soldiers and Airmen from the Delaware National Guard are in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago the week of August 7 – 13 to work with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force on multiple joint projects and training exercises.
The Delaware National Guard and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago formalized a relationship in 2005 under the Guard's State Partnership Program and have been conducting military to military, civilian-to-civilian, and government-to-government exchanges over the past 11 years.
This event is the largest exchange and the first time the Delaware National Guard was able to fly one of its C-130 aircraft to Trinidad.
"Transporting Delaware National Guard Soldiers and Airmen on one of our own C-130s to conduct multiple exchanges with our partners in Trinidad has been my dream since the inception of the program," said Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, Delaware's adjutant general. "The benefits we reap from the program are immeasurable and we could not be more proud to have the great people of Trinidad and Tobago as our partners."
In addition to senior Guard leaders visiting the top leaders, the Delaware National Guard is sending engineers, aviators, medics, security forces and military police to partner with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force in information exchanges, renovation projects and training.
Specifically, Delaware and Trinidad engineers will renovate a schoolhouse, aviators will share flight safety practices, medics will conduct a combat lifesaver course and military police will hone their skills in a series of joint training exercises.
The State Partnership Program is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored program, which links a state's National Guard unit with a partner nation's military or security forces in a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship. The program provides opportunities for joint training and subject matter expert exchanges on a variety of topics. They span critical capabilities from cyber security and counter drug operations to personnel issues such as professional development and language and cultural immersion.
"This program forges durable and productive relationships between the individual states and the partner nations, contributing to wider national and regional security cooperation goals," said Lt. Col. Jason Brugman, Delaware State Partnership Program coordinator.