KORAT AIR BASE, Thailand — The Utah Air National Guard played a crucial role in Enduring Partners 2025, a multinational exchange designed to bolster readiness and interoperability between U.S. and Thai forces.
Now in its third year, Enduring Partners was held Aug. 17–29 at multiple locations across Thailand. It has grown into a multidomain exercise, expanding beyond its original air-focused framework to include cyber defense, space operations, humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and tactical ground coordination.
Nearly 150 U.S. service members from the Air and Army National Guard joined their counterparts from the Royal Thai Armed Forces in training that spanned three locations: Korat, Bangkok and Chandy Range.
Airmen from the 151st Operations Group, 151st Wing, deployed to Thailand with a KC-135 Stratotanker. Their contribution quickly proved essential to mission success.
When one of the participating tankers faced a critical mechanical issue, their KC-135 maintenance crew identified the problem with the aircraft and coordinated with the Utah maintenance team to secure the correct part. Because of authorization process delays, the Utah Airmen arrived later than initially planned. However, that delay proved pivotal because it gave the Utah Airmen the chance to bring the part with them, ensuring the repair could be made.
Their persistence in pushing paperwork forward and working in concert with their counterparts meant not only that their own aircraft would be operational and available for the exchange, but also that a second tanker could continue flying. Without that collaboration, neither tanker would have been able to participate, which would have halted some air-to-air refueling training during the exercise.
In addition to keeping the mission moving, Utah’s KC-135 conducted extensive refueling sorties that enabled dozens of training flights. Leaders on the ground highlighted this as a prime example of what Enduring Partners represents: collaborative problem-solving and an unwavering commitment to one another’s success.
Training throughout the two-week exchange included flying missions, ground-controlled interception, Air Force special warfare, weapons systems officer integration and subject matter expert exchanges in logistics, communications and combat support. In total, 92 sorties were flown, accumulating more than 158 flight hours, all executed safely.
Utah’s presence alongside Washington units demonstrated how integrated Guard forces across states can multiply capabilities while strengthening a longstanding relationship with Thailand. That relationship between Washington and Thailand formally began in 2002 through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.
Enduring Partners 2025 advanced the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s priority of building alliances and partnerships that sustain regional peace and prosperity. The United States and Thailand have been treaty allies for nearly two centuries. Today, their collaboration extends far beyond security, encompassing health, science, trade and education.
For the Utah Air National Guard, participation in Enduring Partners was a demonstration of capability and a reaffirmation of commitment. By ensuring critical aircraft remained mission-ready and providing reliable aerial refueling support, Utah Airmen contributed to the success of a complex, multinational exercise that strengthened one of America’s most enduring military partnerships.