Home : News : State Partnership Program
National Guard chief returns from African regional security talks in Rome
February 7, 2022
Army Maj. Gen. David Mikolaities, adjutant general, New Hampshire National Guard, and the chief of staff of the Cabo Verdean Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Anildo Morais, sign a Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program agreement in the Republic of Cabo Verde, Feb. 4, 2022. The Atlantic island nation off Africa's west coast became the latest SPP partner on the same day the National Guard's most senior general was representing the component at the 2022 African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Rome. There are now 17 partnerships in Africa, 16 of them with nations in the USAFRICOM area of responsibility, and one with Egypt, in U.S. Central Command’s AOR.

Alaska National Guard, Mongolia conduct SPP expert exchange
February 4, 2022
The Alaska National Guard and U.S. Pacific Air Forces command conduct subject matter expert exchanges with the Mongolian Air Force during the Airmen-to-Airmen Talks program in Mongolia Nov. 15-17, 2021. Alaska Air National Guard Chief Master Sgt. Mike Keegan, Lt. Col. Richard Welch, and Maj. Nathan Pooler pose for a photo with musical performers during the cultural day of the program.

Latvia-Michigan SPP partnership on display at Winter Strike
January 28, 2022
Military personnel from the Latvian National Armed Forces prepare to conduct close air support training during Northern Strike 22-1 at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center, Grayling, Mich., Jan. 27, 2022. Latvia trains with the Michigan National Guard under the State Partnership Program.

Virginia Guard conducts medical exchange in Tajikistan
January 14, 2022
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conduct a medical exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan Dec. 6-10, 2021, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.

NYNG Soldier, Airman graduate Brazil Jungle Warfare School
December 21, 2021
Tech. Sgt. Paul Cange, far left, and Cpl. Dakoatah Miller, far right, join the other American graduates of the Brazilian Jungle Operations International Course in Manaus, Brazil, Nov. 11, 2021. Brazil’s Jungle Warfare Center conducts a special shortened course for foreign students each fall.

Michigan Guard trains 1st Latvian UH-60 Black Hawk maintainer
December 16, 2021
U.S. Army Sgt. Zach Hollman, UH-60 crew chief, Company B, 147th Aviation Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard (MIARNG), and Latvian Air Force Capt. Raimonds Lugēņins inspect landing gear on a Black Hawk Dec. 1, 2021, at Grand Ledge, Mich. The MIARNG is providing training for the first Latvian UH-60 maintainer after the country purchased four Black Hawk helicopters.

Pennsylvania Guard leaders meet with Lithuanian partners
December 15, 2021
Pennsylvania Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, adjutant general, bids farewell to Lithuanian dignitaries after their visit to Fort Indiantown Gap Dec. 14, 2021. The visit was in support of the State Partnership Program and recognizes the 28-year partnership between Lithuania and Pennsylvania.

New York, South African leaders reinvigorate partnership
December 14, 2021
New York National Guard Maj. Gen. Michel Natali, the assistant adjutant general, presents a plaque to Brig. Gen. Richard Maponyane, the South Africa defense attaché, in New York Dec. 9, 2021, during a meeting to discuss State Partnership Program initiatives. The New York Army National Guard and South Africa have been partners in the program since 2003.

Lithuanian cyber defense leader visits 111th Attack Wing
December 10, 2021
U.S. Air National Guard Lt. Col. Thomas Love, left, 112th Cyberspace Operations Squadron commander at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania, escorts Lithuanian air force Col. Romualdas Petkevicius, front, right, director of the Regional Cyber Defence Center in Kaunas, Lithuania, during a tour of the 112th COS headquarters Dec. 6, 2021, to discuss capabilities, training and areas of future cooperation. Petkevicius was accompanied by, in order, to Petkevicius' right, Geistautas Cernius, chief of the cyber threat analysis cell at RCDC, and Mantas Bacevicius, computer systems engineer at the research and development division of the Lithuanian National Cyber Security Center. Badges in this photo were edited for security.

SD National Guard, Suriname leaders reinforce partnership
December 6, 2021
South Dakota National Guard and Suriname Defense
Force leaders stand together during a distinguished leaders visit to Paramaribo, Suriname, Nov. 24, 2021.