State Partnership Program News - The National Guard

Category: News Features

Oregon Guard Supports Ceremony Featuring 103-Year-Old WWII Pilot
May 20, 2026 — SALEM, Ore. – The hangar fell quiet for nearly 30 minutes on Armed Forces Day while Capt. Richard... MORE

Capt. Richard "Dick" Nelms, a 103-year-old World War II B-17 pilot, addresses attendees during the B-17 Alliance Foundation's Armed Forces Day Celebration at Salem McNary Airfield in Salem, Oregon, May 16, 2026. Nelms, wearing his 8th Air Force veteran's cap and flight jacket, completed 35 combat missions over occupied Europe with the 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy) between May and September 1944.

Utah Guard, Morocco Partners Provide Medical Care in African Lion
May 19, 2026 — EL FAID, Morocco – Utah National Guardsmen and the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces redefined what... MORE

A group of U.S service members and Royal Moroccan Armed Forces perform care on a newborn baby after an emergency cesarean section during an African Lion 26 humanitarian civic assistance mission at El Faid, Morocco, April 30, 2026.

New York Guard, Sweden Strengthen Partnership at Exercise Northern Lights
May 15, 2026 — KUNGSÄNGEN, Sweden – Eighty New York Army National Guard Soldiers spent their annual training... MORE

A Swedish Armed Forces service member, left, speaks with a New York Army National Guard Soldier with Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, during exercise Northern Lights 26, April 28, 2026, in Habo-Tibble, Sweden.

South Dakota Guard, Suriname Partners Conclude Operation Rumble in the Jungle
May 13, 2026 — PARAMARIBO, Suriname – South Dakota National Guard Soldiers and their Suriname partners have... MORE

Suriname Armed Forces Sgt. First Class Alvaro Ronoreso teaches survival techniques to U.S. Soldiers and Airmen, as well as Suriname Armed Forces members, during Operation Rumble in the Jungle at Ayoko, Suriname, April 17, 2026.

Indiana Guard, Slovak Soldiers Dominate in Shooting Competition
May 12, 2026 — INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana National Guardsmen and Slovak soldiers teamed up at a recent shooting... MORE

Indiana National Guard Master Sgt. Thuc Tran, the operations sergeant for Indiana's State Partnership Program, Sgt. Ondrej Macak and Sgt. 1st Class Matus Fulop, soldiers with the Slovak Armed Forces, pose for a photo at Camp Atterbury, near Edinburgh, Indiana, April 4, 2026.

African Lion 2026 Brings Vermont National Guard State Partnership Program Partners Together for MEDREX in Senegal
May 11, 2026 — ZIGUINCHOR, Senegal – Military medical personnel from Senegal, the United States, Austria and Italy... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Nicholas LeBeau, a nurse with the Vermont Army National Guard, assists Senegalese medical providers while closing an incision following an emergency cesarean section during a multinational medical readiness exercise, or MEDREX, in Ziguinchor, Senegal, May 6, 2026.

Kentucky Guard Protects Kentucky Derby Trophy
May 7, 2026 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. – On the evening of May 2, the trophy felt heavier in Staff Sgt. Jonathan Miller’s... MORE

Spc. Brendan Hays and Staff Sgt. Jonathan Miller of the 617th Military Police Company escort the winner's trophy onto the Paddock at the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, May 2, 2026.

Vermont National Guard Conducts Key Leader Engagements With Senegal Partners Ahead of 2027 Medical Exercise
May 7, 2026 — THIÈS, Senegal – Vermont National Guard leaders conducted a pre-deployment site survey in Thiès,... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gene Enriquez, State Partnership Program director with the Vermont National Guard, greets Dr. Amadou Mbaye Diouf, chief physician, during a key leader engagement in Thiès, Senegal, May 4, 2026, to discuss regional healthcare priorities and inform planning for a 2027 medical readiness exercise.

New York Guard Welcomes Remains of WWII Airman Home
May 6, 2026 — LATHAM, N.Y. – When Army Air Corps 2nd Lt. Joseph Burke came home to Troy, New York, on May 1 – 84... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the New York Army National Guard Honor Guard salute as the coffin containing the remains of Army Air Corps 2nd Lt. Joseph L. Burke are moved toward a hearse at Albany International Airport in Latham, New York, on May 1, 2026, during a dignified transfer of remains.

Hawaii, Philippine Aircrews Strengthen Partnership Through Flight
May 6, 2026 — CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines – Beneath the steady rhythm of rotor blades and shared purpose, Hawaii... MORE

Philippine Air Force Sgt. Julius Chun Manasan, left, mechanic assigned to the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing; U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Christopher Pacheco, center left, senior mechanic and standardization instructor assigned to the Hawaii Army National Guard; Philippine Air Force Lt. Col. John Paul Delgado, center, commander of the 210th Tactical Training Squadron; and U.S. Army Maj. John Worthington, right, Army Aviation Support Facility commander, standardization pilot and instrument examiner assigned to the Hawaii Army National Guard, pose for a photo in front of a Philippine Air Force S-70i Black Hawk helicopter during a Rotary Wing Subject Matter Expert Exchange Clark Air Base, Philippines, April 15, 2026.