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Kentucky Guardsmen Awarded New State Ribbon for State Partnership Program
April 25, 2023
Kentucky National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were the first to receive a new state ribbon recognizing service with the State Partnership Program in a ceremony at the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Kentucky, April 13, 2023. The new ribbon, the Kentucky State Partnership Program Ribbon, was created to honor Soldiers and Airmen who enhance military-to-military relationships in subject matter expert engagement with one of Kentucky’s partner nations, Ecuador and Djibouti.
Guard Names State Partnership Program Partnerships of the Year
April 25, 2023
Left to right, Ambassador Dennis Hankins, foreign policy advisor to the National Guard Bureau; Maj. Gen. William Zana, director of Strategic Plans and Policy and International Affairs for NGB; Lt. Col. Christopher Markesino from the Oregon National Guard; Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, SEA to the chief, National Guard Bureau; and Col. Scott Humphrey, chief of the National Guard Bureau International Affairs Division, during an awards presentation at the annual State Partnership Program conference April 20, 2023.
Hokanson: State Partnership Program Stable, Steadfast and Growing
April 21, 2023
Lt. Gen. Bashkim Jashari, commander of the Kosovo Security Force, is briefed on unit operations by the commander of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, Iowa Army National Guard, during a tour of training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, May 19, 2022. Approximately 15 KSF troops embedded with companies in the 1-133rd Infantry during a two-week annual training exercise.
North Dakota Army Guard Partners with Togo, Benin to Counter IEDs
April 20, 2023
Staff Sgt. Alex Radi, 817th Engineer Company (Sapper), assists Benin Soldiers conducting a counter-IED mission in Ouassa, Benin, Feb. 16, 2023. The North Dakota National Guard Soldier worked with the Benin Soldiers to plan a practical exercise that incorporated counter-IED mission planning during mounted and dismounted patrols.
Lithuanian Partners Complete U.S. Army Flight Course
April 17, 2023
Lithuania air force Capt. Matas Leckas and Capt. Valius Urbonas became the first Lithuanian pilots to graduate from the UH-60M Aviator Qualification Course at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence during a ceremony at Fort Novosel, Alabama, April 4, 2023.
Washington Guard, Royal Thai Army Aviators Share Expertise
April 13, 2023
Lt. Col. Ben Gering and Staff Sgt. Rose Barton, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation, Washington National Guard, inspect the nose section of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with the Royal Thai Army Maintenance Platoon March 21, 2023, in Lop Buri, Kingdom of Thailand.
Kentucky National Guard, SPP Partner Ecuador Conduct Seminar
April 10, 2023
Members of the Kentucky National Guard participated in a senior enlisted leader seminar with members of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces March 20-24, 2023, in Quito, Ecuador. Participants exchanged best-practices on noncommissioned officer competencies, capabilities and leadership responsibilities.
Croatia, Canada Join Minnesota Best Warrior Competition
April 6, 2023
Twenty Minnesota National Guard, four Croatian, and three Canadian Soldiers competed in Minnesota’s Best Warrior Competition March 29– April 1, 2023, at Camp Ripley near Little Falls, Minnesota. The annual competition tests the military skills, physical strength and endurance of the top Soldiers and noncommissioned officers.
WADS Airmen Share Knowledge with Royal Thai Air Force Partners
April 5, 2023
The Airmen of the Western Air Defense Sector conducted a command and control battle management operations exchange with the Royal Thai Air Force in the Kingdom of Thailand in March 2023. The Washington National Guard and Thailand have been partners in the State Partnership Program for 21 years.
Wisconsin National Guard, Papua New Guinea Strengthen Ties
April 3, 2023
First Sgt. Aaron Ritchie, right, 64th Troop Command’s senior supply sergeant and sustainment noncommissioned officer (NCO) representative, asks a Papua New Guinea Defence Force Soldier about serial numbers for supply items March 24, 2023, at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Six NCOs conducted an information exchange with Papua New Guinea Defence Force counterparts March 20-27 as part of the State Partnership Program.
Texas Best Warrior Competition Supports Partner Program
April 3, 2023
Staff Sgt. Maxim Mojzis, Czech army, kneels alongside Chilean armed forces in preparation for the M-4 qualifying event during the Texas Military Department Best Warrior Competition at Camp Swift, Texas, March 31, 2023. The friendly, six-day competition challenged service members on professional military knowledge, marksmanship, obstacle course and land navigation.
Maryland Guard Conducts Public Affairs Workshop for SPP Partner
April 3, 2023
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Maryland National Guard, instructs Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) service members on camera functionality during a public affairs workshop March 27, 2023, at the Army Hall in downtown Sarajevo. Subject matter experts from the MDNG demonstrated photo, video, writing and social media techniques.
Washington National Guard Shares Domestic Response Expertise
March 30, 2023
Service members from participating nations and members of the Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief Institute demonstrate a collapsed building rescue during Exercise Cobra Gold 2023 at the Disaster Relief Training Center in Chachoengsao province, Kingdom of Thailand, March 4, 2023. At the demonstration leaders from participating nations discussed how their nations can combine capabilities in response to regional crises.
Vermont, Maine Guard Join Common Challenge 23
March 29, 2023
U.S. Army Sgt. Sam Rathbun, medic, Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, cares for a simulated casualty during Common Challenge 23 in the mountains around Kolašin, Montenegro, Feb. 6, 2023. Common Challenge 23 is a multinational exercise focused on integrating allied forces and conducting mountain warfare operations in severe terrain and weather with military members from the United States, Montenegro, Austria, North Macedonia and Italy forming a multinational mountain infantry company.
New York Army Guard Officer Candidates to Train in Albania
March 28, 2023
Albanian Armed Forces officer candidate Besmilvini Kolchi, left, speaks with New Jersey National Guard officer candidates Asturias Roncol and Michael Wisniewski during tactics training at the Bunavi Individual Training Center, April 6, 2022, in Vlorë, Albania. The New Jersey National Guard Officer Candidate School will return to Albania April 10-24, 2023, to train as part of their State Partnership Program relationship with Albania, with five New York Army National Guard officer candidates invited to participate.
Lithuanian Air Force Commander Visits 193rd Special Ops Wing
March 27, 2023
Col. Antanas Matutis, Lithuanian Air Force commander, visited with Airmen from the 193rd Special Operations Wing, March 21, 2023, in Middletown, Pennsylvania. The tour was part of a five-day trip for Matutis to strengthen State Partnership Program security cooperation between the Lithuanian Air Force and Pennsylvania National Guard.
Oregon Guard, Bangladesh Army Train During Tiger Lightning
March 27, 2023
Oregon Army National Guardsmen of 3-116 Cavalry unit, Charlie Company, and Bangladesh Army counterparts carry a local role player on a litter during cordon and search operations training as part of Exercise Tiger Lightning 2023 near Dhaka, Bangladesh March 9, 2023. The training prepares Bangladesh military members for peacekeeping missions to Africa.
Illinois Guard Soldiers Receive Polish Armed Forces Medal
March 27, 2023
Illinois Army National Guard Capt. Drew Weaver discusses the firing of the M-4 with Maj. Andrew Majcherek of the Polish Territorial Defense Force on the range at the Illinois Army National Guard's Marseilles Training Area. Weaver was one of four Illinois National Guard Soldiers awarded the bronze Polish Armed Forces Medal on March 25, 2023, for their work training Polish Territorial Defense Force Soldiers in Poland in May and June 2022.
Washington Guard Trains with Royal Thai Army Counterparts
March 23, 2023
Washington National Guard Soldiers from Bear Company, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, with their Royal Thai Army counterparts from 1st Battalion, 21st Mechanized Infantry Regiment, at the completion of training March 13, 2023, in the Kingdom of Thailand. The partners in the State Partnership Program learned how to survive in a jungle as part of exercise Cobra Gold 2023.
Pennsylvania Air Guard Hosts Lithuanian Air Force Leaders
March 21, 2023
Lithuanian Air Force Col. Antanas Matutis, left, Lithuanian Air Force commander, is greeted by U.S. Air National Guard Col. Deane E. Thomey, commander, 111th Attack Wing, during a visit to Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania, March 20, 2023. Matutis, and his senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Alvydas Tamošiūnas, were visiting as part of a broader Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program tour hosted by Brig. Gen. Michael Regan, the commander of the PAANG.