State Partnership Program: Building relationships since 1991

Photo By Sgt. Tracy R. Myers | Arizona Army National Guard Capt. Anthony Stumbo, infantry commander, 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, coordinates a plan of action with a Kazakhstani Peacekeeping Battalion during the last training exercise of Steppe Eagle 2014, Oct. 12, at the Joint Multinational Readiness Training Center here. A company-sized element of selected Soldiers and officers from the 158th Inf. Reg. participated in this year’s Steppe Eagle exercise to augment the KAZBAT conducting peacekeeping operations training. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tracy R. Myers, U.S. Army Central)  

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, UNITED STATES

02.02.2016

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Luke Graziani 

U.S. Army Central   

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. – U.S. Army Central and the National Guard are working together in a program that is forming solid partnerships and strengthening regional security throughout the world.

It’s called the State Partnership Program and the program has been building relationships since 1991, which now includes 70 unique partnerships involving 76 nations around the world. The SPP pairs units in a state’s National Guard with a partner country’s military in a long-lasting and cooperative relationship.

“Basically, it’s helping them to get and be a stronger military and a stronger country,” said Maj. Trisha Weitzel, National Guard Affairs, National Guard Bureau. “We help them train on logistics, supply, if they need aviation support or they’re getting helicopters. We also have the program where they can buy our old vehicles. So, that might be us going to help deliver those vehicles to that country.”

Longevity and consistency are terms that can be used when uncovering the type of relationship our Guardsmen have with the foreign nations with whom they are partnered. Unlike an active duty component, Soldiers in the National Guard have the unique ability to stay in the same unit year after year. That ultimately leads to a firm sense of trust and solidarity in the partnership.

“This promotes a long lasting relationship – person-to-person – which far exceeds one to three year tours associated with the active components ability to keep personnel in positions once bonds have been established,” said Master Sgt. David Brigman, USARCENT, NGA operations noncommissioned officer in charge. “Most of the Soldiers who participate in SPP events are traditional National Guard Soldiers. Last week they were selling cars, building homes, writing computer programs and managing their families; this week they are breaking through the language barrier to explain how to accomplish a checkpoint. They will be using terms that would make a checkpoint veteran lose his mind, but it works.”

It’s no wonder why this program has been a success. Creating and maintaining long-term partnerships, such as these, takes a patient and determined hand. Annual exercises and a long list of cooperative events ensure knowledge and expertise is mutually exchanged.

“All activities are conducted to support the CENTCOM and ARCENT Campaign Plan Objectives,” said Col. Anthony J. Couture, USARCENT senior guard adviser. “The SPP relationships with partner countries have been used in many ways, to include co- deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan; supporting delivery, training, and maintenance of the new equipment acquired through Foreign Military Sales; and providing advice on training, personnel, or subject matter expertise on military related topics. The SPP is a cost effective and mutually beneficial for both partners (the country and the state)."

"There are numerous exercises throughout the year,” said Couture. “The Arizona National Guard, partnered with Kazakhstan, participates in (an annual) exercise program. The Virginia National Guard, partnered with Tajikistan, participates in (an annual) exercise program. The Colorado National Guard, partnered with Jordan, participates in (annual) exercise programs. While not an official state partnership, the South Carolina National Guard is in a habitual relationship with Pakistan for engagements and (an annual) exercise program.

All states conduct key leader engagements with senior state officials, such as the adjutant general or assistant adjutant general and senior enlisted leaders, meeting and engaging the partner countries senior military leaders such as the minister of defense or chief of defense and the countries’ service components (Army and Air Force) leadership.

Activities include the Arizona National Guard events with Kazakhstan concentrate on NCO and officer professional development; maintenance, with a focus on Humvees and peacekeeping operations/stability operations.

The Colorado National Guard events with Jordan concentrate on Army rotary wing aviation and Air Force fixed wing aviation, field artillery, NCO and officer professional development (Army and Air Force), women in the military, information operations, and range safety.

The Mississippi National Guard events with Uzbekistan concentrate on officer professional development; operations and maintenance of unmanned aerial vehicles; logistical and maintenance aspects of MRAPS; modeling and simulations; and military medical operations.

The Virginia National Guard events with Tajikistan focus on military professionalization, tactical communications, military medical operations, and peacekeeping operations/stability operations.”

‘Synchronizing the support for activities and activity execution,’ is one of the toughest challenges the SPP faces, said Couture.

“National Guard organizations plan training (individual and collective), for the next fiscal year, in the previous year,” said Couture. “It is difficult to react to in-year requests for support, as well as event cancellations.

There are many variables that are involved, such as when a partner country changes and exercise schedule due to regional activities. There are also budget constraints that have hindered the program. While the SPP has grown every year, the budget has been decreased or remained stable, not keeping up with the increase in partnership.”

It’s a challenging road ahead for the SPP. Not unlike numerous other programs and organizations in the Army, which are seeing budget and personnel cuts, the SPP, despite being time-tested and proven, will step forward on uncertain terrain as well.

However tough the going will be, USARCENT, U.S. Central Command, the NGB, and partnered nations and states throughout the world, are determined to continue making strides in a program designed to build stronger countries, partnerships – and a more secure planet. Together.

• Date Taken: 02.02.2016
• Date Posted: 02.03.2016 11:47
• Story ID: 187793
• Location: SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, US