Photo By Senior Master Sgt. William Gizara | New York Army National Guard Major General Ray Shields (center right) the Adjutant...... read more read more
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STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SCOTIA, N.Y. – New York National Guard commanders welcomed Brazilian Major General Marcio de Calazans Braga for a day-long discussion on the future of the newly minted partnership between the New York National Guard and the Brazilian Military here on Dec. 11, 2019.
Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York, brought New York Army and Air Guard leaders together to outline the New York National Guard’s commitment to the partnership and to discuss
capabilities for Major General Calazans Braga and two of his staff, U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. State Department officials.
“This is about how we can learn from each other,” Shields told Calazans Braga. “New York is looking forward to moving ahead as a partner and our Soldiers and Airmen are excited to learn from their counterparts in Brazil.”
Brazil and the New York National Guard entered into a National Guard State Partnership Program agreement in March of 2019.
“We have made great strides to engage each other in discussions and best practice exchanges”, Shields said.
The discussions focused on structure, capabilities, training and equipment of both militaries, along with the unique challenges faced in supporting national defense and civil support operations.
Both New York and Brazil face challenges in preparing service members for the wide spectrum of operations that both forces conduct, noted retired Army Col. Patrick Mathes.
Mathes represented the National Defense University and the U.S. Southern Command William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies.
But the similarities far outweigh the differences between the two military forces, Mathes added.
Whether the mission is homeland security in New York City for the National Guard or border security for the Brazilian Army, the two partners walked away from the day-long engagement seeing the opportunities in the partnership to learn and improve both formations, Mathes said.
“The operations of both partners clearly have unique features and demands, but the common ground for both organizations shows us a way ahead to learn from each other, pick up best practices and find more ways to work together,” Mathes said.
Brazil is very interested in the partnership with New York for its wide variety of skills and capabilities across Army and Air Guard units, said Brazilian Col. Sandro Bernardon, the Brazilian liaison for Air Force South.
“Cyber and space are two of our biggest areas of interest,” Bernardon said.
Combat rescue, remotely piloted aircraft operations, homeland security and interagency missions of the National Guard, and New York’s Counter Drug Task Force were also areas of interest, aligning with other missions in the Brazil Armed Forces, he added.
The most important part of the growing partnership will be the impact on Soldiers and Airmen in both formations, Shields said.
From training exercises, military education opportunities or information exchanges, New York Soldiers and Airmen are excited for the events ahead, the general said.
“Going forward, I can’t stress enough the value and impact these exchanges have on our individual Soldiers and Airmen. They benefit not just by learning from Brazil’s partners, but really broaden their military experiences as members of the Guard,” Shields said.
A number of exchange activities have already taken place since March between the Brazilian armed forces and the New York National Guard.
These include:
• Airmen from the 109th Airlift Wing, which specializes in polar operations meeting with Brazilian C-130 aircrew;
• The 174th Attack Wing sending experts on remotely piloted aircraft operations to Brazil;
• The 106th Rescue Wing hosting Brazilian officers;
• The New York National Guard hosting a visit from Brazilian Lt. Gen. Achille Furlan Neto;
And New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Thomas Carpenter recently graduated from the arduous Brazilian Jungle Warfare Training Center’s international course.
“Having heard from both partners today it is clear to me that New York is the right choice as a partner for Brazil,” said U.S. State Department Senior Brazil Desk Officer Tyler Sparks. “There is so much here for both partners to gain from and benefit from.”
In addition to the Brazilian partnership, the New York National Guard has had a relationship under the State Partnership Program with the South African National Defence Force since 2003.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2019 08:30 |
| Story ID: | 355409 |
| Location: | SCOTIA , NY, US |
| Web Views: | 90 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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