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State Partnership Program Video Presentation

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State Partnership Program

National Guard Bureau

History

The State Partnership Program is a Defense Department security cooperation program managed by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, executed by geographic commands, and sourced by the 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia.

The SPP evolved from a 1991 U.S. European Command decision to set up the Joint Contact Team Program in the Baltic Region with Reserve component Soldiers and Airmen. A subsequent National Guard Bureau proposal paired U.S. states with three nations emerging from the former Soviet Bloc and the SPP was born, becoming a key U.S. security cooperation tool, facilitating cooperation across all aspects of international civil-military affairs and encouraging people-to-people ties at the state level.

The program directly supports DOD objectives and theater campaign plans by building relationships that enhance global security, understanding, and cooperation. The program fosters long-term relationships across all levels of society and encourages the development of economic, political, and military ties between the states and partner nations.

Vermont Partnerships

State Partnership Program Articles

North Macedonia Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska speaks at a press conference on the steps of the Vermont State Capitol in Montpelier, Vermont, on Sept. 21, 2021. Also pictured are Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont's adjutant general, and Vermont Lt. Gov. Molly Gray. This visit from North Macedonia continues work that began earlier this summer to build upon the Vermont National Guard’s near 30 year military partnership to include a whole-of-state partnership. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

Sept. 21, 2021

Vermont, North Macedonia officials discuss expanding state partnership

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard hosted a press conference Sept. 21 with North Macedonia Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska, Vermont Lt. Gov. Molly Gray and Secretary of Commerce and Community Development Lindsay Kurrle to discuss new steps toward increased cooperation between the state and the new NATO ally.

U.S. Army Brig. General Gregory Knight, adjutant general of Vermont, meets with Lt. Col. Matt Walker, defense attaché assigned to North Macedonia for the United Kingdom at the Ministry of Defense in Skopje, North Macedonia Aug. 18, 2021. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Gloria Kamencik)

Aug. 18, 2021

Vermont delegation visits state partner North Macedonia

SKOPJE, North Macedonia — Brig. Gen. Gregory Knight, Vermont Adjutant General, and a delegation of leadership from Vermont visited North Macedonia as part of the State Partnership Program.

Two members of Senegal's National Fire Brigade examine a Vermont National Guard fire response vehicle on July 12, 2021 at Camp Johnson, Vermont. From July 11-21, delegates from Senegal’s National Fire Brigade (Brigade Nationale des Sapeurs-Pompiers) visited Vermont as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Joshua T. Cohen)

July 22, 2021

Senegalese National Fire Brigade visits Vt. for emergency capability demos

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — From July 11-21, delegates from Senegal’s National Fire Brigade (Brigade Nationale des Sapeurs-Pompiers) visited Vermont as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, Vermont's adjutant general, gives opening remarks during a press conference May 27, 2021. Knight, along with Lt. Gov. Molly Gray (right) and Lindsay Kurrle (left), Vermont's secretary of commerce and community development, will spend several days in North Macedonia discussing expansion of the current State Partnership Program to include economic development opportunities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

May 28, 2021

Vermont seeks to build upon partnership with North Macedonia

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Maj. Gen. Greg Knight, the state adjutant general, will travel to North Macedonia May 29, accompanied by Vermont Lt. Gov. Molly Gray and Lindsay Kurrle, the state secretary of commerce and community development, to discuss how the state might build upon the existing State Partnership Program into economic areas.

Lt. Col. Sarah Davis, clinical nurse assigned to the 158th Medical Group, Vermont Air National Guard, conducts training at the Vermont Air National Guard base, South Burlington, Vt., Nov. 7, 2020. In September, Vermont Guardsmen hosted a virtual trauma training with North Macedonia, its partner under the State Partnership Program.

Nov. 7, 2020

Training Must Go On: VT Guard Hosts Virtual Trauma Care Training with North Macedonia

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — In an upstairs room at her home in New York, while her children and dogs are playing downstairs, Lt. Col. Sarah Davis, clinical nurse assigned to the 158th Medical Group, Vermont Air National Guard, sits down at her computer screen with pieces of training equipment nearby, hoping to avoid being interrupted. It was September 28, the first day of a three-day trauma nurse training, when she logged on to greet participants virtually - a new normal during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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