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.

State Partnership Program Articles

March 1, 2019

Expedited weapon delivery to Senegal proves process

THEIS, Senegal — A foreign military sales case that provided M4 carbines to partner country Senegal shows the FMS process is flexible and can be tailored to fit the need.

Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief, National Guard Bureau, third from left, meets with the three-member presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina during a visit to the Western Balkan country, the Presidency Building, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jan. 23, 2019. The country is paired with the Maryland National Guard in the State Partnership Program.

Jan. 30, 2019

Lengyel: National Guard committed to 'long game' with SPP

SKOPJE, North Macedonia — The National Guard takes a long-term view of its partnerships with more than one-third of the world’s countries, Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel said during visits to three countries in the Western Balkans this week.

Macedonia officials conduct a mock press conference Sept. 20, 2018, during a flood response tabletop exercise in Skopje, Macedonia. The exercise was sponsored by the Civil-Military Emergency Preparedness Program and included the participation of first responders from the Republic of Macedonia and the United States.

Sept. 27, 2018

U.S., Macedonia participate in flood response exercise

SKOPJE, North Macedonia — A team of nine American first responders traveled to Skopje for a flood response exercise Sept. 17-21. Named Comprehensive Response Vodno 2018, the exercise is part of the U.S. Civil-Military Emergency Preparedness Program, under the Center for Civil-Military Relations.

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

Vermont Partnerships

North Macedonia
Vermont as among the second group of states to join the State Partnership Program, establishing a partnership with the Republic of North Macedonia on July 14, 1993. Their partnership has included more than 350 military-to-military activities, including collaborative events in Europe and the United States, as well as a shared deployment to Afghanistan in 2010, marking the first time a National Guard unit deployed and served with a state partner.

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Senegal
The relationship between the Vermont National Guard and the Republic of Senegal was established in 2008. Numerous medical, engineer and aviation exercises have occurred during this partnership.

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Austria
Austria became Vermont's third state partner on Oct. 15, 2021, making Vermont the fifth National Guard with three state partners. The countries' military cooperation stretches back to 1983, with partnerships between the Army Mountain Warfare School, U.S. Army Biathlon Program, and 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) and their Austrian counterparts.

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