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

Maj. Gen. Steven Cray and the Vermont Delegation discuss the tri-lateral engagement with the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, the Minister of Defense and his delegation, and the delegation from Senegal, Sept. 24, 2014. According to Cray, the countries of Macedonia and Senegal have come a long way to moving the engagement forward. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Dyana Allen)

Oct. 7, 2014

Vermont's adjutant general says Macedonian partnership remains strong

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — Returning from the Vermont National Guard’s State Partnership country, Macedonia, Maj. Gen. Steven Cray, the adjutant general, was extremely optimistic about the future of the partnership and the tri-lateral engagement between Macedonia, Vermont and Senegal, Vermont’s other State Partnership country.

North Macedonian army Maj. Zoran Milenkoski and Maj.Ljupco Karanfilovski pose for a photo with U.S. Army National Guard Capt. Mark Bowen (center) at Fort Drum, N.Y., Aug. 13, 2013. The 86th IBCT is participating in an Exportable Combat Training Center rotation in preparation for Joint Readiness Training Center rotation in 2014. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman Jeffrey Tatro)

Aug. 13, 2013

N. Macedonian army conducts combined training with 186th BSB

FORT DRUM, New York — Members of the North Macedonian army are training through combined operations with the 186th Brigade Support Battalion here, from Aug. 4 and scheduled to stay until Aug. 19.

U.S. soldiers from the Vermont Army National Guard clear a room in a target house at the Krivolak Training Area, Republic of North Macedonia, May 25, 2012. Soldiers participating in Exercise Cooperative Lancer had the opportunity to train from the classroom, to the sand tables and then incorporate that training out into the field. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Sarah Mattison)

June 27, 2012

Cooperative Lancer 2012

North Macedonia — About 40 members of the Vermont Army National Guard joined a dozen other countries in the former Yugoslav Republic of North Macedonia in May for a two-week long NATO exercise that was designed to enhance interoperability between participating countries. Named Cooperative Lancer and Longbow, the Vermont Army National Guard members worked with fellow military men and women from more than a dozen NATO countries and NATO-partner countries. Vermont has had a good relationship with North Macedonia via the State Partnership Program since 1993 which has fostered close ties between the two groups.

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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