An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Articles
News | March 30, 2022

Vermont National Guard, Senegalese air force conduct aviation exchange

By Joshua Cohen Vermont National Guard Public Affairs

Vermont Army National Guard rotary-wing representatives with 86th Troop Command took part in an aviation exchange with Senegalese Air Force helicopter pilots as part of the State Partnership Program in Dakar, Senegal, March 13-19.

During the exchange, Vermont National Guardsmen and Senegalese pilots discussed accident causation theories, case studies on aircraft mishaps and crew coordination, according to 1st Lt. Daniel Phelps, a Vermont National Guard rotary-wing pilot and State Partnership coordinator.

“The primary goal was to conduct an aviation safety and crew coordination tactics, techniques, and procedures exchange with Senegalese pilots,” said Phelps. “Items discussed were capability overviews from the Senegalese Air Force, Vermont National Guard aviation, and The State Partnership Program.”

Capt. Joseph Davis, a Vermont National Guard rotary-wing pilot accompanying Phelps, said, “we had good discussions about culture and how it affects the safety of crew members working together to operate military aircraft.”

In Senegal, French is the national language.

“Fortunately, the international language of general aviation is English, so there were numerous times pilots were able to connect,” said Phelps. “Ultimately aviation programs face similar challenges.”

Vermont National Guard pilots took part in a tour of the flight line at the Ouakam Air Base and were briefed on base emergency response procedures. The Vermont Guardsmen also visited the Senegalese Air Force Flight School.

Phelps said the aviation exchange was the first in over five years and will continue later this year as Senegalese Air Force personnel are scheduled to visit Vermont for follow-on collaboration on aviation safety tactics, techniques, and procedures.

“These relationships are important for our countries individually and for international stability, so we must continue to strengthen them,” Davis said.

Phelps said scheduling the event took place one year in advance to “facilitate the continually growing relationship between Vermont and Senegal by improving interoperability and readiness for both partners.”

According to Davis, “training with international partners helps us see the bigger picture, how things are done from a different perspective and how we might be able to modify our approach to similar problems.”

“Overall, we can learn a lot from our Senegalese counterparts,” said Phelps. “They are dedicated and motivated with years of experience from supporting UN missions.”

The Vermont National Guard and Senegal have a relationship through the State Partnership Program extending back to 2008. The partners conduct several military-to-military engagements each year. Most recently, the Vermont National Guard deployed 15 Army and Air medical personnel to Saint Louis, Senegal to work in hospitals and clinics for about two weeks in Feb. 2022; the fifth such exercise since 2018. Last year, a Senegalese Fire Brigade delegation led by Brig. Gen. Mor Seck traveled to Vermont to further their understanding of emergency preparedness and response across all state agencies.

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

National Guard News
Left to right, West Virginia Army National Guard Sgt. Michael Atik, Qatari Emiri Land Forces soldier Sultan Saleh Al-Mrri and West Virginia Army National Guard Solider of the Year Spc. Dominic Starry pose for a photo in Umm Salal Muhammed, Qatar, Feb. 5, 2025. The West Virginia Army National Guard hosted its annual Best Warrior Competition in partnership with Qatar Armed Forces Feb. 2-5, 2025, at the National Service Academy in Doha, Qatar.
West Virginia, DC Guard Compete in Qatar for Best Warrior
By Officer Candidate Ayden Norcross, | Feb. 7, 2025
UMM SALAL MUHAMMED, Qatar - Sixty-five service members from the West Virginia and District of Columbia National Guard traveled 7,000 miles to Qatar’s National Service Academy for the 2025 Best Warrior Competition.Qatar and...

Members of the Bulgarian Defense Ministry and the Tennessee Air National Guard pose for a photo after Bulgaria took delivery of its first batch of F-16 “Fighting Falcon” aircraft at Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, South Carolina, site, Jan. 31, 2025. Tennessee and Bulgaria have been partners in the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 1993.
Tennessee National Guard Supports Bulgaria’s F-16 Acquisition
By Tech. Sgt. Darrell Hamm, | Feb. 7, 2025
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Bulgarian Air Force received its first batch of F-16 “Fighting Falcon” aircraft at Lockheed Martin’s production facility Jan. 31, marking a milestone in its efforts to modernize its military as a NATO...

A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 146th Airlift Wing marshals a C-130H Hercules at the Combat Readiness and Training Center, Gulfport, Mississippi, Feb. 5, 2025. Exercise Sentry South-Southern Strike is a joint military training focusing on contingency response operations, agile combat employment, aeromedical evacuation, maritime training, specialized fueling operations and strategic airlift and airdrops.
Air Guard Conducts Sentry South-Southern Strike Exercise
By Senior Airman Shardae McAfee, | Feb. 7, 2025
GULFPORT, Miss. – Approximately 500 service members from the Active, Guard and Reserve components of the U.S. military participated in exercise Sentry South-Southern Strike 2025 at the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training...