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Category: State Partnership Program

Lt. Col. Chris Gookin receives an Order of Military Medical Merit award from Col. George Horsley, Massachusetts Army National Guard state surgeon, at Camp Johnson, Vermont, on Aug. 4, 2022. Gookin was cited for his accomplishments in establishing 98 percent medical readiness for the Vermont Army National Guard and for his work with state partners Senegal and North Macedonia. (courtesy photo)

Aug. 29, 2022

Vermont deputy state surgeon receives Order of Military Medical Merit

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The former deputy state surgeon for the Vermont Army National Guard’s Medical Readiness Detachment received the Order of Military Medical Merit in August.

The Vermont Army National Guard's C-Co. 186th BSB, (Medical) 86th IBCT (Mountain) conduct annual training with State Partner North Macedonia at the Sustainment Center on Camp Dodge, Iowa July 31st-August 13. North Macedonia and Vermont have been partners in the State Partnership Program since 1993. (U.S. Army National Guard courtesy photo)

Aug. 29, 2022

Soldiers from North Macedonia Train at Camp Dodge with their State Partner Vermont

CAMP DODGE, Iowa — The mission of the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program is, “to support the security cooperation objectives of the United States.” The achievement of that goal brings many follow-on effects that benefit both partners in the SPP relationship.

Senegal Air Force Capt. Kana Ndiaye, a helicopter pilot, briefs Vermont Army National Guard Blackhawk pilots during a State Partnership Program visit to the Army Aviation Flight Facility, Burlington, Vermont. The Vermont Army National Guard hosted three Senegalese Air Force pilots July 17-22, 2022, to conduct safety, operations, and maintenance cross-training with VTARNG’s Aviators during the trip. The Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program pairs U.S. state National Guard units with other nations to facilitate international civil-military relationships. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Alvarez)

Aug. 19, 2022

Vt. Army National Guard hosts State Partner Senegal

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont — The Vermont Army National Guard hosted two Senegalese Air Force pilots and a flight engineer to conduct safety, operations, and maintenance cross-training with the VTARNG’s Aviators during a State Partnership Program visit, July 17-22.

Left to right, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, Vermont’s adjutant general; U.S. Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau; Klaudia Tanner, federal minister of defense of the Republic of Austria; U.S. Ambassador to Austria Victoria Kennedy; Lt. Gen. Erich Csitkovits, training director and commandant, National Defence Academy, sign letters of intent between the Vermont National Guard and Republic of Austria July 19, 2022, Vienna, Austria. The Vermont National Guard also has partnerships with North Macedonia, since 1993, and Senegal, since 2008.

July 19, 2022

Vermont National Guard Signs Letter of Intent with Republic of Austria

VIENNA — With a stroke of the pen, the Vermont National Guard and Republic of Austria’s letter of intent formalizing their partnership under the State Partnership Program is official. On July 19, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight, Vermont’s adjutant general; U.S. Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau; Klaudia Tanner, federal minister of defense of the Republic of Austria; and Lt. Gen. Erich Csitkovits, training director and commandant, National Defence Academy, performed a signing ceremony in Vienna to formalize the relationship between the Republic of Austria and Vermont.

A group photo of the 15th Civil Support Team, Vermont National Guard, and a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear battalion from the North Macedonia Army during a State Partnership Program engagement in Colchester, Vt., June 6-11, 2022. The engagement focused on working with civil authorities in the event of a disaster.

June 29, 2022

15th Civil Support Team Hosts State Partnership Program Engagement

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — The Vermont National Guard’s 15th Civil Support Team hosted six Soldiers from North Macedonia for civil support training at Camp Johnson in Colchester, June 6 -11th. The North Macedonia Army soldiers were from a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Battalion and came to Vermont to conduct exercises with the Vermont National Guard’s 15th CST.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Phil Vietje, an aviation instructor with C Company, 3-126th Aviation (Air Ambulance), Vermont Army National Guard, shows Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner around a UH-72 Lakota helicopter at the VTARNG Army Aviation Support Facility in South Burlington, Vermont, on May 12, 2022. The Vermont National Guard and Austrian Defence Ministry signed a State Partnership Program agreement May 11, 2022, to strengthen interagency cooperation and mutually improve in cyber defense, information operations, military mountaineering, humanitarian and disaster assistance response, and other areas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Don Branum)

May 20, 2022

Vermont Guard demonstrates rotary-wing capabilities for Austrian delegation

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — On May 12, a day after representatives from the Vermont National Guard and the Republic of Austria formally entered into a State Partner Program, Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner and staff were provided with rotary-wing flight demonstrations at Camp Johnson, the Vermont National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Colchester, Vermont.

Leaders from Vermont, the Vermont National Guard, and the Republic of Austria gathered in Montpelier for a signing ceremony officially beginning a partnership between the Vermont National Guard and the Republic of Austria through National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program, Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

The Republic of Austria is the third partner nation with the Vermont National Guard through the State Partnership Program. Vermont also works and trains with North Macedonia and Senegal.

May 11, 2022

Vermont National Guard, Austria formally recognize partnership

MONTPELIER, Vermont — Representatives from the Vermont National Guard and the Republic of Austria formally entered into a partnership May 11 at 2 p.m. Though work between the Austrian military and the Vermont National Guard is not new, the ceremony marked the formal beginning under the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program.

U.S. Army Soldiers with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, perform a live-fire training lane, Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, Vermont, July 16, 2020. The live-fire range was conducted as part of their annual training.

May 10, 2022

Vermont Guard to support training exercise Swift Response 22

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — More than 120 Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers will participate in training exercise Swift Response 22 in North Macedonia from May 11 to 17. Exercise Swift Response is an annual U.S. Army Europe and Africa multinational training exercise that takes place this year in Eastern Europe, the Arctic High North, Baltics, and Balkans from May 2-24.

Vermont Army National Guard rotary-wing pilots with 86th Troop Command conducted an aviation exchange with Senegalese Air Force pilots, March 13-19, 2022. The exchange was part of the State Partnership Program and the pilots discussed topics of aviation safety in addition to visiting Senegalese Air Force facilities. (courtesy photo)

March 30, 2022

Vermont National Guard, Senegalese air force conduct aviation exchange

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — 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.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Steve Gagner, commander, Army Mountain Warfare School, 124th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), Vermont National Guard, escorts an Austrian military delegation through the AMWS at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vermont, Feb. 14, 2022. Austria is scheduled to be Vermont’s newest state partner under the State Partnership Program.

March 1, 2022

Vermont National Guard hosts Austrian delegation

COLCHESTER, Vt. — The Vermont National Guard hosted Austrian military members at numerous National Guard sites Feb. 14-15 as part of the State Partnership Program.

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National Guard News

Maj. Gen. Matthew P. Beevers, the acting adjutant general of the California National Guard, pins the rank of brigadier general to Brig. Gen. Marlena A. DeCelle's uniform at her promotion ceremony in Sacramento, California, Jan. 26, 2023.

Cal Guard’s 1st Filipino General Officer Promotes to One Star

By Amanda H. Johnson, | March 31, 2023

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Okinawa armory floor was crowded with uniformed personnel and people. Excited conversations echoed between the walls as all waited in anticipation for the ceremony to begin.A row of five flags...

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Cody Hallas, 133rd Contingency Response Team, builds an Igloo in Crystal City, Canada. Hallas attended a five-day field training exercise during the Canadian Air Operations Survival training course.

Minnesota Guardsmen Train in Canadian Arctic

By Tech. Sgt. Amy Lovren, | March 30, 2023

RESOLUTE BAY, Canada - Two members of the Minnesota Air National Guard’s 133rd Contingency Response Team (CRT) flew to Resolute Bay to train with the Canadian military on Arctic air operations survival.U.S. Air Force Chief...

Master Sgt. Christopher Sehy, a recruiter with the Utah Army National Guard, embraces his wife, Crystal, as he receives the Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award from Maj. Gen. John Andonie, left, deputy director of the Army National Guard, during the Director’s Strength Maintenance Awards and Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, March 23, 2023. The conference brings together Army Guard recruiting team chiefs and the top Army Guard recruiters for training sessions and networking opportunities to tackle the challenges of recruiting.

Army Guard Conference Highlights Recruiting Tips, Challenges

By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy, | March 30, 2023

NEW ORLEANS – Seven Soldiers stood on stage at the award ceremony, waiting to hear who had taken top honors. A drum roll built suspense in the darkened room as audience members shifted in their seats. The drumming reached a...

Warrant Officer Catherine Trujillo, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 140th Aviation, in a UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopter at Army Aviation Sustainment Facility, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., March 28, 2023.

Washington National Guard Pilot Fulfills Dream to Fly

By Joseph Siemandel, | March 30, 2023

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Catherine Trujillo had always dreamed of flying helicopters. At the age of 35, she thought she had missed her chance.“Along the way in life, I put my family ahead of my career. But when my youngest...

Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard and commissioner of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, pins the Alaska Heroism Medal on Cpl. Bruce Boolowon, the only surviving member of the June 22, 1955, rescue team March 28, 2023, in Gambell, Alaska. The Alaska Heroism Medal is the state’s highest award for valor during peacetime.

Alaska Army Guard ‘First Scouts’ Honored for 1955 Rescue

By Alan Brown and Balinda ONeal, | March 30, 2023

GAMBELL, Alaska – On June 22, 1955, two Russian MiG-15s from Siberia shot down a U.S. Navy P2V-5 Neptune plane flying a routine maritime patrol from Kodiak out over the Bering Sea. After it crashed in flames on St. Lawrence...