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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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The Maryland Air National Guard partnered with Estonia’s Cyber Command to host exercise Baltic Blitz 23 from Sept. 17-20, 2023, at Ämari Air Base, Harijumaa, Estonia. About 30 Airmen from the 175th Wing, two Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers, 12 service members from Poland, and 30 Estonians participated in the exercise to secure simulated rail transportation systems from cyber attacks.

Maryland Guard, Estonian Partners Focus on Cyber Defense

By 1st Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington, | Sept. 21, 2023

ÄMARI AIR BASE, Estonia - The Maryland Air National Guard partnered with Estonia’s Cyber Command Sept. 17-20 to host the cybersecurity exercise Baltic Blitz 23. About 30 Airmen from the 175th Wing, two Illinois Army National...

North Carolina National Guard Capt. Ken Vilagos instructs Moldovan soldiers assigned to the 2nd Motorized Infantry Brigade during Exercise Fire Shield 23 at Bulboaca Training Center, Moldova, Sept. 13, 2023. The annual exercise between North Carolina and Moldova focuses on developing artillery and fire support capabilities.

North Carolina Guard Joins Exercise Rapid Trident in Moldova

By U.S. Army Europe and Africa | Sept. 21, 2023

WIESBADEN, Germany - North Carolina National Guard members are in Moldova for Exercise Rapid Trident Sept. 10-22 with U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s V Corps, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova, and the Romanian Armed...

Cadets with the Puerto Rico National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy celebrate their graduation at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, Puerto Rico, Sept. 15, 2023. More than 220 cadets received their high school diplomas after completing a 22-week program.

Puerto Rico Guard Youth Program Develops Future Leaders

By 2nd Lt. Eliezer Soto, | Sept. 21, 2023

PONCE, Puerto Rico - More than 220 cadets with the Puerto Rico Youth ChalleNGe Academy graduated from the 22-week educational program with their high school diplomas and certificates in vocational or technical courses Sept...

Solders from the Maryland Army National Guard's 175th Infantry Regiment conduct ambush section training for members of the Estonian Defence League, in Rutja, Lääne-Viru County, Estonia, Sept. 18, 2023. The 18 Maryland Soldiers trained over 2,000 EDL members over three days.

Maryland Guard Teaches Ambush Tactics to Estonian Partners

By 1st Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington, | Sept. 21, 2023

RUTJA, Estonia - Soldiers from the Maryland Army National Guard’s 175th Infantry Regiment shared their expertise in ambush tactics with members of the Estonian Defence League in Estonia. The training was conducted in...

Graphics: Patch for William Tell 2023. The Air Force’s first William Tell air-to-air competition in almost twenty years takes flight at the Air Dominance Center, Savanah, Georgia, September 11 to 15.

Air Force Announces Winners of William Tell 2023 Competition

By ACC Public Affairs Staff, | Sept. 21, 2023

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Air Force wrapped up its first William Tell Air-to-Air Competition in 19 years on Sept. 15, at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia.Airmen from across active and guard wings participated in...