Members of the Ecuadorian Air Force salute during a ceremony welcoming the arrival of a C-130H Hercules to the Ecuadorian Air Force in Latacunga, Ecuador, March 25, 2024. The ceremony, which included top Ecuadorian military and civilian leaders, marked a new milestone in Ecuador’s participation in the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, which has paired Ecuador and … [Read more...]
Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School
MAY 6, 2024 - Two Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers completed the challenging Brazilian Basic Mountaineering Course in April in Sao Joao Del Rei. Sgt. 1st Class David Girr and Staff Sgt. Cyran Willis were invited to participate in the course as part of a broader mountain operations exchange program with the U.S. Army and the Brazilian Army. This initiative aims to … [Read more...]
Guard Stresses NCOs Role in State Partnership Program
Chief Master Sgt. Mikael Sundin, senior enlisted advisor to the director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, provides remarks during the State Partnership Program Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 17, 2024. During his remarks, Sundin spoke on security cooperation, NCO development and fielded questions from the audience. (Army National Guard photo by: Sgt. 1st Class … [Read more...]
Nation’s Investment in National Guard Comes at Pivotal Moment
MAY 2, 2024 – The National Guard is a dynamic operational force integral to the National Defense Strategy, the Guard’s most senior officer told lawmakers April 30, emphasizing that sustained mission readiness requires continued and deeper investment in the Guard. In his annual testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, 29th … [Read more...]
National Guard Formalizes Partnership with Finland
MAY 2, 2024 – The Virginia National Guard has been selected as the U.S. partner to the nation of Finland for the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced May 2. The official signing ceremony occurred at the Finnish Ministry of Defense in Helsinki with signing partners Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, Maj. Gen. … [Read more...]