{"id":19024,"date":"2023-07-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=19024"},"modified":"2023-07-17T06:48:33","modified_gmt":"2023-07-17T06:48:33","slug":"a-mosaic-of-opportunities-the-department-of-defense-national-guard-state-partnership-program-looks-to-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=19024","title":{"rendered":"\u2018A Mosaic of Opportunities\u2019 The Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program Looks to the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>

\n 1 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of, National Guard Bureau, visits Vietnam to help reinforce the mutually beneficial, successful security relationship with the Oregon National Guard established in 2012 under the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program, which strengthens the partners\u2019 capabilities to respond to natural disasters, Hai Phong, Vietnam, May 19, 2023.
\n (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Jim Greenhill)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"NJ
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n New Jersey Army National Guard Sgt. Thomas Kwiatkowski of 1st Detachment, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, collaborates with Albanian Armed Forces forward observers on fundamentals of operations, at Land Forces Headquarters, Zall-Herr, Tirana, Albania, Feb. 6, 2023. The State Partnership Program began in 1993 with 13 partners. Thirty years later, the program has grown to 95 partner nations and is a key U.S. security cooperation tool that facilitates collaboration across all aspects of civil-military affairs.
\n (Photo Credit: Pfc. Seth Cohen)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Albanian
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 3 \/ 3<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Albanian Capt. Egluent Rika, left, and New Jersey Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class James Harrison discuss a combat convoy exercise in a virtual reality simulator at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on July 9. More than a dozen soldiers from the Republic of Albania are training in the United States for two weeks as part of a longstanding partnership with New Jersey forces as part of the National Guard State Partnership Program, a Department of Defense program that links National Guard forces from U.S. States and territories with member nations around the world.
\n (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Wayne Woolley)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

This is part three of the five part series “State Partnership Program turns 30.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The National Guard\u2019s most senior officer sees potential for about 30 more countries to enter security cooperation agreements with the Guard over the next decade or so, though no one\u2019s fixated on an exact number.<\/p>\n

And the 30-year-old, 100-nation Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program will inevitably evolve in other ways, just as it has over its first three decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we look at all the nations out there, 130 partnerships probably gets us to about where we need to be,\u201d says Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, 29th Chief of the National Guard Bureau.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reason we\u2019ve been so successful over the past couple of years is the geographic combatant commanders have been vocal advocates for the importance of the SPP, for funding and for leveraging it,\u201d Hokanson says. \u201cIt\u2019s not just us talking about the value and the importance: It is now the combatant commanders, the Joint Staff, the State Department and our nation\u2019s ambassadors all seeing the benefits firsthand and talking about the value.\u201d<\/p>\n

This fiscal year, the National Guard enterprise \u2013 more than 430,000 Soldiers and Airmen, residents of almost every American ZIP code \u2013 has already completed more than 200 engagements, exercises and exchanges with partner nation counterparts in every geographic combatant command.<\/p>\n

The Guard averages about 1,000 annual SPP engagements, and that number is expected to increase, as the program continues to expand.<\/p>\n

Guard leaders list enhancing existing partnerships, adding new ones, making the funding that pays for the program more predictable from year to year, and experimenting with noncommissioned officer representation in U.S. embassies overseas among plans to take the SPP \u2013 which has already wildly exceeded its founders\u2019 best hopes \u2013 to the next level.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no limitations on which countries can apply,\u201d says Army Maj. Gen. William Zana, the Guard Bureau\u2019s strategic plans and policy and international affairs director.<\/p>\n

The SPP began in Europe to help emerging democracies after the collapse of the Soviet Bloc. It expanded in Central and South America, where almost all nations have active partnerships.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see expansion in Africa,\u201d Zana says. \u201cWe see a continued expansion in Europe, and now the Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have good discussions going on with a variety of both geographically large and large-population nations with highly capable armed forces, and I think you\u2019ll see that as an aspect of the program going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leaders across the board, including in partner nations, remain concerned about reliable, predictable funding \u2013 a subject made even more complicated by the fact that the U.S. fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 each year, sometimes differs from the fiscal years used by partners.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny way that we can ensure that funding year-to-year, that not only our states, but our allies and partners can rely on and know that the engagements they schedule are going to be executed is fundamental,\u201d Hokanson says. \u201cIn many cases, countries plan years in advance, and we need to be able to know that \u2013 when we\u2019ve agreed to those training events or exercises that the partners do together \u2013 we\u2019ve got the resources available to actually make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Designated funding projected over years would also relieve pressure on geographic combatant commands that allocate limited resources to support the SPP, Hokanson says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe SPP accounts for about 1% of the Defense Department\u2019s security cooperation budget,\u201d Zana notes. \u201cThat 1% results in somewhere between 20% and 30% of all geographic combatant command engagements \u2013 a number even more remarkable when you think in certain countries the predominance of engagements are driven by the SPP.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zana says the SPP has rebounded from COVID travel restrictions that caused a decrease in engagements.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sense there is some pent-up demand driving an increased number of requests to support additional training, engagements, and exercises\u201d Zana adds.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs combatant commands, services, and allies and partners resume focus on exercises that were previously canceled, postponed, or de-scoped,\u201d Zana says, \u201cwe see many emergent opportunities that would add readiness and capability for us and our partners.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m eager to see full and normalized funding for the program to better enable our planning and coordination with the many stakeholders and organizations involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

One constant cog in the wheel of SPP success is the bilateral affairs officers, Guardsmen assigned from states to the U.S. embassy in their partner country. Another is the SPP director who works in the state headquarters back home. Both positions are key facilitators to ensure communication, collaboration and coordination between all who have stakes in the partnership, and to oversee day-to-day execution.<\/p>\n

Army Lt. Col. Christopher Markesino, who manages the Oregon National Guard\u2019s SPP relationships, was named the SPP Director of the Year last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many engagements that Oregon is taking part in, and there is so much that goes on behind the scenes \u2026 passports, travel visas, declaration forms \u2026 you name it,\u201d Markesino says. \u201cIn-person relationships is what our countries want. They want us there, we want them here, and we really want that face-to-face to exchange ideas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe tell our teams going overseas on these missions: not only are you representing yourself, but the entire Oregon Guard \u2013 and they\u2019re going to look at you as the entire U.S. military. You\u2019re getting a chance to share your experience and expertise that the Army sent you to school for with others. It\u2019s an incredible opportunity for our NCOs and junior officers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Army Maj. Angel Pastrana has served as the Virginia National Guard\u2019s bilateral affairs officer in Colombia.<\/p>\n

“The most important thing I’ve gained from this experience are the relationships I’ve developed here,” Pastrana says. “It’s also humbling to watch our partners learn alongside us, not just our military stuff, but to learn from their cultures and their experiences within their particular services. Understanding and seeing how they do things in their countries, having that exchange of diverse perspectives throughout the tactical, operational and strategic operations proved meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Army Maj. Joel Johnson has been the Washington National Guard\u2019s bilateral affairs officer in the Kingdom of Thailand.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am looking forward to seeing our Washington National Guard Soldiers and Airmen here more and more,\u201d Johnson says. \u201cI want to see our members and their Thai counterparts here training together, learning and growing together and building relationships. When I bring a delegation to the states, I like to rope my local family and friends into the mix \u2013 we host dinners and spend time together, and that makes great opportunities to share stories and life experiences. This means a lot because both sides are going to look to those relationships in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sustaining vital positions like the state directors and bilateral affairs officers depends on reliable funding.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the states and territories, and from the NGB, we remain concerned about having sufficient funding, both to execute engagements, and to staff sufficient personnel in the key positions of the BAOs and the directors,\u201d Zana said.<\/p>\n

The former chiefs of the Bureau since the SPP\u2019s founding echo Hokanson\u2019s sentiment that reliable funding is critical to continued and future success.<\/p>\n

The SPP flourishes despite that challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very proud of the efforts from both the states, the combatant commands, and our folks to achieve more than 96% execution of all planned engagements last year,\u201d Zana says. \u201cThat\u2019s absolutely heroic work. That said, I absolutely firmly believe we can execute even a much larger budget at 100% and beyond with a more deliberate and predictable funding process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zana adds that the Guard Bureau works closely with the services, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the combatant commands to ensure the Guard is properly stewarding resources and appropriately prioritizing events to best support the National Defense Strategy.<\/p>\n

The SPP\u2019s about $42 million annual budget relies in part on additional allocations from Congress each year and is also subject to the uncertainty of Congressional continuing resolutions \u2013 temporary funding measures to fund activities when appropriations bills have not been passed by the start of the fiscal year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a modest program when you look at the return on investment,\u201d Zana says. \u201cWhat we would like to see going forward is full funding through the Army and Air Force budgets.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Army and the Air Force are the National Guard\u2019s parent services.<\/p>\n

Adding bilateral affairs noncommissioned officers to America\u2019s embassies in partner countries would both enhance the SPP and help the Guard further develop its best and brightest, leaders say.<\/p>\n

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine illustrates the impact of a professionalized NCO corps. The American military model empowers noncommissioned officers and values initiative in the absence of orders at the small unit level, by contrast with other countries \u2013 such as Russia \u2013 where leadership is focused on the upper echelons alone.<\/p>\n

Observers say Ukraine\u2019s ability to transform its former military structure to empower its noncommissioned officers \u2013 helped by its 30-year partnership with the California National Guard \u2013 has been critical in battling Russia\u2019s brutal, unprovoked invasion.<\/p>\n

Many SPP nations highly value NCO-to-NCO engagements and enlisted professional development as they seek to emulate America\u2019s proven track record of incorporating NCO and enlisted troops into the scheme of operations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re actively pursuing having bilateral affairs NCOs (BANs), in a pilot program,\u201d Zana says. \u201cWe\u2019re working with the combatant commanders, some of our internal funding, and also the creativity and efforts of the states. What we\u2019d like to see is the eventual placement of BANs forward with each of our BAOs.\u201d<\/p>\n

With models like the Iowa National Guard\u2019s \u201cwhole of Iowa, whole of Kosovo\u201d approach in mind, leaders also are discussing how to broaden the SPP beyond military-to-military engagements.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you keep all the great successes for the next 30 years and build that relationship to military-to-civilian and even civilian-to-civilian?\u201d asks retired Army Gen. Frank Grass, 27th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, adding that some states have already accomplished this. \u201cYou\u2019ve got relationships with men and women here in the United States, in our states, who are both civilians and military at the same time, so they bring that civilian background. How can you use that starting point to help build a partner capacity on the civilian-to-civilian side?\u201d<\/p>\n

The SPP of the future will also evolve as military capabilities and focus areas shift. Hokanson cites the cyber realm and the space domain as just two examples.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Guard\u2019s ability to deal with cyber issues is really good because we\u2019ve got a large cyber defense industry, and a lot of Guardsmen have that experience from their civilian careers and bring it to their military profession,\u201d Hokanson says. \u201cMany partner countries are trying to develop this capability, because they see the threat every single day.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re also seeing an increased demand in the space domain. And, fortunately, with our Air Guard folks who do the space mission, they can work with these partners on the future of developing space capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The New York National Guard\u2019s work with Brazil on developing its space program is an example. \u201cThe New York Guard has great experience there, and they\u2019re sharing it,\u201d Hokanson says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe National Guard\u2019s demonstrated space expertise, paired with the State Partnership Program, offers a readily-available capability to strengthen the integration of the space domain into larger deterrence efforts,\u201d says Air Force Lt. Col. Nicole David, director of the strategic initiatives group for the National Guard Bureau, Space Operations.<\/p>\n

The National Guard\u2019s unique advantage is its military-focused space expertise paired with the aerospace industry context gained from service members\u2019 positions as civilian space professionals. \u201cAbout 45% of our part-time space professionals are working in the civilian aerospace industry,\u201d David says.<\/p>\n

No matter the partner nation needs, or partner state capacity, the National Guard can deliver, says Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville, 12th Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the world evolves, from a geopolitical perspective, a national security perspective, an economic perspective,\u201d Sasseville says, \u201cwe’ve realized that we ought to be able to position ourselves so all of our capacity and capability is distributable to where it needs to be the most as we essentially manage the SPP from the Pentagon.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are global interests that our competitors have that aren’t always apparent from the tactical level. And it’s easier to see how the themes, and the competition, and the challenges weave together to create a mosaic of opportunities at the strategic level.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Army Brig. Gen. Jesse Morehouse, U.S. Space Command; John Hughel, Oregon National Guard; Mike Vrabel, Virginia National Guard; and Joseph Siemandel, Washington National Guard, contributed.<\/p>\n

State Partnership Program<\/a><\/p>\n

State Partnership Program turns 30<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Five-Part Series By Master Sgt. Jim Greenhill and Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely, National Guard Bureau<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Why Don\u2019t we do a Little Partnership Thing?\u2019 The Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program is Born<\/a><\/p>\n

‘Our Real Superpower as a Nation is our Allies and Partners’ The Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program Today<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018A Mosaic of Opportunities\u2019 The Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program Looks to the Future<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018It truly is a Team Sport\u2019 How the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program Works<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018The Most Important People in the Army are the Sergeants\u2019 The Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program: A Crucial Arrow in Ukraine\u2019s Quiver<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of, National Guard Bureau, visits Vietnam to help reinforce the mutually beneficial, successful security relationship with the Oregon National Guard established in 2012 under the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program, which strengthens the partners\u2019 capabilities to respond to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19026,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19024"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19030,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19024\/revisions\/19030"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19026"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}