(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), co-chairs of the Senate National Guard Caucus, announced that they recently introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing 30 years of the National Guard’s State Partner Program (SPP), a highly successful effort to pair state National Guard units with foreign partner military forces for training, partner capacity building and cultural exchange.
The program was created in 1993 to assist countries following the fall of the Soviet Union but it has now grown to include 100 countries and the participation of every National Guard unit. The New Hampshire National Guard deeply values their partnerships with El Salvador and Cabo Verde and the South Carolina National Guard currently partners with the Republic of Colombia, which not only give Guard members unique exposure to foreign military forces but also provides the U.S. with intangible but valuable influence and presence in emerging regions.
“As the thirtieth anniversary of the State Partner Program approaches, it’s important to pause and recognize the valuable and long-lasting partnerships that the United States has forged thanks to this National Guard effort,” said Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “The New Hampshire National Guard specifically enjoys a trusted partnership with El Salvador and Cabo Verde, and I know that connection is replicated by other Guard units around the country with partner nations. These partnerships enhance our bilateral relations and can often outlast the mission. Amid Russia’s unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine, a Ukrainian soldier contacted a Guard Member he worked with through the SPP for guidance on using a Javelin anti-tank missile. The Guard Member walked him through the process, mid-battle, helping the Ukrainian soldier to deploy the missile and defend his nation. I’m a proud supporter of the SPP and equally proud to co-lead this resolution recognizing its importance, while honoring the Guard Members who make it successful.”
“As a co-chair of the Senate National Guard Caucus, I appreciate Senator Shaheen leading this resolution to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program,” said Senator Graham. “As a veteran who also served in the Air National Guard, I understand how important the State Partnership Program is for advancing U.S. interests and assisting our partners and allies with their military readiness.”
Text of the resolution is available here.
It is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Blackburn (R-TN), Blumenthal (D-CT), Boozman (R-AR), Capito (R-WV), Cardin (D-MD), Carper (D-DE), Collins (R-ME), Coons (D-DE), Cornyn (R-TX), Cramer (R-ND), Crapo (R-ID), Duckworth (D-IL), Durbin (D-IL), Ernst (R-IA), Fischer (R-NE), Hassan (D-NH), Hirono (D-HI), Hoeven (R-ND), King (I-ME), Klobuchar (D-MN), Manchin (D-WV), McConnell (R-KY), Merkley (D-OR), Moran (R-KS), Murkowski (R-AK), Murray (D-WA), Risch (R-ID), Smith (D-MN), Tester (D-MT), Van Hollen (D-MD), Wyden (D-OR) and Young (R-IN).
Original source can be found here.
