Home > Key Activities > Partnership Programs > State Partnership Program

National Guard State Partnership Program

EUCOM image

Related Topics (22)

The National Guard's State Partnership Program (SPP) continues as one of EUCOM’s most effective security cooperation programs. By linking U.S. states with designated partner countries, it promotes access, enhances military capabilities, improves interoperability and enhances the principles of responsible governance. EUCOM’s SPP supports the commandant commander’s priorities and objectives to build enduring military-to-military (M2M) relationships. These sustained relationships enhance long-term international security while building partnership capacity.

EUCOM’s current-day SPP began in 1993 and evolved from the Joint Contact Team Program that was initially launched in Europe as a political and military outreach initiative for new democracies in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. SPP became a U.S. Department of Defense “program of record” in 2008 under the auspices of the National Guard Bureau.

This mission, accomplished through a bilateral relationship between a country and the National Guard of a state or territory, provides EUCOM with an integrated security cooperation tool. The mission spans military, political, economic and social realms; is characterized by personal and enduring relationships; features scalable cooperative activities via local, state and national conduits; and opens doors to the full depth and breadth of U.S. defense and interagency capabilities. All SPP activities must support the Theater Campaign Plan as well as individual U.S. ambassador mission plans in the countries where they operate.

SPP addresses critical areas, such as:

  • emergency management and disaster response
  • border and port security
  • leadership and NCO development
  • medical capacities
  • economic security
  • natural resource protection
  • peacekeeping operations
  • counter trafficking
  • counter proliferation
  • counter terrorism

Twenty-one states’ National Guard partner with 22 countries in EUCOM’s theater: 

Alabama / Romania

Indiana / Slovakia

Maryland / Bosnia

Ohio / Hungary

California / Ukraine

Iowa / Kosovo

Michigan / Latvia

Ohio / Serbia

Colorado / Slovenia

Kansas / Armenia

Minnesota / Croatia

Oklahoma / Azerbaijan

Georgia / Georgia

Maine / Montenegro

New Jersey / Albania

Pennsylvania / Lithuania

Illinois / Poland

Maryland / Estonia

North Carolina / Moldova

Tennessee / Bulgaria 
  Texas & Nebraska / Czech Republic Vermont / Macedonia  

From the ForumRSS

PhotosRSS

Articles RSS

  • December 15, 2011

    Senior Enlisted Leaders from U.S. European Command and Maine National Guard visit Montenegro

    FLTCM Maddocks and CSM Harris attended the opening ceremony for the Armed Forces' Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, which will develop 21 soldiers into NCOs.
  • August 1, 2011

    Closing Ceremonies, Mission Complete

    SAFE SKIES 2011 came to a close Friday after 12 days of successful flying.
  • July 29, 2011

    State Partnership Program demonstrates true collaboration with California

    The National Guard State Partnership Program paired 144th Fighter Wing from Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, with Mirgorod Air Base, Ukraine. Through the program, and SAFE SKIES 2011, the 144th Fighter Wing has developed a strong bond with the former soviet bloc-country.
  • July 26, 2011

    Maintenance for SAFE SKIES 2011

    Air National Guard F-16C/D fighters from Alabama and Iowa, and 130 personnel from California, Alabama, Washington, Wisconsin and Massachusetts relocated here to support SAFE SKIES 2011, a multinational event, where the Air National Guard flies with the Ukrainian and Polish Air Forces to help provide better airspace defense for the upcoming 2012 EUROCup.
  • July 26, 2011

    Life Supporting SAFE SKIES 2011

    Pilots experience intense forces during every flight. It is up to the Life Support team and medical staff assigned to it to ensure that physiological effects don’t negatively affect the mission.
  • July 25, 2011

    US Commanders impressed by SAFE SKIES 2011

    Mirgorod Air Base opened its doors to the media and a few key military leaders on July 22, highlighting the historic significance and achievements of SAFE SKIES 2011.
  • July 22, 2011

    Security Forces defending American assets, ensuring SAFE SKIES

    Amidst all the fast paced operations at Mirgorod Air Base, Ukraine, the quiet defenders work to ensure all United States assets are protected from any threat. Both personnel and aircraft are under a watchful eye, being kept ready for any potential danger or threat.
  • July 21, 2011

    East meets West: Western Air Defense Sector Participating in Eastern European Exercise

    A team of four controllers from the Western Air Defense Sector is participating in SAFE SKIES 2011 a joint US, Ukraine and Polish event in which American Air National Guard pilots fly engagements with Ukrainian Su-27s, MiG-29s and Polish F-16s to develop the Ukraine and Polish air sovereignty operations in preparation for the 2012 Olympics, 2012 EUROCup and 2014 Winter Games in Europe. The involvement truly demonstrates the true strength of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.
  • July 20, 2011

    SAFE SKIES 2011 presents rare opportunity

    During SAFE SKIES 2011, a joint US, Ukraine and Polish event where Air National Guard pilots fly engagements with Ukrainian SU-27, Mig-29s and Polish F-16s on air sovereignty operations in preparation for the 2012 Olympics and 2012 EUROCup and 2014 Winter Games in Europe.
  • July 18, 2011

    Opening ceremonies conclude with pilot exchange

    SAFE SKIES 2011 officially started today as Airmen of the Alabama, California, Massachusetts and Washington Air National Guard participated in opening ceremonies here at Mirgorod Air Base, Ukraine.

Blog Posts RSS

  • November 22, 2011

    School donation continues long-standing relationship with Poland

    Just last week, I visited the Krakow School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which was heavily damaged in the spring floods of 2010, to deliver furniture and pianos donated by the U.S. Government.
  • May 26, 2011

    Proof in Meaningful Projects in Romania

    Normally, I spend most of my time behind a desk fighting the administrative battles while my director handles the travel.  Recently, I had the opportunity and the distinct honor to cut ribbons at three EUCOM Humanitarian Assistance (HA) projects in the Tulcea (Danube Delta) region of Romania.  We held opening ceremonies for a renovated kindergarten, clinic, and a special needs orphanage; all unique projects, but the appreciation of the recipients and dedication of the directors, local government officials, and the people were the same.
  • March 15, 2011

    Exploring Wounded Warrior issues in partner nations

    Wounded Warrior, Veteran care, traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder. All are powerful terms capable of eliciting intense emotions from military service members and civilians alike. For the Baltic nations of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia supporting International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan it is a term they are becoming more familiar with.
  • October 5, 2010

    A Fighting Force & So Much More

    The military is occasionally called upon to provide life saving assistance in times of disaster. I’ve blogged over the past few years about our involvement in fires, floods and earthquakes. These disasters, and the military’s role in them, receive much attention. But the military is also routinely involved in capacity building projects which often do not get the same level of coverage.
  • November 23, 2009

    Donation to the Chambarak School in Armenia

    Riding down the bumpy dirt road with a semi–truck trailing behind, a smile appears on my face. We approach several cows standing in the middle of the road that are in no hurry, of course. I honk the horn twice and they finally begin to amble on their way, except for one. He slowly raises his head, looks directly at me, and I swear I hear him say, “What’s your hurry?” I get the hint, sit back and relax as he wags his tail and slowly moseys along.
  • September 17, 2009

    Building partner capacity through medical engagement

    In response to changes in the 2006 Quadrenial Defense Review and the U.S. European Command’s new Strategy for Active Security, engagement has moved to Building Partner Capacity. Medical engagement is an excellent venue to execute this mandate.
  • August 27, 2009

    European Partnership Task Force

    The EPTF is designed from top to bottom, left to right to embody the concept of Partnership.  That's why we selected the image to the right and the motto, Give Way Together for the conference.  We're all in this together and need to work as a team to make progress.  And that we did during the conference.  I know this spirit will carry forward as we start to implement the EPTF.
  • August 6, 2009

    The State Partnership Program, Relationships, and Building Partner Capability

    Increasingly, these relationships are also forged in the fires of combat.  Many of the states in the EUCOM SPP have deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq with their partner nations.  In some cases, the partner nation requested their co-deployment based on the strength of their relationship.  Poland and Illinois comes to mind, as does Georgia and Georgia.  In other cases, the state provides critical capabilities to enable the partner deployment.  Great examples are the co-deployment Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (OMLT).  Michigan-Latvia, Tennessee-Bulgaria, Hungary-Ohio, and Minnesota-Croatia are good examples and the list is growing.
  • June 23, 2009

    SPP wraps up with focus on Bilateral Affairs Officers

    I can’t tell you how pleased I am with the success of our 2009 State Partnership Program Conference. I heard nothing but great feedback about the conference from General McKinley and the Adjutants General who attended. While we have lots of work to do on the conference deliverables, I tip my hat to everyone who made the conference a success. It truly exceeded expectations.
  • June 16, 2009

    State Partnership Program Conference – Forging Ahead

    We got off to a great start at the 2009 EUCOM State Partnership Program Conference. National Guard Bureau Chief, General McKinley, set the stage with his opening remarks about how SPP has matured over the past 15 years, but noted that we need to be "on a vector to make it better." That charge from the Chief opened the floor for some lively, honest and thought-provoking debate about how we at EUCOM, along with our 20 SPP TAGs (Adjutant Generals), and our Component Commands, can communicate and work better to improve the program. A take away for me and my staff is to find ways to bridge the communication gap between our TAGs and our Component Commands -- USAFE (United States Air Forces Europe) and USAREUR (United States Army Europe). The State Partnership Program is a tool of the EUCOM Commander's Theater Security Cooperation plan. It can and should be a multiplier for the component commands as well. We haven't done a great job making that happen. We're going to fix that.

Videos RSS

  • March 5, 2010

    Latvian Army and US National Guard train in Germany

    One of the ways the U.S. military is building the Afghan Army is through Observer Mentor Liaison Teams, or OMLETS. At the Joint Multinational Training Center in Hohenfels, Germany, the Latvian Army and the Michigan National Guard are training together and building bonds.
  • September 15, 2009

    RPG Training to Guardsmen

    Bulgarian troops provide RPG training to Tennessee Guardsmen as part of Joint Task Force-East.
  • September 10, 2009

    U.S., Bulgarian troops conduct urnban training

    Troops in Bulgaria and Tennessee Army National Guardsmen conduct training.