Participation in the State Partnership Program

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 09:18:05 -0400

Has anyone participated in the SPP through their State
National Guard? Was wondering about experiences
and if you believe there is add4d value to a soldiers career participating in
such events?

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Mar 19 at 2014 2:24 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:24:48 -0400

I was in the Army Guard in Iowa and Montana, then Air Guard in MT for a couple years before going back to the active duty Air Force... Never heard of the State Partnership Program. One of a couple thoughts....either A) it is new (like in the last 10-15 years) or B) it was poorly promoted in the units I was in.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2014 10:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 22:08:19 -0400

Added value to the Soldiers career? Kansas is in a formal companionship with Armenia. I enjoy seeing their upper echelon walk around Topeka Military Museum in amazement (reading our annual report) and also the added benefit of knowing that our State is directly influencing their career path. No, our State doesn't really usher those delegates to other units (that I'm aware of). So Soldiers such as myself can meet them. The Armenian Army usually sends a few Soldiers to get hands on training with our Soldiers and sleeping at their homes during that training, but the training is usually that which isn't considered "lower level" exercises. I read our annual reports every year and I'm always wishing that I could take the course of instruction they were taking. This is based off the knowledge that I know which doesn't say much because now you having wondering, "Why don't my Soldiers know that we are in a partnership with the country of Armenia? (I'm sure I'm the only Soldier in my unit that knows this) The answer would be no one solicits or promotes that aspect of our National Guard influence.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2023 6:01 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 18:01:59 -0400

I have done a couple AT rotations with our state partner and while exhasting, it was an amazing experience.