The National Guard State Partnership Program: Is It Still Relevant

Abstract : Now more than ever the National Guard has an opportunity to take an active part in shaping the U.S. National Security Strategy. The State Partnership Program provides a mechanism by which Guard members can hone there Major Occupational Skills (MOS) related skills and demonstrate to foreign citizens what democracy really means. The National Guard State Partnership has paired 24 states with foreign partners in Europe, Central, and South America. Through this effort the countries involved receive humanitarian assistance to improve living conditions in their respective countries. The Guard members involved gain the experience of an overseas deployment and learn to overcome the hardships of accomplishing their missions under the most austere conditions. In this paper I examine the Kentucky - Ecuadorian partnership in hopes of highlighting the successes and making recommendations for improvement of future operations.