Page 14 - The Dispatch July 2019

TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT

and the Republic of Chile. Prior to signing the formal “Beyond the military benefits, we have witnessed
agreement on the steps of the Texas Capitol, lawmak- the fruits of these relationships as they help the Unit-
ers honored the same group on the House floor. ed States maintain and grow its alliances across the
Story By: Staff Sgt. Emmanuel Gutierrez & Airman Christopher Sherlock globe through enduring and personal relationships,”
188th Wing Public Affairs “Today’s events, in which representatives from Texas said Lengyel in a 2018 Strategic Studies Quarterly ar-
and Chile were standing side-by-side, exemplify the ticle. “What began as a program of 10 partnerships in
solidarity of our commitment to the program and one Eastern Europe has spread across five continents and
another,” said White. “In 2020, we will jointly execute currently encompasses approximately one-third of the
over 40 SPP events in both of our countries as we start nations in the world.”
our second decade of partnership which strives to be
the model for SPP in SOUTHCOM.” As part of the program, and in addition to Chile, the
Texas and Nebraska National Guards share a part-
Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, Chief of the National Guard nership with the Czech Republic. In 2018, the Czech
Bureau, has said that SPP is future-focused and adap- Armed Forces and its state partners commemorated
tive to geopolitical changes. Lengyel added that NGB the 25th anniversary of their partnership. Under the
has seen the program grow from assisting nations in National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program
developing more modern and professional militaries there are currently 76 partnerships in place, support-
functioning under civilian control to partnerships that ing 83 nations around the globe. -D
look to deepen interoperability with complementary (BELOW) Maj. Gen. Tracy R. Norris, the Adjutant General Of Texas,
capabilities and forces. addresses a gathered crowd on the importance of the Texas Military
Department's state partnership with the nation of Chile during a
signing ceremony at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, April 12, 2019.

TEXAS AND CHILE CELEBRATE A

DECADE OF STATE PARTNERSHIP

Story & Photos By: Brandon Jones “Both our state and their nation have significant re-
Texas Military Department Public Affairs sponsibilities with regards to disaster response, and

AUSTIN, Texas – The National Guard’s core mission in- experience is often one of the best teachers. So what
cludes fighting America’s wars and securing the home- better way to support one another than helping to
land, but one of its lesser-known missions is that of share and improve upon best practices?” said Maj.
building enduring partnerships. Mark White, State Partnership Program Director, Texas
Military Department. “An experience our Soldiers and
From April 10-13, 2019, members of the Texas National Airmen value, a great secondary benefit to SPP. is the
Guard and Chilean Armed Forces converged in Austin, exchanging of our cultures and what makes Chile and
Texas, to discuss and celebrate their partnership that Texas special places respectively. We create lifelong
started one decade ago. As part of the Annual State friendships through every event together.”
Partnership Program planning meeting, the parties
met to discuss, plan and establish agreed-upon activ- In addition to planning events for the fiscal year 2020,
ities in both countries for the year ahead. The events, this trip included multiple activities commemorating
held throughout the year, focus on disaster and emer- the tenth anniversary of the partnership. On April
gency response; aviation operations, maintenance and 12, 2019, the Deputy Secretary of State of Texas Jose
safety; military medical and engineer activities; as well A. Esparza presented the Chilean delegation with a
as leadership, staff, officer and noncommissioned offi- proclamation recognizing and honoring the import-
cer development. ant partnership between the Texas National Guard
(ABOVE) Texas Deputy Secretary of State Joseph Esparza poses for a photo alongside Texas Militay Department and Chilean military leaders
after a signing ceremony and 36th Infantry Division Band Concert at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, April 12, 2019.
14 TheDISPATCH July 2019 www.tmd.texas.gov 15