Salvadoran Defense Minister René Merino, left, and New Hampshire Adjutant Gen. David Mikolaities discuss the New Hampshire National Guard-El Salvador partnership under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program May 25, 2022, in San Salvador, El Salvador.

June 6, 2022

New Hampshire National Guard, El Salvador Build on SPP Relationship

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — After two years of sporadic correspondence, it only took a few minutes of face time for New Hampshire Adjutant Gen. David Mikolaities and Salvadoran Defense Minister René Merino to reaffirm their commitment to the State Partnership Program.

Pennsylvania Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler and Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Worley, senior enlisted leader, Pennsylvania National Guard, visit with senior Lithuanian leaders and Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers deployed to Lithuania in support of Defender Europe 22 and NATO exercise Flaming Thunder on May 19, 2022.

June 4, 2022

Pa. National Guard senior leaders visit Lithuania

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — Pennsylvania National Guard senior leaders visited Lithuania recently to meet with Lithuanian military leaders and visit Pennsylvania National Guard members who were deployed there.

Staff Sgt. Travis Mattoon, Stryker Leaders Course instructor from 1st Battalion, 205th Regional Training Institute, Washington Army National Guard, instructs Royal Thai Army officers on the remote weapons system of a Stryker combat vehicle.

June 2, 2022

Guard, Royal Thai Army take part in Stryker Leaders' Course

YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash — Through 20 years of partnership, the Washington National Guard and the Royal Thai Armed Forces have shared knowledge and best practices on many topics. The latest exchange was the first of its kind for the two nations

Colin Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy, stands at a podium with a monitor on the side.

June 1, 2022

Advanced Rocket Launcher System Heads to Ukraine

PENTAGON — As part of the latest presidential drawdown package for Ukraine — this one worth $700 million dollars — the Defense Department has included four M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS. 

Brig. Gen. Gerald A. Donohue, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, met with Major General Essa bin Ali Al Kubaisi, commander of the Qatar Emiri corps of engineers to discuss future construction plans for the Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar Feb 24, 2021. Over the past four years, many Program Management Office staff members have worked shoulder to shoulder with the Qatar Emiri Corps of Engineers to complete Phase 1(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Phaff)

June 1, 2022

Qatar Partners with USACE Transatlantic Division to Strengthen the Qatar Emiri Corps of Engineers

WINCHESTER, Va. — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been Building Strong across the Middle East for nearly 70 years, partnering with allied nations to build civil and defense infrastructure in a dynamic, challenging construction environment. These partnerships and the projects they execute are not just necessary for our success - but also for the success of our nation’s global priorities and our allied mission partners’ continued security and stability. The State of Qatar, one of our allied partners, is moving full speed ahead to make that a reality with its own Corps of Engineers nested within the Qatari Land Forces.

Kentucky National Guard's Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 75th Troop Command poses for a group photo at the end of Operation Tradewinds 2022 at Price Barracks, Belize on May 20, 2022. HHD, 75th Troop Command provided brigade level support to Tradewinds 22, a multinational exercise designed to expand the Caribbean region’s capability to mitigate, plan for and respond to crises; increase regional training capacity and interoperability; develop new and refine existing standard operating procedures (SOPs); enhance ability to defend exclusive economic zones (EEZ); and promote human rights and adherence to shared international norms and values; fully integrate women into defense, peace and security missions; and increase maritime domain awareness to deter illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Dickson).

May 31, 2022

Kentucky National Guard participates in Tradewinds 22

PRICE BARRACKS, Belize — Kentucky National Guard Soldiers traveled out of the country to support Operation Tradewinds 22 in Belize between Aug. 29 through May 25, 2022. Almost 40 Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 75th Troop Command, including six support Soldiers from other units, set up brigade level operations to support 1,802 servicemembers from 22 partner nations at the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) at Price Barracks.

U.S. Donates Vehicles to Support Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ Peacekeeping Efforts

May 24, 2022

U.S. Donates Vehicles to Support Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ Peacekeeping Efforts

U.S. Embassy in the Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu — Yesterday the U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Tony Greubel donated four vehicles worth approximately FJ$487,000 (US $224,000) to the Government of Fiji in a handover ceremony at the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Queen Elizabeth Barracks. Chargé d’affaires Greubel said, “The United States is proud of the partnership that we have built with

U.S. Donates Vehicles to Support Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ Peacekeeping Efforts

May 24, 2022

U.S. Donates Vehicles to Support Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ Peacekeeping Efforts

FIJI — Yesterday the U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Tony Greubel donated four vehicles worth approximately FJ$487,000 (US $224,000) to the Government of Fiji in a handover ceremony at the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Queen Elizabeth Barracks.

Defense secretary and Joint Chiefs chairman stand at twin lecterns in front of seated audience.

May 23, 2022

U.S. Defense Leaders Pleased by Progress of Ukraine Contact Group

WASHINGTON — In just over a month, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group has proven its worth with donations and deliveries to the embattled country, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said.

206th Digital Liaison Detachment ensures Combined Command Post Training success with U.S.-South Korea command

May 20, 2022

206th Digital Liaison Detachment ensures training with U.S.-South Korea command a success

CAMP YONGIN, South Korea — The 206th Digital Liaison Detachment (DLD) expanded the liaison capacity of the 2501st DLD in Combined Command Post Training (CCPT) 22.1, an U.S.–Republic of Korea (ROK) exercise from 10-29 April.

Army Reserve unit sets sights on Defender Europe 2214112006

May 10, 2022

Army Reserve unit sets sights on Defender Europe 22

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers with the 793rd Movement Control Team will put their training to the test during DEFENDER-Europe 22’s Army Pre-Positioned Stocks-2 (APS-2) draw in Tapa, Estonia, beginning April 20.

U.S. Army Soldiers with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, perform a live-fire training lane, Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, Vermont, July 16, 2020. The live-fire range was conducted as part of their annual training.

May 10, 2022

Vermont Guard to support training exercise Swift Response 22

CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont — More than 120 Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers will participate in training exercise Swift Response 22 in North Macedonia from May 11 to 17. Exercise Swift Response is an annual U.S. Army Europe and Africa multinational training exercise that takes place this year in Eastern Europe, the Arctic High North, Baltics, and Balkans from May 2-24.

One service member in a prone position aims a rifle. Another service member is kneeling on the ground.

May 9, 2022

More Chances to Participate in Exercises Will Enhance National Guard, Chief Says

WASHINGTON — The National Guard's State Partnership Program doesn't just benefit the partner nations involved — it benefits greatly the U.S. servicemen and women who participate as well, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said.

A man speaks to an audience.

April 29, 2022

U.S. Troops Train Ukrainians in Germany

WASHINGTON — U.S. service members in Germany have begun training Ukrainian soldiers on key systems being used to defend Ukraine against the Russian invasion, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.

Two men walk up some steps with service members on each side.

April 20, 2022

Poland Will Increase Defense Spending

WASHINGTON — During a meeting with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Pentagon, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said his country will increase its defense spending to 3% of gross domestic product.

Man chats via teleconference.

April 10, 2022

Austin Thanks Ukrainian Force Trained in U.S. Returning to Ukraine

Little Creek, Virginia — The secretary of defense thanked the troops for their service and for their courage, noting the skill with which the Ukrainian armed forces are fighting to defend their nation from Russia's unprovoked invasion, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said. 

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski accepts the signed Foreign Military Sales case from Polish Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak for the purchase of Abrams tanks and other equipment at a ceremony in Wesola, Poland, April 5.

April 7, 2022

Poland to purchase Abrams tanks from U.S.

WESOLA, Poland — In a signing ceremony April 5 in Wesola, Poland, Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak confirmed his country's intent to purchase 250 Abrams tanks and other equipment from the United States.

U.S. Army South seeks to increase integration with partner nations

April 7, 2022

U.S. Army South seeks to increase integration with partner nations

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — U.S. Army South held the Joint Synchronization Symposium at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston March 28-April 1 to synchronize and expand engagements to maintain or increase the U.S. presence in the Western Hemisphere.

Soldiers in a grassy area kneel on the ground with a piece of military hardware.

April 6, 2022

DOD: More Javelins Approved for Ukraine; Switchblades On their Way 

WASHINGTON — An additional $100 million in presidential drawdown to support Ukraine was approved and part of that will be used to provide additional Javelin anti-armor systems to Ukrainian forces, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.

Nigerien workers build a mobile field hospital financed by the U.S. Africa Command through the Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster Assistance, and Civic Aid program in Agadez, Niger, March 22, 2022. U.S. subject matter experts taught Nigerien workers how to construct, maintain, de-construct, and move the mobile hospital. The $1.6 million, 4,592 square-foot mobile field hospital increases Agadez Regional Hospital’s capacity by an additional 30 beds, complete with the medical tools and resources to care for the 670,000-person community and surrounding areas. (U.S. Army courtesy photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Maenner)

April 6, 2022

U.S. donates mobile field hospital to Niger

AGADEZ, Niger — The United States recently donated a $1.6 million (956 million Central African francs) mobile field hospital to Niger’s Agadez Regional Council on April 4, 2022.

General Flynn’s Visit Highlights Strong U.S. – Malaysia Defense Ties

April 4, 2022

General Flynn’s Visit Highlights Strong U.S. – Malaysia Defense Ties

KUALA LUMPUR — U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) General Charles A. Flynn visited Kuala Lumpur from Mar 27-28, 2022 to reinforce the strong ties between the United States and Malaysia.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general, Michigan National Guard, left, with Armed Forces of Liberia Maj. Gen. Prince C. Johnson III, AFL’s chief of staff; and Latvian National Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Imants Ziedins, LNAF’s deputy chief of defense, in Monrovia, Liberia, Feb. 9, 2022. The Michigan Guard is partners with Liberia and Latvia under the State Partnership Program.

March 29, 2022

Common goals strengthen MING-Latvia-Liberia relationship

MONROVIA, Liberia — Michigan National Guard blends State Partnership Program relationships with Liberia and Latvia.

VNG conducts infantry tactics, unmanned air system exchanges in Tajikistan

March 14, 2022

VNG conducts infantry tactics, unmanned air system exchanges in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan — Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted an infantry tactics exchange and countering unmanned air systems exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 7-11, 2022, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Royal Thai Army makes Stryker history at Cobra Gold

March 8, 2022

Royal Thai Army Makes Stryker History at Cobra Gold

LOPBURI PROVINCE, Kingdom of Thailand — The M1129 Stryker mortar system is an infantry carrier vehicle, descendant of the Swiss Mowag Piranha III, accommodating a 120mm mortar system that fires a suite of mortar ammunition and first employed in 2005. After 17 years, the U.S. Army is sharing this technology and weaponry with a close ally of the Indo-Pacific: The Kingdom of Thailand.

Airmen load cargo on an aircraft.

March 4, 2022

U.S. Provided More Than $1 Billion in Security Assistance to Ukraine in Past Year

WASHINGTON — Contents of the most recent security assistance package approved for Ukraine — valued at $350 million dollars — is on its way now and is billed as "the largest presidential drawdown package in history," a senior defense official said.