Leaders Urge More Multilateral Exercises in Indo-Pacific

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two soldiers training to shoot a stinger
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Leaders Urge More Multilateral Exercises in Indo-Pacific

Echoing a message that has been repeated throughout the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2024 LANPAC Symposium and Exposition in Honolulu, a panel of military leaders on May 15 emphasized the value of multilateral training and exercises.

“There’s nothing like the ability to show commitment than soldiers that are training together wherever we have an exercise in the region,” said Lt. Gen. James Jarrard, deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific.

National Guard to Add 6 New Partners in 2024

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National Guard to Add 6 New Partners in 2024

The National Guard’s State Partnership Program will grow by several nations this year, expanding to more than 100 the number of U.S. military partnerships with allies and partners, said Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau.

In remarks before defense and industry leaders participating in the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington, D.C., Hokanson announced that Finland, Palau, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sweden and Tanzania will be added to the program in 2024.

Hokanson: Partnerships Matter ‘More Than Ever’

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Hokanson: Partnerships Matter ‘More Than Ever’

After 30 years, the National Guard’s State Partnership Program and the relationships it fosters are more critical now than ever, the component’s top general said. 

“These relationships matter more than ever,” said Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau. “Russia’s violent, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has increased interest in the State Partnership Program. Other countries are looking at Russia and are concerned that they, too, will need to defend their sovereignty.” 

Growing State Partnership Program Turns 30

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Serbian and US soldiers compete at the Region IV Best Warrior Competition
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Growing State Partnership Program Turns 30

As the National Guard’s State Partnership Program marks its 30th anniversary, the program is poised to continue expanding, bolstering its mission of building enduring relationships with America’s partners and allies around the world.

“The Guard is currently partnered with more than half of the world’s nations, and we expect to see continued growth in the coming years,” Maj. Gen. William Zana, director of strategic plans and policy and international affairs at the National Guard Bureau, said during a meeting with members of the media.

Wormuth: Army Stepping Up Global Deterrence Efforts

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Wormuth: Army Stepping Up Global Deterrence Efforts

Facing evolving global threats, the Army is working to coordinate its efforts around the world to deter aggression and potential conflict, the service’s top civilian leader said.

“We've spent a lot of time over the decades thinking about engagement and building partner capacity, but we haven't always necessarily synchronized our activities from one theater to the other,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said.

Guard Partnerships Pay ‘Huge Dividends’

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US and Ukraine soldiers train together
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Guard Partnerships Pay ‘Huge Dividends’

The National Guard’s State Partnership Program remains critical to the force and “has paid huge dividends,” particularly in Ukraine, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said.  

“Building enduring, trusted relationships” with global partners is a key part of the component’s readiness, Gen. Daniel Hokanson said, citing as an example the partnership between the California National Guard and Ukraine, which dates to 1993. 

'Security Force Triad’ is Powerful Army Tool

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'Security Force Triad’ is Powerful Army Tool

As a land force, the Army is strategically poised to leverage relationships with allies and partners in multidomain competition, but it must continue to proactively build its network, according to the author of a new paper.

Describing the Army’s security force assistance brigades, Special Forces soldiers and the State Partnership Program as a “security force assistance triad,” author Charles McEnany writes that all three are critical to the Army’s “modernization for strategic competition and [multidomain operations].”

McConville Heaps Praise on National Guard

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Gen. James McConville speaks at the NGAUS conference
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McConville Heaps Praise on National Guard

The National Guard has “brought hope to America when it needed it the most,” the Army chief of staff said Aug. 27.

Speaking in Columbus, Ohio, before the National Guard Association of the United States’ General Conference and Exhibition, Gen. James McConville heaped praise on the Guard. The Regular Army doesn’t “go anywhere or do anything without the National Guard,” he said. “We cannot do what we do as an Army without the National Guard.”

Africa Command Juggles Adversaries Big and Small

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Africa Command Juggles Adversaries Big and Small

The U.S. military continues to face an array of threats in Africa while keeping its eye on near-peer competitors such as China and Russia, the commander of U.S. Africa Command said.

“We’ve kept events in Africa from derailing. Our primary security focus is China as our pacing threat and Russia as our… near-term threat. We’ve been able to focus on those threats because we haven’t had to focus on Africa,” Gen. Stephen Townsend said July 28 during a media event hosted by the Defense Writers Group. 

Partnerships, Training Key to ARCENT Mission Success

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Partnerships, Training Key to ARCENT Mission Success

Close contact with allies and partners, combined with solid training and education, are the cornerstones to successful missions for the soldiers and leaders of U.S. Army Central, the command’s leader said.