Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Aviation exchange marks return of in-person SPP engagement By  Joseph Siemandel,
                Washington National Guard
 CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – The Washington National Guard welcomed six members of the Royal Thai Army Aviation Division back to Washington State to conduct a week-long aviation subject matter exchange at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Fairchild Air Force Base. The focus of the exchange was aviation operations, maintenance and support to domestic response operations. Since the COVID quarantine began early last year, all State Partnership Program engagements with Thailand and Malaysia have been conducted via virtual platforms. This exchange is the first in-person since the pandemic started. “We’re excited to begin in-person exchanges with our partners again. We learned to operate on virtual platforms during quarantine, which will continue to be valuable as we advance. Still, there is no substitute for face-to-face communication,” said Major Keith Kosik, SPP Director. Next year the Washington National Guard and the Kingdom of Thailand will celebrate 20 years of friendship and collaboration within the State Partnership Program. The program is designed to strengthen relationships, share best practices and build capacity. The aviation subject matter expert exchange has been one of the longest standing continual engagements within the program. During the week-long exchange, the Thai soldiers traveled across the state to learn about the LH-72a “Lakota” helicopters located at the Army Aviation Sustainment Facility #2 at Fairchild Air Force Base. The group learned about the mission of the Lakota and how to maintain the platform. On their way back from Fairchild, the group made a stop in Lincoln County to learn how the Guard aviation crews are supporting the wildfire-fighting mission. “The Royal Thai Army uses their aviation assets to support domestic response operations – just as we do. To give them a close look at our use of aviation to support a real-world disaster response mission was invaluable,” said Kosik. During the rest of the engagement, Thai aviators joined their Washington counterparts in the flight simulator on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, refining flight skills in the UH-60 “Black Hawk” and CH-47 “Chinook.” In addition, Thai aviation maintainers were able to exchange ideas and learn maintenance best practices from their counterparts in the WA NG. “The Black Hawk simulator was similar to what we have in Thailand, but the Chinook simulator was very different than anything I have done. This was an all-new experience,” said Maj. Wichian Korkan, Royal Thai Army. As international travel begins to return, the Washington National Guard’s State Partnership Program will conduct more in-person engagements. Next month, members of the Royal Malaysian Air Force will participate in a three-week meeting with the Washington Air National Guard members.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Washington National Guard
 State Partnership Program
 Royal Thai Army Aviation Division
 SPP
 
 10th Homeland Response Force Conducts Collective Training
 By Spc. Ryan Dunn,
  In Thailand, Hokanson Sees Enduring Partners in Name and Practice
 By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely,
  Enduring Partners 2024 Begins with Thai-US Airmen Exchange
 By Airman Jordaan Kvale and Lt. Col. Alyson Teeter,
  More
 10th Homeland Response Force Conducts Collective Training Guard News • 15 hours ago
 New York, Connecticut Soldiers are Regional Best Warriors Guard News • yesterday
 Connecticut Guard Deploys Cloud-Based Radar/Radio Connection Guard News • 4 days ago
 New York Air Guard Transports Special Operations Forces Guard News • 6 days ago
 Kentucky Guard Airlifts Materials for Arctic Circle Housing Guard News • 6 days ago
 2024 (154)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil