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

    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
 NCO Development a Security Goal of DC Guard, Jamaica Partnership By Master Sgt. Arthur Wright,
                District of Columbia National Guard
 KINGSTON, Jamaica - District of Columbia National Guard members participated in an NCO career development exchange with the Jamaica Defence Force Dec. 12-14 at the Caribbean Military Academy in Kingston. Jamaica, known for its culture and vibrant beaches, is investing in national defense and strengthening security in the Caribbean basin. That entails placing the role of noncommissioned officers under a microscope. “A primary security goal is the development of NCOs in the Jamaica Defence Force,” said Capt. Aaron Lies, bilateral affairs officer, U.S Embassy Kingston security cooperation office. “If they learn how we operate and study our doctrine, it promotes shared understanding.” Since 1999, as part of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, the D.C. Guard and Jamaica have supported the U.S. Southern Command’s goals of mutual security cooperation and enhancing Jamaica’s defense, security force and disaster-response capabilities. “This changed my perception of a state partnership and the gravity of it. I also have a different respect for Jamaica as a country,” said Sgt. Jessica A. Frazer, Recruitment and Retention Battalion, D.C. Army National Guard. “This is why I left the tourism industry. There’s more to Jamaica than hospitality. This is about enhancing the lives of NCOs, where they serve and live.” Frazer worked in tourism for six years after high school. But in 2020 her focus shifted. “I wanted to go to school in the U.S.,” she said. “The District of Columbia National Guard afforded me the opportunity to do more, start a new career, and attend school for free. Today, I’m helping other people achieve their goals — immigrants, females, anyone who needs help to learn more about opportunities they never thought existed. I was once where they are.” Frazer is serious about helping recruitment prospects in the Washington metropolitan area and is committed to the empowerment of noncommissioned officers in the Jamaica Defence Force. “I believe developing an NCO starts from the lowest rank. One doesn’t have to be an NCO to start developing leadership skills; it began well before that,” she said. “NCOs are the backbone of the Army, and it’s imperative that we’re engaged in the overall vision and strategy.” During the three-day seminar in Kingston, attendees focused on the tenets of NCO development, including training, promotions and leadership. Guard members gained insight from the JDF’s Jamaica Regiment, Support Brigade, and the Maritime, Air and Cyber Command. “One of the biggest things we focused on was the duties and responsibilities of a noncommissioned officer,” said Sgt. Maj. Esmeralda Vaquerano, G-1 (personnel) sergeant major for the D.C. Army National Guard. “They’ve adopted the U.S. Army’s NCO creed, but it’s imperative that they operate using it as their guidebook to accomplish their mission. We also discussed the ‘This Is My Squad’ initiative to build more cohesion, and how that relates to a more involved NCO mindset. We’re closing gaps.” Vaquerano and Frazer recognize a diverse and inclusive force is a warfighting imperative. Today’s National Guard is the most modern, ready and interoperable force in its history. National Guard members spent almost 7.5 million personnel days supporting combatant commanders in 2023. “We were able to let the JDF know they’re not alone,” Frazer said. “The exchange allows us to help mitigate present and future challenges in a constructive way. My hope is that we’ve helped them better identify the roles and responsibilities of an effective NCO.” The State Partnership Program has grown to 100 partner nations since its 1993 inception. The program proactively addresses complex challenges regardless of rank. “It makes us more effective and stronger,” Vaquerano said. The D.C. National Guard-Jamaica Defence Force exchange solidifies the need for future engagements. “We empower our NCOs at all levels and demonstrate effective mission command,” Lies said. “The Jamaica Defence Force sees how the U.S. military utilizes NCOs and they want to do the same.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  District of Columbia National Guard
 State Partnership Program
 Jamaica
 NCOs
 
 US, Canadian Special Forces Forge Partnerships in Jamaica
 By Maj. Matthew Dewaegeneer,
  New York National Guard Brings Fallen Warrant Officers Home
 By Eric Durr,
  Virginia Guard Soldiers, Airmen Train on Emergency Response
 By Spc. Ericka Gillespie,
  More
 Pennsylvania Guard WMD Civil Support Team Completes Exercise4/12/2024Finnish Air Force Commander Meets Virginia Guard Leaders4/12/2024South Carolina National Guard Airmen Return From Deployment4/12/2024 View more Guard News »
 US, Canadian Special Forces Forge Partnerships in Jamaica4/8/2024
Deployed Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Earn Their Combat Patch3/27/2024
Pennsylvania Guard Conducts Medical Cold-Load Training in Africa3/20/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 Maryland Guard, Bosnia and Herzegovina Conduct JTAC Training4/12/2024

Illinois Air Guard Supports Partner Poland4/10/2024

Wisconsin Guard Builds on Papua New Guinea Partnership4/4/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 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