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

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    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
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Massachusetts Guard Delivers Firefighting Equipment to Paraguay By National Guard Bureau
 ASUNCION, Paraguay – A delegation led by Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, Massachusetts adjutant general, delivered critical firefighting gear to Paraguay, the Massachusetts National Guard’s partner in the State Partnership Program, on May 16. Massachusetts fire departments contributed 1,000 sets of firefighter personal protective equipment and two fully equipped fire trucks to aid Paraguay’s military firefighters. They made the first delivery of about 500 sets of PPE after Massachusetts’ 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade collected, organized and packaged the donations before shipping them to Paraguay aboard a Maine Air National Guard KC-135R Stratotanker from the 101st Air Refueling Wing. The rest of the equipment, to include two fully equipped fire trucks, is scheduled for delivery later this year. “This equipment will not only enhance the capabilities of the Paraguayan military forces but will also provide them with the necessary tools to protect the lives and property of their citizens. It is a gesture of friendship that embodies the true essence of our partnership,” said Keefe. “This donation came from the lasting relationships formed between our state partnership team and fire departments across Massachusetts with the support of our citizens.” Personal protective equipment can mean the difference between life and death for firefighters and military members. So, when U.S. Army Capt. Christopher McCrobie of the Massachusetts National Guard discovered Paraguayan firefighters were sustaining heavy injuries from heat exposure due to a lack of PPE, leading them to fight fires in shorts and sandals at times, the Massachusetts firefighting community responded.
 
Over the past year McCrobie, the Massachusetts National Guard State Partnership program manager, and the MANG partnered to contact local fire departments to collect fire-retardant helmets, jackets, pants, vests and gloves. After collecting the equipment, McCrobie and the Massachusetts SPP staff worked directly with Paraguay’s National Emergency Secretariat and fire brigades to strengthen Paraguay’s fire prevention and firefighting capacity. “They don’t have the resources that we have. Our gear falls out of National Fire Protection Agency standards every 10 years, even if it was never or lightly used,” said McCrobie. “This was an easy way for fire departments who may have a lot of excess gear they can’t use anymore due to regulatory standards to donate to our Military Division, so they can, in turn, give it to Paraguay.” MANG’s 179th and 180th Engineer Detachments (Firefighting) are scheduled to conduct training missions with their Paraguayan military and civilian counterparts after they receive all the donated equipment.
 
“It’s a great gesture from the Massachusetts National Guard, and will be a huge help for us, and will help us to be prepared for firefighting,” said Paraguayan air force Lt. Col. Daniel Antunez, the liaison officer to the U.S. Embassy for the Paraguayan air force. “From this, I can see that the people from Massachusetts really have the intention to tighten this partnership and reinforce this relationship.”
 
The training and donations are just the latest milestone in the MANG-Paraguay partnership, established in 2001 under Keefe’s father, Maj. Gen. George Keefe, who was the 39th adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard. Paraguayan leaders lauded the multigenerational trust and capabilities forged through the program. 
 
“The SPP brings many, many programs for military engineers, aviation and peacekeeping missions,” said retired Paraguayan army Master Sgt. Ruben Paniagua, who has witnessed the partnership mature since the first SPP exchange in 2001.
 
At a Paraguayan state ceremony on May 19, Keefe addressed the program’s history and future, crediting the mutually beneficial partnership as an enduring strength of the Massachusetts National Guard and America. The ceremony, also dedicated to Keefe’s late father, commemorated the official reception of the firefighting equipment by each branch of the Paraguayan armed forces. 
 
“This partnership has paved the way for both of our nations to learn and grow together, ensuring that we remain prepared to face any challenges that come our way. Moreover, this partnership serves as a symbol of the enduring presence of the United States in Paraguay,” Keefe said at the ceremony. “As we continue to strengthen our bonds, we reinforce our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of both our nations.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
 State Partnership Program celebrates 30-year anniversary
 Massachusetts National Guard
 Maine National Guard
 State Partnership Program
 Paraguay
 
 Guard Conducts Explosive Ordnance Disposal Joint Training
 By Senior Master Sgt. Paul Gorman,
  New York, Connecticut Soldiers are Regional Best Warriors
 By Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Pietrantoni,
  Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar
 By Airman 1st Class Julia Ahaesy,
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 7 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 14 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 15 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  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