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 National Guard State Partnership Program garners prestigious award By Army Sgt. Darron Salzer
                National Guard Bureau
 ARLINGTON,  Va. - The National Guard’s 65-nation State Partnership Program won a  major award here Tuesday. The  20-year-old program launched in the final days of the Cold War received the  2011 William J. Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education. Presented  annually by the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies to an individual and/or  institution, the award recognizes the National Guard State Partnership Program’s  significant contributions in the Western Hemisphere. “It is a  tremendous honor for us on behalf of the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies  to be able to give this award to [the] National Guard Bureau on behalf of [its]  State Partnership Program,” said Richard Downie, director. Proposed  by former Secretary of Defense William Perry to address regional defense and  security concerns, the CHDS is headquartered at the National Defense University  here. The Center’s  primary missions include promoting education, research, outreach and  knowledge-sharing in Western Hemisphere defense and security issues. The  Western Hemisphere is North, Central, Latin and South America; the Caribbean  and the West Indies. The SPP  was selected by unanimous decision, Downie said. “It has turned out to be a  very ... diverse program that helps build relationships,” he said. “They are  promoting trust and confidence and they are doing positive things that are  helping those countries.” Beginning  in 1996 with Belize and Louisiana; Ecuador and Kentucky; Panama and Missouri;  and Peru and West Virginia, “there are now 22 states that have partnerships  with 28 countries in the Western Hemisphere,” said Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley,  chief of the National Guard Bureau. Also  accepting the award for the Guard was retired Air Force Lt. Gen. John Conaway,  the chief of the National Guard Bureau from 1990 to 1993, a SPP founding  father. “Today,  the National Guard – as part of the Department of Defense security cooperation  and global engagement – has 65 partnerships around the world,” McKinley said. “I  accept this award on behalf of all the adjutants generals – we have 54 of them  ... who represent our SPP around the world,” McKinley said, “together with their  counterpart officials in our SPP partner nations who are responsible for the  success of the National Guard State Partnership Program in the Western  Hemisphere. ... “Who really knows how many lives were not  lost, how many wars were not started or how many dollars were not spent because  of mutual trust and understanding between nations? “These  partnerships are mutually beneficial relationships. I’m especially grateful to  defense military officials from our partner nations for sharing with us their  knowledge, experience and insights in facing the transnational challenges of  the region.” McKinley  said he values not only what is shared within security and defense education,  but also what is shared on a more personal level. “In addition  to your security and operational expertise, you have also generously shared  with us your rich history, culture and languages which has enhanced our  knowledge and understanding of our neighbors ... and provided a solid foundation  for our continued close cooperation, based on mutual interest and mutual  respect.” Downie  said, “What our Guardsmen do – not only throughout this country, but throughout  the world ... not just in our hemisphere – is an absolute national treasure.”
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