SEA Tony Whitehead, the 6th Senior Enlisted Advisor to the CNGB, said the State Partnership Program provides enlisted airmen and soldiers the unique opportunity to broaden their understanding of the world while simultaneously increasing their readiness.

We are more alike than I initially thought, and it has been an awesome experience working out here.' 'When we get to work with other NATO forces, we get an idea of how to work with each other, how we operate. 'This is my first time going out of the country,' Lynch said. Josh Lynch was one of the Maryland National Guardsmen who traveled to SPP partner Estonia for Spring Storm, the Estonian Defense Force's largest annual military exercise. 'By sharing what we're good at, we both become better.' And, for our military leaders, it's one-on-one training and learning from our partners, because each partner has unique capabilities and specialties, as we do.'

'It gets them out there to give them a better picture of the globe and some of the issues other nations face.

1, it gives our Guardsmen the experience of operating in a unique environment,' Hokanson said. Current and former senior leaders say it is equally beneficial to both partners. The SPP pairs the National Guard of every state, territory and the District of Columbia with nations around the world.

Military tank collection images