State Partnership Program

Abstract: This report traces the origin and development of the State Partnership Program (SPP), which is a Department of Defense (DOD) security cooperation program run by the National Guard; summarizes its unique aspects; and outlines its statutory basis, funding mechanisms, organization, and activities It details recent legislative and executive branch actions It also explores issues that may merit congressional attention and provides options for policymakers who may be interested in modifying the program

Abstract: : The National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP) has the potential, at the partnership level, to serve as an operational level integration point for whole of society efforts with their partnered countries. The National Guard partnerships currently serve as a tactical means to achieve a strategic goal but there are more potential resources at the state level that the nation could leverage. The dual role of the National Guard as a traditional national defense force and as a state controlled defense force makes it inherently suited for a whole-of-society effort. It is logical to provide the National Guard partnerships with the authority and resources to influence the operational level and leverage the entirety of resources within their states. The assessment of the overall SPP strategy combined with the individual case study of the Missouri National Guard partnership with the Republic of Panama confirmed an opportunity for operational art at the partnership level. Given the authority and dedicated operational level staff, the SPP could link whole of society tactical actions at the partnership level toward achieving a greater strategic impact in support of the Geographic Combatant Commands. The National Guard's operational level integration of whole-of-society resources presents an opportunity to deepen the country planning dialogue with the GCC, increase staff training opportunities for the National Guard, and provide the appropriate capabilities to build partnered nation capacity through unified action.

Abstract: : Several states within the National Guard are participating in the State Partnership Program an international affairs mission to promote regional stability and civil-military relationships in support of US policy objectives. This program originated in the European Theater in 1993 due to the collapse of communism and the fall of the Soviet Union but has spread to the Central Command Southern Command and Pacific Command areas of responsibility. There are currently 37 states two territories and the District of Columbia partnered with 42 countries around the world. The concept of the program is to bring Hometown America to these partnership countries by establishing military to military relationships and assisting the partnered countries in organizing manning and training democratic armies. Civil military relationships are established to show how the National Guard works with civilian officials in local emergencies and disasters. The purpose of this paper is to review the background and history of the State Partnership Program and how it supports the policy of security cooperation its expansion into other theaters its program goals and objectives; its relevancy to the current global situation as it pertains to the Global War on Terrorism; and recommend alternatives to current policy.