State Partnership Program

Established in 2003, the goal of the State Partnership Program is to establish broad reaching, friendly ties between partner states and partner countries at all levels of society utilizing the National Guard as the catalyzing force and means of support.

September 2016 marked the 25th anniversary of Tajikistan’s independence, and the partnership between the Virginia National Guard and Tajikistan is in its 14th year. As part of the SPP, the Virginia National Guard regularly conducts information exchanges on a variety of subjects related to security and emergency response operations. The Guard also facilitates trips from Tajikistani officials to the United States.

Officers from the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense who specialize in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives response operations conducted an information exchange with personnel for the Virginia National Guard’s 34th Civil Support Team Feb. 21-22, 2017, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The exchange was part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program that links states and partner nations in support of mutual interests, and their visit also included a tour of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and meeting with officials from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

SPP News

Virginia National Guard senior leaders and Soldiers traveled to Finland to observe Exercise Karelian Stronghold alongside key senior leaders within the Finnish Defense Forces Sept. 1 - 7, 2024, at multiple locations in Finland. The trip was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Finland became partners earlier in 2024.
VNG leaders observe defense exercise in Finland
Oct. 15, 2024
Virginia National Guard senior leaders and Soldiers traveled to Finland to observe Exercise Karelian Stronghold alongside key senior leaders within the Finnish Defense Forces Sept. 1 - 7, 2024, at multiple locations in Finland. 
Virginia National Guard leadership hosts Lt. Gen. Pasi Välimäki, commander of the Finnish Army, during a bilateral engagement, Oct 12, 2024, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The visit was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Finland became partners earlier in 2024. The visit, hosted at the National Museum of the United States Army, reaffirmed the bilateral commitment between the VNG’s 29th Infantry Division and their Finnish Army partners, and provided a roadmap for joint engagement between Soldiers of the 29th and the Finnish Army.
Virginia National Guard expands relationship with Finnish Army commander
Oct. 14, 2024
Virginia National Guard leadership hosted Lt. Gen. Pasi Välimäki, commander of the Finnish Army, during a bilateral engagement Oct 12, 2024, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The visit was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Finland became partners earlier in 2024.
Virginia National Guard senior enlisted leaders prepare to travel via Jurmo-class landing craft to engage with the Joint Senior Noncommissioned Officer at the Finnish Naval Academy during a senior NCO exchange Aug. 19- 23, 2024 in Finland. Command Chief Master Sgt. Kelly B. Reich, the Virginia National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Irving Reed Jr., the Virginia Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major, Chief Master Sgt. Ian Stegherr, Virginia Air National Guard State Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Sean Fretwell, 192nd Wing Command Chief and Senior Master Sgt. Justin Connor, 192nd Security Forces Senior Enlisted Leader, all participated in the exchange, where they met with a variety of senior enlisted leaders from the Finnish Defense Forces and collaborated on a plan for joint enlisted training and exercise and development for 2025 to 2027.
VNG senior enlisted leaders meet with Finnish counterparts
Sept. 11, 2024
Virginia National Guard senior enlisted leadership traveled to Finland Aug. 19- 23, 2024, to collaborate with members of the Finnish Defence Forces on a plan for joint enlisted training and exercise and development for 2025 to 2027.
A member of the Finnish Defense Forces collaborates with a Virginia National Guard cyber operator July 15, 2024, during Cyber Fortress 3.0 at the State Military Reservation, Virginia Beach. The Virginia National Guard brought together multi-national and inter-agency partners to execute Cyber Fortress 3.0, a water management cyber incident response, to exercise the Commonwealth of Virginia’s cyber incident response process July 7-20, 2024.
Cyber Fortress 3.0 builds resiliency, enhances partnerships
Aug. 1, 2024
The Virginia National Guard brought together multi-national and inter-agency partners to execute Cyber Fortress 3.0, a water management cyber incident response, to exercise the Commonwealth of Virginia’s cyber incident response process July 7-20, 2024, at the State Military Reservation, Virginia Beach.
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 123rd Cyber Protection Battalion, 91st Cyber Brigade conduct re-certification of cyber protection teams on cyber operations June 6, 2024, as part of Cyber Shield Certification Exercise 2024 at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Cyber Shield CERTEX 2024 took place May 31 to June 15, 2024, with nearly 250 personnel from both the Army and Air National Guard from multiple states. This is the first time both Army and Air Guard CPTs have validated or recertified in a joint environment. Cyber Shield CERTEX takes place alongside Cyber Shield, the Department of Defense’s largest annual cyber exercise. (U.S. National Guard photo by A.J. Coyne)
Unit certification a key accomplishment during Cyber Shield
July 1, 2024
As National Guard and Reserve Soldiers and Airmen joined civilian cyber professionals and international partners for Cyber Shield 24 from May 31 to June 15, 2024, the Virginia National Guard’s 91st Cyber Brigade conducted CERTEX 24 to validate multiple units for future Title 10 active-duty federal mobilizations. Both exercises were hosted at the VNG’s State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for the first time.