Press Release
☷Kentucky Guard hosts senior leader engagement with Ecuador
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Apr 28,2022
| 23| 1
Ecuadorian leaders visit the Kentucky National Guard as part of the State Partnership Program March 28 , 2022 , in Frankfort , Kentucky . The week - long engagement was the first in - person conference of the two countries since 2018 . FRANKFORT , Ky . – Kentucky National Guard leaders welcomed Ecuadorian military and political leaders last month for the most significant Ecuadorian delegation visit to the United States in over a decade . “The event was an incredible success , ” said Lt . Col . Daniel Cooper , the Kentucky National Guard State Partnership Program director . “Between 2017 and 2019 , we made significant strides to rebuild the partnership with Ecuador . Though COVID slowed us down , this event was pivotal to rebuilding the relationships the program provides . ” The Kentucky National Guard began a working relationship with Ecuador in 1996 through the State Partnership Program . The SPP conducts military - to - military engagements to support defense security goals and leverage whole - of - society relationships in military , government , economic and social spheres . “The key leader engagement completed long - held goals for the Kentucky National Guard and Ecuadorian Armed Forces , ” said Capt . Joshua Selby , Kentucky National Guard bilateral affairs officer for Ecuador . “Both military organizations wanted to create a long - range training event schedule for the fiscal year 2023 and 2024 . They can do that by signing a memorandum of understanding detailing each other’s roles and responsibilities , a first for this partnership . ” The four - day engagement began in Frankfort March 28 , with both parties briefing on their current engagements . The groups then toured the Army Aviation Support Facility and the Kentucky State Capitol . The next day , the Air Guard hosted a tour and lunch at the 123rd Air Wing in Louisville . To share Kentucky culture with Ecuadorian leadership , the groups toured the Derby Museum at Churchill Downs and Peerless Distillery . “It’s a different level of relationship - building when senior leaders from both organizations are present and able to share each other’s culture , ” said Cooper . “The State Partnership Program tries to ensure at least one key leader engagement annually . Being that this is the first in - person conference in over a decade made it extremely important to establish lifelong relationships between people and organizations . ” On the third day , the groups were transported by UH - 60 Black Hawk helicopters to the Wendell H . Ford Regional Training Center and greeted by the 238th Reginal Training Institute cadre and leadership . Ecuadorian leaders learned about the Officer Candidate School process and other training functions the base provides , such as the weapons qualification ranges and the process by which Kentucky Soldiers prepare . At the end of the conference , the Guard and Ecuadorian forces signed a memorandum of understanding outlining how they will develop their relationship . “The significance of our partnership is to share the knowledge of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces and their experiences , ” said General Orlando Fabian Fuel Revelo , chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces , Ecuador . “In the same way , receive all the experience that the United States military has to offer — especially the Kentucky National Guard , who specializes in providing support for emergency management , logistics , and providing leadership training . “It has been an honor , as an Ecuadorian soldier , to have shared this time with all of you . We thank you in advance for the support our soldiers will receive from you during the next three years now that we have signed this agreement , ” Revelo said . For more National Guard news National Guard Facebook National Guard Twitter
PLAY the NEWS
* May be useful for visually impaired persons .
Press release information:
Direct link to press release:
Click here .
