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Michigan–Latvia State Partnership
Michigan-Latvia
Origin 1993
Country President Andris Bērziņš
Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis
Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks
Ambassador to U.S. Andris Razans
Ambassador to Latvia Mark Pekala
Adjutant General MG Gregory Vadnais
2012 Engagements 8[1]
Current ISAF Pax 27
NATO member Yes (2004)
EU member Yes (2004)
EU-Latvia

Latvia

The Michigan–Latvia National Guard Partnership is one of 22 European partnerships that make-up the U.S. European Command State Partnership Program and one of 65 worldwide partnerships that make-up the National Guard State Partnership Program.[2] A partnership was established in 1993 and serves as a model SPP program for other nations. The current focus is HNS/ Reception, Staging, Orientation, and Integration (RSOI), Chemical-Biological-Radiological-Nuclear-Environmental (CBRNE) / Disaster Response, Joint Tactical Air Control (JTAC), Air Force & base development, and Contingency Operation Support.[3]

Michigan Latvia 01

Soldiers from the Michigan National Guard and the Latvian army patrol through a village Afghanistan alongside members of the Afghan national army. M4 carbine M249 variant

Michigan Latvia 02

A Soldier in the Michigan National works alongside a Latvian Soldier during a simulated-combat exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany.

Michigan Latvia 03

A Latvian soldier and an Afghan soldier communicate during Operational Mentor and Liaison Team training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany.

Michigan Latvia 04

The prime minister of Latvia sits at the controls of a KC-135 Stratotanker along with an officer from the Michigan Air National Guard

Michigan Latvia 05

A Latvian Soldier compares notes with a Michigan Army National Guard Soldier at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany.

Michigan Latvia 06

A Latvian Army Corporal shows an Afghan National Army Soldier how to use a Dragunov sniper rifle in Afghanistan.

History[]

  • EU and NATO accession in 2004
  • The Economic crisis continues to affect Latvia. Their economy is the worst among the three Baltic States and one of the worst in all of Europe, but recovery is taking place.
  • Major concerns are collective security, defense budget and regional defense.
  • Latvia has close governmental ties with the Scandinavian and Nordic countries.
  • Latvia / MI deployed 3-Operational Mentor Liaison Teams (OMLT’s) in 2008, 09, & 10.
  • MI ANG trained first-ever NATO JTAC ‘s for OMLT’s
  • OCT 2010 – Latvia hosted SABRE STRIKE, the largest ever joint US/NATO exercise in the Baltic’s, including 1,400 soldiers from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and the U.S. (USAREUR, USEUCOM, CONUS)[3]

Partnership focus[]

Military to Military:

  • Continue development of JTAC program for NATO partners
  • Assist in development of Lielvarde Air Base (under construction) through MI ANG SPP exchanges
  • Continue to participate in NATO exercises, expeditionary operations and ISAF.
  • Land Forces, at the direction of MG Raimonds Graube (CHOD) begins development of a “5-year plan” with the by-product of projecting future resource requirements
  • Continue capacity building and development through utilization of SPP exchanges, Mobile Training Teams (MTT’s) and major exercise participation
  • Continue to develop partners Cyber Defense capability through TCT’s and Joint Baltic Workshops.[3]

References[]

  1. "2012 EUCOM SPP Events". U.S. European Command. http://www.eucom.mil/doc/24602/fiscal-year-2012-spp-events.pdf. Retrieved 11 February 2013. 
  2. "National Guard SPP". The National Guard. http://www.nationalguard.mil/features/spp/default.aspx. Retrieved 19 October 2012. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "SPP Data". U.S. European Command. http://www.eucom.mil/doc/24563/michigan-latvia-spp-update.pdf. Retrieved 22 January 2013. 

External links[]

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The original article can be found at Michigan–Latvia National Guard Partnership and the edit history here.