Oregon signs historic State Partnership agreement with Vietnam

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Oregon National Guard Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees(left), Adjutant General, Oregon, and Vietnam Lt. Gen. Tran Quang Khue, ViceChairman of the National Committee for Search and Rescue (VINASARCOM), sign theState Partnership Program agreement at the Ministry of Defense Guest House inHanoi, Vietnam, Nov. 27.  U.S. Ambassadorto Vietnam David Shear (center, yellow tie), and other Oregon and Vietnam officialslook on.  The State Partnership Programreflects an evolving international affairs mission for the National Guard,emphasizing its unique state-federal and civil-military characteristics tointeract with both the active and reserve forces of foreign nations,interagency partners, and international non-governmental organizations.  Oregon also has a partnership withBangladesh.  (Photo courtesy of U.S.Embassy Hanoi).



HANOI, Vietnam—TheOregon National Guard has signed a partnership with Vietnam as part of the StatePartnership Program during a ceremony held Nov. 27 at the Ministry of DefenseGuest House in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, Adjutant General, Oregon, signedthe agreement with Vietnam Lt. Gen. Tran Quang Khue, Vice Chairman of theNational Committee for Search and Rescue (VINASARCOM).
U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear, Oregon Army NationalGuard Brig. Gen. Todd Plimpton, Assistant Adjutant General (Army), Oregon AirNational Guard Col. Mark Crosby, Oregon’s State Partnership Program Director,and other Vietnam officials were on hand for the signing.
The agreement comes just as the United States beginsceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.  Events and commemorations to honor eraveterans and casualties are scheduled in both countries through the year 2025.  For more information on anniversaryobservances, go here.
The State Partnership Program reflects an evolvinginternational affairs mission for the National Guard, emphasizing its uniquestate-federal and civil-military characteristics to interact with both theactive and reserve forces of foreign nations, interagency partners, andinternational non-governmental organizations.
State partners participate in a broad range of securitycooperation activities to include homeland defense/security, disasterresponse/mitigation, consequence/crisis management, interagency cooperation,border/port/aviation security, combat medical, fellowship-style internships,and bilateral familiarization events that lead to training and exerciseopportunities.
The State Partnership Program currently supports 62partnerships between states and nations. For more information about the program, download the SPP factsheet here.
The Oregon National Guard is also partnered with Bangladesh.
For more information contact Staff Sgt. Joseph Barto,State Partnership Program, at joseph.barto@ang.af.mil, or 503-584-2237.


Posted by Master Sgt. Nick Choy,
Oregon Military Department Social Media Manager