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Arkansas Air National Guard participates in Senior Leader Exchange with Guatemala Air Force

  • Published
  • By Maj. Keith Moore
  • Joint Force Headquarters, Arkansas Air National Guard
Guatemala City, Guatemala --  GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala:-- Senior commanders of the Arkansas Air National Guard participated in a senior leader exchange program Aug. 5-8, 2009, with the Air Force of the nation of Guatemala. The exchange fosters military-to-military cooperation, education, training and support.
   The state of Arkansas and the nation of Guatemala are partnered through a National Guard Bureau program called the State Partnership Program. This program links a state with an allied or neutral country elsewhere in the world in order to foster relationships between military organizations, civilian and governmental organizations; and provide for an open exchange of ideas and information between partners. Arkansas has been partnered with Guatemala since 2002, and has participated in several exchanges each year since.
   "This senior leader exchange between the Arkansas Air National Guard and the Guatemalan Air Force was designed to educate the Air Guard on the role, scope and mission of the Guatemalan Air Force," said Maj. Tracy Saucy, State Partnership Program coordinator for the Arkansas National Guard.
   During the exchange commanders of the Arkansas National Guard, as well as commanders and senior enlisted advisors of the various Air National Guard units in Arkansas, heard briefings and received a tour of the Guatemalan Air Force facilities in Guatemala City. In addition, the Air Guard commanders provided the Guatemalan commanders with audio visual presentations outlining the history and mission of each of the Air Guard's units, their aircraft as well as personnel and mission statistics.
   Arkansas Guard representatives participating in the exchange included Maj. Gen. William Wofford, adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard; Brig. Gen. Riley Porter, commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard; Col. James Summers, commander of the 189th Airlift Wing at Jacksonville; Col. Brad Peterson, vice-commander of the 188th Fighter Wing at Fort Smith, Col. John Dugan, commander of the 189th Medical Group, Command Chief Master Sgt. Asa Carter, senior enlisted advisor of the 188th Fighter Wing and Command Chief Master Sgt. Steve Arnold, senior enlisted advisor to the commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard.
   "It was interesting to hear about their mission and learn how their military is structured here in Guatemala," said Brig. Gen. Riley Porter. "We are, in many respects, very similar in our roles."
   During the tour of the facilities the commander's discussions centered on shared difficulties both in Guatemala and for the Guard in the United States - funding for equipment.
   "We share a common difficulty in maintaining our mission readiness - that is funding. Whether it be for personnel, equipment or for maintenance. Military funding is a universal obstacle to mission readiness," said Porter.
   Chief Master Sgts. Arnold and Carter took time to talk with enlisted members to understand their role, and explain the value and function of the non-commissioned officers in the role of the Guard.
   "The relationship between the officers and enlisted in some nation's militaries are less developed. Chief Arnold and I explained how important the enlisted force is within the Guard. That the NCO and senior NCOs are the backbone that drives mission accomplishment through their technical and managerial expertise," said Carter. "Building on the relationship and fostering esprit de corps and force development within the enlisted force is imperative."
   After spending much of the day learning about the Guatemalan Air Force, touring the facilities and meeting with officers and enlisted members on the base, Porter and Summers both commented on the morale of the Guatemalan Airmen.
   "They may be a small force with just over 1,000 members, but the attitude, the desire and the motivation of every member we met today says - we want to do more," Summers said. "Hopefully some of the Central American cooperative programs will enable them to acquire some new aircraft and additional funding for maintenance."
   Before departing Col. Summers introduced Capt. Guererro, a young transport pilot with the Guatemalan Air Force, to a long-standing tradition in the U.S. military - the challenge coin. The coin is presented by a commander to a younger officer or enlisted member in recognition of outstanding achievement. It is a force development tool to foster pride and esprit de corps. As tradition goes, once the coin is presented either member can challenge the other on subsequent meetings to produce their coin. If the member does not have the coin on his/her person or cannot produce the coin for the requestor, then the member has to buy the requestor a cold drink, or smartly deliver 20 military push-ups.
"Carrying the commander's coin is a reminder of the recognition received from your commander for the outstanding work that you provided for the mission," said Summers. "That recognition also fosters better performance and career development among the enlisted force."
   With the senior Air Force leaders visiting each other's facilities, there is a fuller comprehension of what capabilities exist, and how they can work together to make improvements for the future.
   As an international program, the events of the partnership program between Arkansas and the Guatemalan military are coordinated through the American Embassy in Guatemala. The Guard leaders had the opportunity to meet briefly with the Deputy Chief of Missions Mrs. Kay Anske during the visit to discuss capabilities and possible future exchange programs.
   "We had a good discussion with Ms. Anske, and explained the missions, capabilities and expertise in the Arkansas Air Guard, and discussed ideas for future possibilities for the exchange program," said Wofford.
   Across the board the Guard leaders gained an appreciation for the Guatemalan military and voiced enthusiasm about future opportunities to work with and learn from our partners in the Guatemalan Air Force.

Arkansas Air National Guard participates in Senior Leader Exchange with Guatemala Air Force

  • Published
  • By Maj. Keith Moore
  • Joint Force Headquarters, Arkansas Air National Guard
Guatemala City, Guatemala --  GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala:-- Senior commanders of the Arkansas Air National Guard participated in a senior leader exchange program Aug. 5-8, 2009, with the Air Force of the nation of Guatemala. The exchange fosters military-to-military cooperation, education, training and support.
   The state of Arkansas and the nation of Guatemala are partnered through a National Guard Bureau program called the State Partnership Program. This program links a state with an allied or neutral country elsewhere in the world in order to foster relationships between military organizations, civilian and governmental organizations; and provide for an open exchange of ideas and information between partners. Arkansas has been partnered with Guatemala since 2002, and has participated in several exchanges each year since.
   "This senior leader exchange between the Arkansas Air National Guard and the Guatemalan Air Force was designed to educate the Air Guard on the role, scope and mission of the Guatemalan Air Force," said Maj. Tracy Saucy, State Partnership Program coordinator for the Arkansas National Guard.
   During the exchange commanders of the Arkansas National Guard, as well as commanders and senior enlisted advisors of the various Air National Guard units in Arkansas, heard briefings and received a tour of the Guatemalan Air Force facilities in Guatemala City. In addition, the Air Guard commanders provided the Guatemalan commanders with audio visual presentations outlining the history and mission of each of the Air Guard's units, their aircraft as well as personnel and mission statistics.
   Arkansas Guard representatives participating in the exchange included Maj. Gen. William Wofford, adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard; Brig. Gen. Riley Porter, commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard; Col. James Summers, commander of the 189th Airlift Wing at Jacksonville; Col. Brad Peterson, vice-commander of the 188th Fighter Wing at Fort Smith, Col. John Dugan, commander of the 189th Medical Group, Command Chief Master Sgt. Asa Carter, senior enlisted advisor of the 188th Fighter Wing and Command Chief Master Sgt. Steve Arnold, senior enlisted advisor to the commander of the Arkansas Air National Guard.
   "It was interesting to hear about their mission and learn how their military is structured here in Guatemala," said Brig. Gen. Riley Porter. "We are, in many respects, very similar in our roles."
   During the tour of the facilities the commander's discussions centered on shared difficulties both in Guatemala and for the Guard in the United States - funding for equipment.
   "We share a common difficulty in maintaining our mission readiness - that is funding. Whether it be for personnel, equipment or for maintenance. Military funding is a universal obstacle to mission readiness," said Porter.
   Chief Master Sgts. Arnold and Carter took time to talk with enlisted members to understand their role, and explain the value and function of the non-commissioned officers in the role of the Guard.
   "The relationship between the officers and enlisted in some nation's militaries are less developed. Chief Arnold and I explained how important the enlisted force is within the Guard. That the NCO and senior NCOs are the backbone that drives mission accomplishment through their technical and managerial expertise," said Carter. "Building on the relationship and fostering esprit de corps and force development within the enlisted force is imperative."
   After spending much of the day learning about the Guatemalan Air Force, touring the facilities and meeting with officers and enlisted members on the base, Porter and Summers both commented on the morale of the Guatemalan Airmen.
   "They may be a small force with just over 1,000 members, but the attitude, the desire and the motivation of every member we met today says - we want to do more," Summers said. "Hopefully some of the Central American cooperative programs will enable them to acquire some new aircraft and additional funding for maintenance."
   Before departing Col. Summers introduced Capt. Guererro, a young transport pilot with the Guatemalan Air Force, to a long-standing tradition in the U.S. military - the challenge coin. The coin is presented by a commander to a younger officer or enlisted member in recognition of outstanding achievement. It is a force development tool to foster pride and esprit de corps. As tradition goes, once the coin is presented either member can challenge the other on subsequent meetings to produce their coin. If the member does not have the coin on his/her person or cannot produce the coin for the requestor, then the member has to buy the requestor a cold drink, or smartly deliver 20 military push-ups.
"Carrying the commander's coin is a reminder of the recognition received from your commander for the outstanding work that you provided for the mission," said Summers. "That recognition also fosters better performance and career development among the enlisted force."
   With the senior Air Force leaders visiting each other's facilities, there is a fuller comprehension of what capabilities exist, and how they can work together to make improvements for the future.
   As an international program, the events of the partnership program between Arkansas and the Guatemalan military are coordinated through the American Embassy in Guatemala. The Guard leaders had the opportunity to meet briefly with the Deputy Chief of Missions Mrs. Kay Anske during the visit to discuss capabilities and possible future exchange programs.
   "We had a good discussion with Ms. Anske, and explained the missions, capabilities and expertise in the Arkansas Air Guard, and discussed ideas for future possibilities for the exchange program," said Wofford.
   Across the board the Guard leaders gained an appreciation for the Guatemalan military and voiced enthusiasm about future opportunities to work with and learn from our partners in the Guatemalan Air Force.