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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E380-E381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD
______
HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 1, 2019
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of
Representatives to join me in recognizing another outstanding
achievement by the District of Columbia National Guard. On February 1,
2019 Burkina Faso became the 76th nation to join the State Partnership
Program--a Department of Defense joint security cooperation program
administered by the National Guard. The program is executed by the
individual states, territories and the District of Columbia. I am proud
to inform this body that the D.C. National Guard and the Burkina Faso
Armed Forces will now be establishing a military-to-military
relationship focused on security cooperation.
The State Partnership Program provides an equally beneficial
relationship between armed forces of partnering U.S. National Guard
states, territories, the District of Columbia and foreign nations. It
is administered by the National Guard Bureau and guided by State
Department foreign policy goals. These partnerships support Combatant
Command campaign objectives, strengthen alliances, provide cost-
effective subject matter expert engagements and enhance defense
security.
The District of Columbia National Guard's partnership with Burkina
Faso will be in addition to the current partnership between the D.C.
National Guard and Jamaica. Since 1999, the District of Columbia
National Guard has had a successful and productive partnership with
Jamaica. In 2018, the D.C. National Guard and the Jamaica Defense
Forces conducted 17 key subject matter expert engagements including
work on drug-trafficking, military police response and domestic
security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response, and
preparation for medical and dental personnel, among other activities.
The Burkina Faso state partnership would not have happened without
the leadership of Major General William J. Walker, the Commanding
General of the D.C. National Guard, Brigadier General Aaron R. Dean II,
the Adjutant General D.C. National Guard, Justin Som, Burkina Faso's
Secretary General of the Minister of Defense, Andrew R. Young, the U.S.
Ambassador to Burkina Faso Brigadier, General Moses Miningou, the Chief
of General Staff for the National Armed Forces of Burkina Faso, and
Brigadier General Steven deMilliano, U.S. Air Force, Deputy Director
for Strategy, Engagement and Programs Directorate at United States
Africa Command. Many others contributed as well from the D.C. National
Guard, Department of Defense, National Guard Bureau and State
Department.
As the D.C. National Guard embarks on this new mission, I look
forward to supporting them every step of the way. I trust through their
dedication and sacrifices, they will help strengthen shared national
security goals while fostering a partnership of peace, prosperity, and
freedom for the people of Burkina Faso and the region.
[[Page E381]]
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