Kentucky Guard

Kentucky Guard partners with Djibouti to enhance disaster preparedness
November 24, 2025 — A team of Soldiers and an Airman from the Kentucky National Guard completed a subject matter expertise exchange with key Djiboutian organizations to bolster disaster preparedness, July 31 through Aug. 9, 2025... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dylan Rhodes briefs Search and Rescue Enterprise to members of the Djiboutian Armed Forces in August 2025.

State Partnership Program conducts air assault planning exchange
September 10, 2025 — Members of the Kentucky National Guard took part in a four-day air assault planning exchange with the Ecuadorian 9th Special Forces Brigade as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program, Aug. 18-21... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Ryan Hubbs congratulates an Ecuadorian marine on the completion of air assault training during a ceremony at the end of an air assault training exchange in Latacunga, Ecuador, Aug. 21, 2025.

Kentucky and Djibouti celebrate decade-long partnership
July 29, 2025 — Senior leaders from the Kentucky National Guard and the Djiboutian Armed Forces met in Kentucky from July 21–23, 2025, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their partnership and strengthen ongoing cooperation. The event brought together representatives from the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard, Kentucky Emergency Management, Urban Search and Rescue, the Office of Homeland Security, the Cabinet for Economic Development, the Chamber of Commerce, U.S. National Guard Bureau, and a delegation from Djibouti... MORE

Colonel Amina Mohamed Moussa of the Djiboutian Armed Forces presents a gift to Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, adjutant general of Kentucky, during a key leader engagement in Frankfort, Kentucky, July 23, 2025.

Kentucky Airmen sharpen war-fighting at Combat Readiness Center field exercise
July 21, 2025 — More than 50 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Security Forces Squadron and 123rd Contingency Response Group joined with members of the Colorado Air Guard and the Ecuadorian Air Force to sharpen their war-fighting skills during a field exercise at the Combat Readiness Training Center, May 21-29, 2025... MORE

An Airman from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group lays prone to fortify a defensive position at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Michigan, May 24, 2025.

Cyber, radio exchange deepens US, Djibouti military cooperation
July 18, 2025 — Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), and the Kentucky Army National Guard teamed up with Djiboutian forces for a cybersecurity and radio communications fundamentals skills-sharing initiative that blended instruction, live demonstrations, and practical exercises... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guard participate in a radio communications knowledge exchange with Djiboutian soldiers at the Djiboutian signal corp compound in Djibouti City, Djibouti, July 14, 2025.

Kentucky Guardsman Interprets Native Language, Cyber Skills
June 13, 2025 — Kentucky Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Daniel Jarillo-Gutierrez and over 900 Soldiers, Sailors, Guardians and civilian experts participated in Cyber Shield 2025, a cybersecurity exercise held in Virginia from May 30 to June 13. They collaborated to share best practices and build a unified defense against cyber threats. Using his trilingual skills – English, Spanish, and cyber expertise – Jarillo-Gutierrez worked with Ecuadorian participants to strengthen Kentucky’s partnership with Ecuador by enhancing both nations’ cybersecurity capabilities during this exercise... MORE

Staff Sgt. Daniel Jarillo-Gutierrez, an information technology specialist assigned to Joint Force Headquarters with the Kentucky Army National Guard participates in exercise Cyber Shield 2025 with Ecuadorian state partners in Virginia Beach, Virginia, June 4, 2025.

Kentucky Air Guard security forces conduct information exchange with Ecuadorian partners
December 31, 2024 — Twenty-seven Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Security Forces Squadron teamed with six Ecuadorian Air Force special forces for a week-long information exchange supporting domestic law enforcement operations May 16-22, 2024... MORE

Lt. Col. Joshua Elwell, right, commander of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Security Forces Squadron, greets his counterpart from the Ecuadorian Air Force Special Operations Command during an information exchange event at Camp San Luis Obispo, Calif., May 17, 2024.

Kentucky Guardsmen Host State Partner Djibouti
September 6, 2024 — A small contingent of logistics officers from the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) visited the 1792nd Combat Support Sustainment Battalion during their visit to the Commonwealth Aug. 19-22, 2024... MORE

The visit was part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program, which started in 2015 between Kentucky and Djibouti. During the visit, they toured the CSSB's armory, field maintenance shop 10 and the famous Corvette Museum

Kentucky National Guard hosts Ecuadorians for interagency operations exchange
August 23, 2024 — The Kentucky National Guard hosted Ecuadorian military and civilian officials for a subject matter expert exchange focusing on interagency operations and communications in a domestic operational environment Aug. 5-9... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Carolyn Peabody, a member of the 123rd Airlift Wing’s Fatality Search and Recovery Team, discusses the unit’s personal protective equipment with a group of Ecuadorian military and civilian emergency management officials during a tour of the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 6, 2024. The Ecuadorians were visiting as part of the State Partnership Program to learn more about the Kentucky Guard’s emergency response capabilities and interagency cooperation across the state. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Kentucky National Guard Hosts Ecuadorian Military for Interagency Operations Exchange
August 10, 2024 — The Kentucky National Guard hosted a subject matter expert exchange with members of the Ecuadorian military, focusing on interagency operations and communications in a domestic operational environment. This engagement, scheduled from August 5-9, 2024, included various activities and site visits across central Kentucky, including the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, the 123rd Airlift Wing in Louisville, and the Lexington Fire Department... MORE

The KYNG hosted leaders from Ecuador during a subject matter expert exchange on the topic of collaboration between military and civilian agencies during disaster or civil response

Kentucky Guard Attends Leader Engagement with Djibouti
July 16, 2024 — Kentucky leadership attended Djibouti’s Independence Day parade and met with Djiboutian and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) leaders as part of the State Partnership Program (SPP)... MORE

CJTF-HOA conducts operations to enhance partner nation capacity, promote regional stability, dissuade conflict, and protect U.S. and coalition interests, primarily in the East Africa region. The command is critical to U.S. Africa Command's efforts to build partner capacity to counter violent extremists and address other regional security partnerships. The command works against malign actors to strengthen collective security forces and respond to crises to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability, and prosperity.

Kentucky Guard engineers support Djibouti armed forces at Camp Dodge
June 27, 2024 — In a dynamic exchange of expertise and camaraderie and sponsored by the Kentucky National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP), engineers from the Kentucky Army National Guard welcomed their counterparts from the Djibouti Armed Forces (DAF) during the unit’s annual training event at Camp Dodge, in May 2024. The 206th Engineer Battalion, part of the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), showcased how they set up a battalion-sized command post and conduct a field training exercise (FTX). The DAF officers, with aspirations to form their own engineer battalion, observed established practices of the Kentucky engineers while gaining insights on command and control, logistics, personnel accountability, operations, and communication... MORE

Engineers with the 130th Engineer support Company, 206th Engineer Battalion, Kentucky National Guard, set the foundation blocks for a retaining wall at Camp Dodge, Iowa on May 15, 2024. The 206th Engineer Battalion worked on various construction projects at Camp Dodge for their annual training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Dickson)

Ecuador-Kentucky Guard partnership welcomes C-130 to Ecuadorian Air Force
May 6, 2024 — The Ecuadorian Air Force welcomed a C-130H Hercules into its inventory March 25, 2024, during a ceremony attended by leadership from the Kentucky Air National Guard, who were on hand to congratulate their State Partnership Program colleagues on the new capability... MORE

Members of the Ecuadorian Air Force salute during a ceremony welcoming the arrival of a C-130H Hercules to the Ecuadorian Air Force in Latacunga, Ecuador, March 25, 2024. The ceremony, which included top Ecuadorian military and civilian leaders, marked a new milestone in Ecuador’s participation in the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, which has paired Ecuador and the Kentucky National Guard for mutual military cooperation. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

Kentucky Guardsmen, Ecuador's special forces unite in urban warfare exchange
April 10, 2024 — Kentucky infantry soldiers and Ecuadorian military special forces exchanged urban operations tactics in Latacunga, Ecuador, from March 18-22, 2024, enhancing interagency relations and military readiness through the Kentucky National Guard State Partnership Program... MORE

Ecuadorian Army Col. Gustavo Iturralde, commander of Ecuador's 9th Special Forces Brigade, talks with Kentucky Army National Guard in Latacunga, Ecuador, March 18, 2024.

Enduring state partnership strengthens leader development through exchange
April 10, 2024 — Members of the Ecuadorian military visited the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, February 24-28, 2024, for a leadership exchange focused on military officer development. This engagement, part of a long-term strategy to foster relationships and share tactical insights, underscored the commitment of both nations to continue building a strong partnership through shared experiences and learning, with a focus on officer development, cultural exchange, and overcoming operational challenges... MORE

Kentucky Army National Guard officer candidates mix with Ecuadorian Army, Navy, and Air Force cadets for a group photo at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Kentucky, Feb. 24-28, 2024.

Kentucky Guard hosts Ecuadorian military for leader engagement
February 13, 2024 — Eight senior ranking officials representing Ecuador’s Army, Navy and Air Force got to hear and see what the Kentucky National Guard was about and build bonds between the two countries that are beneficial to both countries... MORE

During the four-day visit, the Ecuadorians visited multiple locations in Frankfort, they participated in capability briefings by the Kentucky Army National Guard and Kentucky Emergency Management, toured the capitol, and had a highlight visit with Governor Andy Beshear.

Ecuadorian military leaders visit Kentucky Air Guard
February 2, 2024 — Key leaders from the Ecuadorian military met with Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard on Jan. 31, 2024, to tour the 123rd Airlift Wing in Louisville, Ky., and learn more about the wing’s missions. They also spoke with unit members about their roles in supporting U.S. military operations around the world while also serving the Commonwealth of Kentucky during times of crisis or natural disaster... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Elija Lamastus, right, a medic assigned the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Medical Group Detachment 1, demonstrates the use of a combat application tourniquet to Ecuadorian Navy Adm. Jaime Patricio Vela Erazo, chief of staff of the Ecuadorian military, at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 31, 2024. Vela Erazo is one of several Ecuadorian military leaders visiting this week to exchange information with the Kentucky National Guard as part of the State Partnership Program, a National Guard Bureau effort that pairs Guard units with foreign allies to foster enhanced understanding across all aspects of civil and military affairs. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Kentucky Soldiers and Airmen awarded a new state ribbon for State Partnership Program
April 13, 2023 — Kentucky National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were the first to receive a new joint state ribbon recognizing service with the State Partnership Program (SPP) in a ceremony at the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Kentucky on April 13, 2023. As of the ceremony, 34 Soldiers and Airmen qualified for the new ribbon and those present were awarded their orders for record and the official ribbon. ... MORE

The Kentucky State Partnership Program (SPP) ribbon is the newest state ribbon to be awarded to Soldiers and Airmen of the Kentucky National Guard. The new ribbon was created to honor Soldiers and Airmen who enhance military-to-military relationships in subject matter expert engagement with one of Kentucky’s partner nations, Ecuador and Djibouti. (U.S. Army photo by Andy Dickson)

Kentucky National Guard conducts Senior Enlisted Leader Seminar with Ecuadorian Military
April 12, 2023 — This seminar was the first of its kind in the KYNG and Ecuadorian partnership's nearly 30-year trajectory, focused solely on sharing non-commissioned officer competencies, capabilities, and leadership responsibilities... MORE

During the seminar, the participants exchanged best-practices on topics involving non-commissioned officer competencies, capabilities and leadership responsibilities. (Submitted photos)

Kentucky Guard signal leaders swap knowledge, build relationships with counterparts in partner nation Djibouti
September 12, 2022 — Although the early-morning sun was still low in the sky, temperatures were already hovering near 100 degrees, as a small group of Kentucky National Guard signal leaders made their way in utility vehicles across the rugged, barren terrain of sunbaked Djibouti, a small country in East Africa... MORE

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