A Michigan Army National Guard Unmanned Aircraft System platoon will travel to Latvia in early May to share equipment and build knowledge with Latvian military forces as both groups hone UAS operational skills. The 30-member platoon is part of the Michigan National Guard 126th Cavalry Regiment located near Grand Rapids. The unit is scheduled for a two-month deployment.
The Michigan National Guard and Latvian military forces have formed a family-like bond over the past 22 years of partnering through the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. The NGB SPP encourages sharing information, equipment and strategic skills between U.S. National Guard forces and each state’s respective partnership country. Latvian leaders, Soldiers and Airmen visit and train in Michigan as active, committed participants of the partnership.
“We hold the longest state partnership agreement in the country. We’ve celebrated accomplishments and mourned the loss of patriot lives (Twenty-one Michigan Soldiers and four Latvian Soldiers have been killed in action since 2011.), said Michigan National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Gregory Vadnais. “The UAS mission is another opportunity for Michigan Guardsmen and Latvians to share information and jointly build skills. It is a continuation of previous network-building that will further enhance state partnership efforts between our countries,” Vadnais said.
Maj. Gen. Gregory Vadnais and Latvian JTAC team members at Camp Grayling airfield – Michigan National Guard photo by Angela Simpson/Released
Source: DIVDS