{"id":11305,"date":"2026-06-10T18:37:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T18:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/?p=11305"},"modified":"2026-06-30T18:45:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T18:45:29","slug":"where-the-state-partnership-program-began-national-guard-leaders-visit-baltics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/2026\/06\/10\/where-the-state-partnership-program-began-national-guard-leaders-visit-baltics\/","title":{"rendered":"Where the State Partnership Program began: National Guard Leaders visit Baltics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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by Master Sgt. Zach Sheely<\/p>\n

VILNIUS, Lithuania (06\/05\/2026) \u2014 When the 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau arrived in the Baltic region this month, he was not opening a new chapter in American security cooperation, he was reinforcing the bedrock of deterrence on NATO\u2019s eastern flank. Here, allies are taking responsibility for an increased share of the defense burden the United States expects of its closest partners.<\/p>\n

Air Force Gen. Steven Nordhaus, CNGB, joined by Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief John Raines and the adjutants general of Maryland and Michigan, along with Pennsylvania\u2019s deputy adjutant general-Army, traveled from Tallinn, Estonia, to Riga, Latvia, and concluded here in Vilnius.<\/p>\n

More than 33 years ago, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia became the first three nations paired with U.S. states under what became the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. Born in the uncertain aftermath of the Soviet collapse, the SPP has matured into one of the U.S. military\u2019s most enduring, cost-effective and strategically agile security cooperation tools.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe partnership between the Baltic countries and the National Guard of Maryland, Michigan and Pennsylvania is more than a military relationship, it\u2019s an investment in deterrence,\u201d Nordhaus said. \u201cOur Soldiers and Airmen gain invaluable experience working alongside trusted partners, sharing expertise, strengthening readiness and building relationships that enhance security on both sides of the Atlantic.\u201d<\/p>\n

The State Partnership Program didn\u2019t just start with the Baltics; it was<\/em> the Baltics.<\/p>\n

In the early 1990s, U.S. Army Gen. John Shalikashvili, then NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe and commander of U.S. European Command, sought rapid Western engagement for the newly independent Baltic countries. The National Guard provided the ideal solution. The pairings\u2014Maryland with Estonia, Michigan with Latvia, and Pennsylvania with Lithuania, were deliberately built on deep cultural and diaspora ties.<\/p>\n

More than three decades of sustained engagement, coupled with sharp recent increases in Baltic defense investment (with all three nations exceeding the NATO 5% GDP benchmark well ahead of schedule) have produced tangible results: highly capable, interoperable partners ready to shoulder greater responsibility for their own and the Alliance\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n

All three Baltic nations demonstrate unified pro-United States alignment. This is underscored by immediate support for U.S. global operations to include Operation Epic Fury.<\/p>\n

Past combined deployments also epitomize these bilateral commitments. Estonian Air Force pilots flew UH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation missions with Maryland Guard aviators in Afghanistan. The Pennsylvania Guard and Lithuanian Armed Forces conducted 18 co-deployments to Afghanistan. In 2009, Latvian soldiers fought alongside Michigan Guardsmen, marking the first SPP-enabled deployment into a combat zone. Two Latvian personnel killed in action on combined deployments are memorialized with fallen Michigan Soldiers in the \u201cHall of Honor\u201d at Michigan\u2019s Joint Forces Headquarters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat began as a state partnership has evolved into a unified operational relationship where Maryland and Estonia, Michigan and Latvia and Pennsylvania and Lithuania stand side-by-side as one force, forged by trust, sacrifice and shared service,\u201d Raines said.<\/p>\n

Tallinn, Estonia:<\/strong> Here, Nordhaus and Raines were joined by Army. Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, the adjutant general of Maryland. The Maryland\u2013Estonia partnership operates at the cutting edge of allied capabilities, particularly in cyber defense.<\/p>\n

Last month, more than 40 Maryland Guardsmen joined Estonian partners in Immediate Response 2026, a key cyber exercise within the Sword 26 series across the High North and Baltics. They focused on defending critical infrastructure in realistic, contested environments.<\/p>\n

Last year, Maryland troops participated in Estonia\u2019s largest exercise, Hedgehog, alongside over 16,000 troops from multiple NATO nations, as well as Exercise Hurricane for convoy and mobilization training. Additionally, Estonian Cyber Command personnel visited Maryland for Baltic Blitz 25, while Maryland Guardsmen from the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group have supported Locked Shields\u2014the world\u2019s premier live-fire cyber defense exercise\u2014at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Estonia continues to invest heavily in its national defense and deterrence posture, the Maryland\u2013Estonia partnership remains a proven and trusted mechanism for advancing shared security objectives and strengthening NATO readiness,\u201d Birckhead said.<\/p>\n

The Guard leaders met with Estonia\u2019s defense leaders to underscore a partnership that evolved from the SPP\u2019s original experiment into a sophisticated model for multi-domain integration and cyber resilience. Nordhaus commended Estonia\u2019s cyber capabilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cEstonia is on the cutting edge of NATO cyber defense,\u201d he said. \u201cWe learn as much from them as they do from us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Riga, Latvia:<\/strong> The Michigan National Guard\u2019s long-standing partnership has helped shape Latvia\u2019s military culture, procurement, NATO integration and warfighting ethos. Latvian leaders, including Maj. Gen. Kaspars Pud\u0101ns, Commander of the Latvian National Armed Forces, have repeatedly credited the partnership as foundational.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am grateful for the support from the U.S. in our developmental years, which has significantly contributed to the growth of our forces,\u201d Pud\u0101ns said at a Baltic Defense College roundtable last April. \u201cThe State Partnership Program with Michigan has been particularly beneficial\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Army Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, TAG of Michigan, joined the NGB leaders here with a deep understanding of and history with the bilateral relationship.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis partnership is personal,\u201d Rogers said. \u201cThe Latvians are like family members. We take it very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Riga, Nordhaus retraced similar steps taken by Air Force Lt. Gen. John Conaway, the 22nd Chief of the National Guard Bureau, during the National Guard\u2019s first touchpoint with Latvia in November 1992. The 30th CNGB participated in a ceremonial wreath laying alongside Pud\u0101ns \u2014a powerful symbol of continuity.<\/p>\n

Pud\u0101ns spoke to what the partnership\u2019s longevity represents and what it means for the alliance\u2019s eastern flank.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor more than three decades, our partnership with the Michigan National Guard has been one of practical and effective military cooperation,\u201d Pudans said. \u201cThe experience gained through joint exercises has helped to strengthen combat readiness and interoperability with our allies.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Guard leaders also met with newly appointed Defense Minister Raivis Melnis, a former Latvian Armed Forces colonel who served alongside Michigan Guardsmen in combat.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor over 30 years, our partnership with the National Guard has been a cornerstone of Latvian security, including vital support in developing the Adazi and Selija Military Training Grounds,\u201d Melnis said in a statement.<\/p>\n

The Guard leaders toured both bases and met with the Guardsmen of the Michigan Guard\u2019s 107th Engineer Battalion who were assisting the Latvians\u2014with Danish help\u2014to build a staging and assembly area that will become the largest hub for multinational operations in the Baltics in Selija, located in southeast Latvia. This site will become a counter mobility corridor in support of the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccess to Latvian and Danish equipment has enabled realistic combined training and significantly strengthened multinational relationships and mission readiness,\u201d said Army Capt. Phillip Halamka, commander, 1432nd Engineer Support Company, Michigan Army National Guard.<\/p>\n

Vilnius, Lithuania:<\/strong> The Pennsylvania National Guard\u2019s relationship with Lithuania has generated more than 800 engagements since 1993, spanning aviation, cyber, leadership development and joint warrior competitions. This March, Pennsylvania Army Guard Soldiers placed second among foreign teams in Lithuania\u2019s Best Infantry Squad Competition, reciprocating Lithuanian participation in Pennsylvania\u2019s Best Warrior event.<\/p>\n

The cyber dimension of the Pennsylvania\u2013Lithuania partnership has grown equally significant.<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania Guard cyber operators are deeply integrated with Lithuanian counterparts through the Guard\u2019s Defensive Cyber Operations Element, a unit that has evolved from a small communications team into a dual-mission organization supporting state, federal and allied cybersecurity efforts.<\/p>\n

Here in Vilnius, the Guard leaders met with defense leaders, closing the trip with a partnership that has grown into one of the most operational bilateral relationships in the entire SPP. The Lithuanian Armed Forces reestablished its 1st Division last year with a focus on expanding and strengthening its force.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love nothing better than to conduct warfighting exercises with our brothers in Lithuania,\u201d said. Army Maj. Gen. Michael E. Wegscheider, deputy adjutant general-Army, Pennsylvania National Guard.<\/p>\n

Additionally, NCO development is a strong element of each Baltic partnership, Raines said, especially in Lithuania. He credited Sgt. Maj. Darius Masiulis, command senior enlisted leader of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and Command Sgt. Maj. Shawn Phillips, Pennsylvania\u2019s CSEL, for taking this core tenet to the next level.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough their commitment to shared readiness and mutual respect, each leader has helped ensure that the enlisted force of both nations stands unified in purpose, capability and character wherever they are called to serve,\u201d Raines said. \u201cThese strategic partnerships are a trusted brotherhood of Soldiers and NCOs who train, deploy and operate as one team.\u201d<\/p>\n

The visit to the Baltic countries was, in one sense, a milestone trip\u2014senior leader\u2019s recognition of partnerships that have endured across strategic shifts and more than three decades of change on Europe\u2019s eastern flank.<\/p>\n

It was equally forward-looking.<\/p>\n

The State Partnership Program that was born in the Baltics now spans the globe with 116 partner nations in every geographic combatant command and on every continent but Antarctica.<\/p>\n

\u201cStrong partners with equal commitment are a force multiplier on the battlefield,\u201d Nordhaus said.<\/p>\n

When the 2026 National Defense Strategy called for allies to shoulder more of the weight of collective defense, the Baltic countries wasted no time. That reality did not emerge on its own. It was aided, engagement by engagement, over more than thirty-three years of Guard collaboration. The Citizen-Soldier and -Airman\u2014rooted at home, committed abroad\u2014was instrumental in making it happen.<\/p>\n

And in the Baltics, where it all began, that instrument is still at work.<\/p>\n

-Lt. Col. Jeffery Fritz, Instructor, Baltic Defense College, Master Sgt. David Eichaker, Michigan National Guard and Sgt. Rachel Hall, Maryland Army National Guard, contributed<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Master Sgt. Zach Sheely VILNIUS, Lithuania (06\/05\/2026) \u2014 When the 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau arrived in the Baltic region this month, he was not opening a new chapter in American security cooperation, he was reinforcing the bedrock of deterrence on NATO\u2019s eastern flank. Here, allies are taking responsibility for an increased  Read the Rest…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":161,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[75,145,205,137,283],"class_list":["post-11305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-maryland-air-national-guard","tag-maryland-army-national-guard","tag-maryland-national-guard","tag-national-guard","tag-state-partnership-program"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/161"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11305"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11307,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11305\/revisions\/11307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}