Photo By Maj. Matthew Lucht | Maj. Gen. David Weishaar, Kansas adjutant general, and other Kansas National Guard...... read more read more
Since 2003, the partnership between the Kansas National Guard and the Republic of Armenia has resulted in multiple military-to-military and civilian-to-civilian exchanges under the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program. However, as with much of the world, the last two years of the partnership was affected by the COVID 19 pandemic.
Now, as COVID numbers decline, the Kansas National Guard is ramping up their engagements.
“In the last six weeks, we have had Kansans in Armenia for five out of that last six weeks,” said Lt. Col. Amy Hill, Kansas State Partnership Program director. “The SPP costs remarkably lower budget numbers than any other program and has had a continuous benefit with the relationship.”
One of those engagements, delayed over a year ago, finally happened the week of May 1-8. 2022. Maj. Gen. David Weishaar, Kansas adjutant general, and other Kansas National Guard leadership traveled to the Republic of Armenia for a key leadership engagement with Armenian officials.
“We needed to have that connection,” said Hill, “that opportunity to dialogue with our partner country since it had been so long since we have had a key leadership engagement here in the country.”
“This is my first opportunity to come to Armenia as part of the State Partnership Program,” said Weishaar. “I had some simple asks for the Armenian leaders that we talked to: ‘What do you need from us?’ and ‘How can we help?’ That is really the summary and our focus for the week.”
During this visit, the Kansas Delegation met with representatives from the Armenian Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the U.S. Embassy to discuss their continued partnership and possible future engagements that would benefit and strengthen both nations. The visit also involved meetings at the Armenian National Defense Research University, Military University, Military Medical Hospital to include the Role 2 Military
Medical Treatment Facility storage warehouse, Peacekeeping Brigade and 5th Army Corp Headquarters.
One of the stops on the week’s agenda was the Ministry of Emergency Situations’ new K9 training facility. The Kansas delegation toured the new complex, saw plans for expansion and observed a demonstration showcasing the different K9 training capabilities provided at the facility. The visit to the K9 training facility also provided an opportunity to reconnect with partners.
“I had the opportunity to see a couple of guys that came to Kansas as part of a K9 training scenario,” said Weishaar. “Another group came as part of a law enforcement training, so I got to see several people I had met before in Kansas.”
With almost 20 years of continuous engagement between Kansas and Armenia, the opportunities to work and train with the same individuals have created long-lasting benefits.
“We had some members on the trip this time, specifically Lt. Col. Dallas McMullen, who trained and worked with the Peacekeeping Brigade several years ago,” said Weishaar. “Those members have moved up in the military chain of command and are now in senior leadership roles. Dallas got to see some of the members that he worked with before and reestablish those friendships.
“It doesn’t seem to matter where you live or who you are, we are all concerned about taking care of Soldiers, our Airmen and our citizens,” said Weishaar. “Suicide rates are high, and readiness levels and budgets are low across the world. Everyone is trying to do the best they can with the limited resources that they have. So, for me, the takeaway was it doesn’t matter where you are, we all have the same issues and we all need to work through them together.”
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 06.29.2022 13:12 |
| Story ID: | 421080 |
| Location: | TOPEKA, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 171 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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