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The New York National Guard hosted the 2016 Defense Committee Meeting held in Saratoga Springs, NY 24-26 October 2016. Members of the South African National Defense Force attended the meeting along with U.S. delegates from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Africom and the Office of Defense Cooperation (U.S. Embassy, Pretoria).
Members of the New York Army and Air National Guard participated in the in the 2016 African Aerospace and Defense Exposition 13-18 September 2016. Units from the 105th Air Wing, 106th Air Rescue Squadron and 174th Attack Wing participated in the event. They brought several aircraft and vehicles to include the C-17, C-130, MQ-9 (Reaper) and the Guardian Angel Air-deployable Recovery Vehicle (GAARV).
Brig Gen Bhasie Gqoboka and Lt Col Ben Phakathi visited with the New York Naval Militia and 24th Civil Support Team in the New York City area on 13 June; New York National Guard Headquarters on 14 June in Latham; and observed the New York National Guard Homeland Response Force Exercise on 15 June in Oriskany at the State Preparedness Training Center.
The New York National Guard participated in the Disaster Preparedness Main Planning Conference with the South African National Defense Force on 4-8 April 2016 in Pretoria, South Africa. New York sent Major John Nitka, Major Jason Zeliph and Staff Sergeant Tom Myers to assist with planning efforts. Major Amy Bonanno, currently residing in South Africa with her husband who serves as the Bilateral Affairs Officer, also participated in the conference. Eleven South African National Defense Force planners hosted the Guardsmen.
The State Partnership Program Director, Major Todd Balog, attended the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program Workshop 4-8 April 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The purpose of this conference was to provide current information on the State Partnership Program, instruction and collaboration to improve the current 73 programs across 54 States and Territories.
The New York National Guard held their annual Congressional Breakfast in Washington, DC at the Rayburn House on 1 March 2016. The South African Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Mhlangu, attended the breakfast with the South African Defense Attache´, Brigadier General Phala. Congressmen representing New York attended the event to include Congressman Chris Gibson.
The Adjutant General, Director of the Joint Staff, State Command Sergeant Major, State Partnership Program Coordinator and Bilateral Affairs Officer attended the United States Army Africa SPP Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina 25-28 January 2016. The conference was hosted by the North Carolina National Guard.