embers of the New York Air and Army National Guard are now partnering with Airmen and Soldiers from half a world away. New York State and South African forces have been training together since 2003.
Feel free to browse SPP Events and read the SPP Information Paper for more details.

Tonawanda, NY: Lieutenant Colonel Moore (left), Brigadier General Ledwaba (middle) and Warrant Officer Makhoba (right) take a break during the Vigilant Guard VIP tour to discuss the various rescue agencies working on the rubble pile November 4, 2009. The exercise was created to simulate a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Buffalo, NY leading to a Defense Support of Civil Authorities request from New York State. Military forces and civilian first responders worked together during the 5 day event. Leaders from the South African National Defence Force got to tour all the venues during their visit, in order to develop a better understanding of military and civilian joint operations. Photo by SGT Sean Baxter

Cheektowaga, NY: Brigadier General Ledwaba (right) speaks with Dan Neaverth of Erie County during a tour of the Erie County Emergency Operations Center November 4, 2009. The EOC is a central command and control facility responsible for carrying out the principles of emergency preparedness and emergency management, or disaster management functions at a strategic level in an emergency situation. Photo by SGT Sean Baxter

DOORNKLOOF, South Africa: At the South African National Defence Force Reserve Symposium held here recently, Command Chief Master Sergeant Hardy Pierce (left) gets acquainted with a Warrant Officer of the South African Military Health Service. Chief Pierce and a delegation of New York Air and Army National Guard officers presented briefings to South African Reservists during this weeklong conference. Photo by MAJ Pat Chaisson

SAVANNAH, Georgia - One of the State Partnership Program’s key goals is the fostering of civil-military relations, especially in the areas of homeland security and law enforcement. In July, Army National Guard aviator and New York Police Department pilot CW2 Rich Siracusano helped host two South African Police Service professionals at the Airborne Law Enforcement Annual Conference in Savannah, GA. Bennett Malebo, Superintendent of Aviation Safety for the South African National Police Aviation Unit, and Captain Jackson Vermaak, Commander of the South African National Police Tactical Flight Observers, attended this week-long conference with CW2 Siracusano. In this photo, Retired NYPD Police Sergeant Mark Cabibbo (left), an Aviation Maintenance Supervisor and ALEA Aircraft Maintenance Instructor, poses with CPT Vermaak in front of a McDonnell-Douglas Model 369E helicopter. Photo by CW2 Rich Siracusano

WESTHAMPTON, NY: Senior Master Sergeant Brian Mosher of the 103rd Rescue Squadron (center, in green flightsuit) demonstrates the features of a rescue basket used by his unit to members of the South African National Sea Rescue Unit. Eight NSRI volunteers traveled from South Africa recently as part of a New York National Guard State Partnership Program event designed to exchange “best practices” on sea rescue techniques. This is the second such event sponsored by the New York SPP; last June a team of New York Air Guard pararescue jumpers visited the NSRI in South Africa to cooperate on parachute extraction procedures. Photo by MAJ Pat Chaisson

MONTEREY, California: Brigadier General Michael Swezey, left, shares a light moment with Rear Admiral Philip Schoultz of the South African Navy at the 11th Defense Committee meeting of senior military officials from South Africa and the United States. BG Swezey, Commander of the 53rd Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, represented the New York State Partnership Program at this high-level conference, during which many cooperative agreements between the two partner nations were made. Photo by MAJ Pat Chaisson

WASHINGTON DC: New York National Guard Director of the Joint Staff, Brigadier General Patrick Murphy (left) presents the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal to Rear Admiral George Mphafi (right), South African Navy, in a ceremony at the South African Embassy in Washington recently. Admiral Mphafi, the departing South African Defence Attache, received this prestigious award in recognition of his outstanding service to the New York National Guard State Partnership Program. Also receiving the Conspicuous Service Medal was Colonel (South African Air Force) Schalk Van Heerden, the outgoing Deputy Defence Attache (not pictured here). The Conspicuous Service Medal is the second-highest NYS award in precedence, and is the only state medal that may be awarded to a foreign officer. Admiral Mphafi and Col Van Heerden are the first foreign officers to receive this award since it was first introduced in 1963.

NEW YORK HARBOR:
Mr. Rufus Lekala, Harbormaster for the Port of Durban, South Africa, listens to Captain Robert Pouch of the New York Naval Militia explain the capabilities of his PB400 patrol boat. Lekala was in New York last week as part of a South African delegation participating in a State Partnership Program port security event. As part of that event the South African team met with various interagency partners responsible for the security of New York Harbor. Photo by MAJ Pat Chaisson.

Left  Schoolchildren from a remote village near the town of Tshaneni in the Kingdom of Swaziland, smile and wave with New York Air National Guard Major Dave Panzera. Major Panzera, the US Bilateral Affairs officer in South Africa, was visiting with a team from US Africa Command which was on site to assess the location for the up-coming MEDFLAG 2009. This medical exercise will involve approximately 50 personnel visiting 4 villages, including this one, with the goal of assisting the local country's military and medical institutions in helping the people of Swaziland.

Cape Town, South Africa:           Right:
Brigadier General Paul Genereux, Commanding General of the 42d Infantry “Rainbow“ Division, addresses a group of South African Army officers at the South African Armour Symposium held here recently. Accompanied by 42ID Chief of Staff, Colonel Carl Pfeiffer, General Genereux spoke on lessons learned during the Rainbow Division’s combat deployment to Iraq in 2004-2005. The 42nd Infantry Division leaders were invited to South Africa through the New York State Partnership Program, which provides opportunities for military and civilian engagement activities between New York and the Republic of South Africa.

Left:   Colonel Gary James of the 109th Airlift Wing, NY Air National Guard, briefs Eric Bost, US Ambassador to South Africa, on the capabilities of the LC-130H Hercules transport aircraft. The New York Air National Guard brought an LC-130H to Cape Town, South Africa recently to participate in a week-long exercise with the South African Air Force.

                       Right:
 South African visitors  examine a ski-equipped  LC-130H Hercules  aircraft.

New York State Adjutant General     Right:
Maj. Gen. Joseph Taluto speaks with Ms. Susan Shabangu, the South Africa Deputy Minister for Safety and Security during the National Guard's State Partnership Conference in Latham on September 4. Leaders from the South African National Defense Force and New York National Guard met to discuss emerging opportunities for military to military relations and continuing partnerships with New York's government agencies.  Read the full article here

The State Partnership Program is a way for American states to create positive relationships with many nations. Some recent events between New York State and South Africa include marksmanship competitions, the Deputy Adjutant General's visit to South Africa, and an Aviation Safety team event.

Read more about a medical conference where New York National Guard doctors drove over a live land mine and survived to tell the tale.

Learn here how an Air National Guard Chaplain helped design an insignia for the newly-created Swaziland Defence Force Chaplaincy Service, and see photos from this small African kingdom located between South Africa and Mozambique.

Also, this July-August, 2003 Guard Times article has more information on the State Partnership Program in New York.
You can also contact the program coordinator, MAJ Renee Ford, at renee.m.ford@us.army.mil or call 518-786-6094/DSN 489-6094.

About the State Partnership Program
National Guard Bureau, Office of International Affairs (J5-IA)

About the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM)

About the Republic of South Africa
CIA - The World Factbook -- South Africa
Library of Congress - Country Studies - Area Handbook Series - South Africa

United States Mission to South Africa
United States Embassy , Pretoria, South Africa

South African Mission to the United States
Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Washington D.C.
South African Consulate General New York

South African Government Websites
South African Government Online
South African Department of Defence/National Defence Forces

Rank Insignia of the South African National Defence Forces (SANDF)