This year marks the 20th anniversary of the successful partnership between Jordan and the Colorado National Guard Bureau -- a relationship that has supported the development of noncommissioned officers, future leaders and teamwork among frontline leaders.

Jordan and the Colorado National Guard Bureau have taken part in the US National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP) since 2004.

The US Department of Defense launched the SPP in 1993 to build and strengthen military-to-military and civilian-to-military relationships between US states and partner countries.

The SPP links a unique component of the Department of Defense, a state's National Guard, with the armed forces or equivalent of a partner country in a cooperative, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship.

The program has been building relations for more than 30 years and now includes 96 partnerships with 106 nations around the globe.

The official partnership between Colorado and Jordan began as the United States was engaged in a war with Jordan's neighbor Iraq. Jordan was the first Middle Eastern country to be part of the SPP.

Officials from both Jordan and Colorado have praised the relationship, describing it as one of strong camaraderie and brotherhood and built on common principles.

Through the SPP, the Colorado National Guard conducts regular military-to-military engagements supporting defense security goals while leveraging whole-of-society relationships to facilitate broader interagency and corollary engagements.

This comprehensive approach spans military, government, economic and social spheres, demonstrating the program's far-reaching impact.

Lasting partnership

Together, the Colorado National Guard and Jordan have 35 annual training events. The locations of the weeklong training events are split between the US state of Colorado and Jordan.

A key focus of the partnership has been counterterrorism education and training. Colorado has hosted Jordanian military forces in Denver for specialized counterterrorism education, and National Guardsmen have traveled to Jordan to participate in joint training.

In Jordan, Colorado National Guardsmen have trained with Jordanians to fly and maintain F-16 jets and Black Hawk helicopters.

One focus of the Colorado Air National Guard's visits to Jordan is on developing the noncommissioned officer corps, which is essential for creating a highly functional military team.

The trust and reliance officers place in their senior enlisted counterparts allow them to focus on other critical tasks, enhancing overall mission effectiveness.

Members of the Royal Jordanian Air Force Ground Defense, Jordanian Military Security and the Colorado Air National Guard have also collaborated on base defense tactics and procedures.