Mississippi's National Guard Bureau and Uzbekistan have had a vibrant partnership since 2012 under the aegis of the US National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program (SPP).

During this time, they have conducted more than 200 partnership engagements, ranging from meetings between key leaders and military-to-military exchanges to joint exercises.

This high level of engagement makes the partnership one of the most successful in the SPP, launched 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.

Active partnership

This year marks 13 years of a highly active partnership between the Mississippi National Guard and Uzbekistan, which has included military drills.

Uzbek forces have participated in Southern Strike, a large-scale international combat exercise focusing on total force interoperability that Mississippi hosts each year.

Uzbekistan also has taken part in annual national disaster response exercises Ardent Sentry and Patriot South.

Uzbek troops have participated in the annual Regional Cooperation exercises and have excelled at the Department of the Army's annual Best Warrior Competition.

The latter focuses on physical fitness and marksmanship drills among active duty, reserve component and National Guard forces.

Senior leaders from both sides have continued reciprocal visits and ceremonies.

In January, Mississippi National Guard Adjutant Gen. Maj. Gen. Bobby Ginn and the 41st Army Band attended Uzbekistan's Armed Forces Day ceremony at the Uzbek Embassy in Washington.

In June, Ginn led a delegation to Tashkent to meet with senior leaders across multiple ministries to enhance military-to-military cooperation, support regional security and foster mutual development.

Wide engagement

The variety of engagements held by the SPP demonstrates that the National Guard is uniquely suited to conduct these military-to-military engagements.

The majority of Guardsmen serve only part time, holding civilian jobs and living among the communities they serve. These engagements have led to cooperation that extend beyond the military.

In 2018, Mississippi hosted Uzbek senators to discuss trade and industry partnerships.

The next year, Uzbekistan hosted key leaders from Mississippi, including the governor, agriculture commissioner and adjutant general of the National Guard, to discuss further partnership in trade, education and economic development.

The SPP also has facilitated subject matter exchanges between Mississippi and Uzbekistan, as well as partnerships between their respective universities.