The National Guard

06/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/09/2024 17:01

Kentucky National Guard Hosts State Partner Djibouti

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Logistics officers from the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) visited the 1792nd Combat Support Sustainment Battalion while in Kentucky Aug. 19-22.

The visit was part of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. Kentucky and Djibouti have been partners in the program since 2015.

The focus of the engagement was to build relationships between the military members of the two countries' logisticians and maintainers.

"The event was truly significant for both parties in learning and refining their logistics and maintenance," said Capt. Wesley Hanna, the incoming bilateral affairs officer for Djibouti. "It was especially impactful for the FAD representatives as a precursor to the upcoming construction of a new logistics base in Djibouti."

Each shared their respective protocols, procedures and lessons learned to support the relationships, maintenance procedures and the KYNG maintenance organization.

"By engaging with KYNG and seeing our techniques in action, the FAD is able to glean what is applicable to their organization in planning for future maintenance and logistics upgrades and refinements," added Hanna.

During their visit to Bowing Green, they toured the 1792nd's Headquarters, their field maintenance shop and the famous Corvette Museum.

They also visited the Field Maintenance Shop 4 at Boone National Guard Center, the Combined Support Maintenance Shop in Richmond and the Unit Training Equipment Site at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville. 

"We surely keep this relation for long term, as we told Col. Cooper (SPP director), for 100 years and more," said Lt. Col. Amina Mohamad Moussa, FAD logistics officer. "We need to learn from your expertise and experience, especially in the logistics domain."

The Soldiers from Djibouti also thanked the Kentucky Soldiers for their hospitality.