CRS (R41957) The National Guard State Partnership Program (Kapp and Serafino)

The National Guard State Partnership Program: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress by Kapp and Serafino

This is a pretty cool program that not many people know about.  Basically state guard units pair up with other foreign countries.  

"The State Partnership Program (SPP) is a Department of Defense (DOD) security cooperation 

program run by the National Guard. It also serves as a mechanism for training National Guard 

personnel. Since the program began in 1992, it has expanded to the point where nearly every state 

National Guard participates, as do the National Guard of Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin 

Islands, and the District of Columbia."

Link to Report.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4BE1_xKfeEUQ2RoMHFnMFZnSFE/edit?usp=sharing

FUUO's Shallow Thoughts edition #1: State vs DOD

Quick thought by FUUO:
I always wonder about the touted disconnect between State and DOD.  It strikes me as odd because there seems to be so many people that work at State that are prior military (at least in the regional bureaus).   And I personally haven't had much of a problem connecting. 
   The only real difference that I have noticed is that they sit anywhere they want at the table during a meeting...if a peon gets there first, he will go ahead and sit front and center.  No matter how many meetings I go to, it always surprises me...

FUUO Defines: The 'Holy' Trinity

The Holy Trinity:  Department of Defense (DOD), State Department (State), and USAID (AID).  Also referred to the 'Holy Triumvirate' or Holy Troika etc...