Governor Linda Lingle and Minister Juwono Sudarsono Announce
Joint Partnership Program with the Hawaii State National Guard
 

June 11, 2007

Bahasa Indonesia

The Governor of Hawaii Linda Lingle and Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono announced a joint National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP) between Indonesia and Hawaii following their meeting today at the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta .

The State Partnership Program is a mutually beneficial security cooperation program that is conducted in close coordination with the US Pacific Command in Hawaii . It focuses on three areas: military to military, military to civilian and civilian to civilian. The military-to-military initiatives emphasize professional development for officers and non-commissioned corps through mutual exchanges and learning opportunities on both sides. Military-to-civilian activities include preparation for military support to civilian authorities during times of natural disaster. The civilian-to-civilian activities include exchanges in areas such as domestic emergency readiness, search and rescue operations, and enhancement of democratic institutions.

“I am confident that the National Guard SPP will not only enhance collaborative efforts in emergency disaster preparedness and response, but will also serve the broader purpose of expanding and deepening the friendship between the peoples of Indonesia and Hawaii,” Governor Lingle said.

Governor Lingle was accompanied by Major General Robert Lee, the National Guard Adjutant General of Hawaii , who hosted a visit of Indonesian military officers to Honolulu in May to participate in a disaster preparedness exercise involving military support to civilian authorities.

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