History of SCNG State Partnership Program
Under the U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Van McCarty, the adjutant general of South Carolina, the State Partnership Program provides a unique opportunity for South Carolinians to collaborate with, learn from, and mentor partners from the Republic of Colombia.
Since 2012 SPP has offered numerous opportunities for South Carolina National Guard members to work together with Colombian service members to strengthen a wide array of processes, systems, techniques, tactics, and procedures.
The SPP consistently yields significant returns on investment from a readiness standpoint and continuously deepens the security cooperation relationship between the SCNG and the Colombian military.
 

Members of the South Carolina National Guard and Army South meet with leaders of the State Cooperation Office U.S. Army Mission in Bogota, Colombia, Dec. 10, 2024. Participants finalized engagement planning for the next three years and discussed opportunities for growth with the partner nation. The event is part of the South Carolina-Colombia State Partnership Program (SPP), a cooperative military-to-military exchange administered by the National Guard Bureau, that facilitates cooperation between U.S. National Guard units and partner nations. (U.S. Army National Guard courtesy photo)
Members of the South Carolina National Guard and Army South meet with leaders of the Colombian military in Bogota, Colombia, Dec. 10, 2024. Participants finalized engagement planning for the next three years and discussed opportunities for growth with the partner nation. The event is part of the South Carolina-Colombia State Partnership Program (SPP), a cooperative military-to-military exchange administered by the National Guard Bureau, that facilitates cooperation between U.S. National Guard units and partner nations. (U.S. Army National Guard courtesy photo)
Colonel William Matheny, 117 Engineering Brigade Commander listens as Brigadier General Ricardo Roque, Colombian Army Engineering Command Commander, discusses challenges faced by his units, Dec. 11, 2024. This meeting was part of the State Partnership Program planning workshop where participants finalized engagement planning for the next three years and discussed opportunities for growth with the partner nation. The event is part of the South Carolina-Colombia SPP, a cooperative military-to-military exchange administered by the National Guard Bureau, that facilitates cooperation between U.S. National Guard units and partner nations. (U.S. Army National Guard courtesy photo)
Colonel William Matheny, 117 Engineering Brigade Commander presents a small gift to Brigadier General Ricardo Roque, Colombian Army Engineering Command Commander, during the State Partnership Program planning workshop. The event is part of the South Carolina-Colombia SPP, a cooperative military-to-military exchange administered by the National Guard Bureau, that facilitates cooperation between U.S. National Guard units and partner nations. (U.S. Army National Guard courtesy photo)
Brigadier General Ricardo Roque, Colombian Army Engineering Command Commander, presents a small gift to Colonel William Matheny, 117 Engineering Brigade Commander during the State Partnership Program planning workshop. The event is part of the South Carolina-Colombia SPP, a cooperative military-to-military exchange administered by the National Guard Bureau, that facilitates cooperation between U.S. National Guard units and partner nations. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Diego A. Franco)
Command Sargent Major Norris McCall, South Carolina National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, and Colonel James Roth, South Carolina National Guard J5 Director, meet with Jorge Jaime Rivera Pelaez, Colombian Military Command Sargent Major, in Bogota, Colombia, Dec. 10, 2024. The meeting was part of the State Partnership Program Event Planning Workshop during which participants finalized engagement planning for the next three years and discussed opportunities for growth with the partner nation. The South Carolina-Colombia SPP is a cooperative military-to-military exchange administered by the National Guard Bureau, that facilitates cooperation between U.S. National Guard units and partner nations. (U.S. Army National Guard courtesy photo)
Members of the South Carolina National Guard and Security Forces Assistance Brigade pose for a photo outside of the Colombian Engineering Command Headquarters in Bogota, Colombia, Dec. 11, 2024. They were meeting to finalize engagement planning for the next three years. The event is part of the South Carolina-Colombia State Partnership Program (SPP), a cooperative military-to-military exchange administered by the National Guard Bureau, that facilitates cooperation between U.S. National Guard units and partner nations. (U.S. Army National Guard courtesy photo)