Boosted by the European success of the National Guard's State Partnership Program, Guard leaders gathered Garmisch, Germany, last month were looking to southern expansion-in Africa and the creation of U.S. Africa Command (AFRlCOM).

"We will see a growth in the number of state partners as AFRICOM stands up," Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, National Guard Bureau chief, said during the EUCOM Adjutants General State Partnership Program (SPP) Conference.

The new unified regional combatant command is scheduled to stand up by Sept. 30, 2008.

Most of Africa now falls under European Command (EUCOM), whose sprawling responsibilities include 92 nations.

Of the Guard's 56 partnerships between U.S. states or territories and foreign countries, 26 fall within EUCOM's area of responsibility

The SPP started in Eastern Europe in 1993 following the collapse of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact military alliance.

State partnerships foster military-to-military, military-to-civilian and civilian-to-civilian cooperation.

SPP relationships within EUCOM have bolstered regional and theater security, stability and prosperity, General Blum said.

Successes include fostering conditions that have allowed SPP partners to join NATO and the European Union and delivered coalition partners for the war on terror.

"The potential to accomplish so much more is within our grasp," General Blum said.

Four states already have Guard partnerships with African countries: New York with South Africa, North Dakota with Ghana, Utah with Morocco and Wyoming with Tunisia.

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