National Guard, Promoting United States National Security: A Case Study.

摘要

When the Berlin Wall crumbled, the entire nature and purpose of the security arrangement in Europe drastically changed. No longer was the goal of United States European Command (USEUCOM) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to stop East Bloc T-72 tanks from rolling through the Fulda Gap. Rather, the West had to rapidly transform its framework and focus to enhance democracy and free markets throughout Europe in an effort to maintain stability on the entire European continent. Fortunately for the United States and its transatlantic allies in NATO, these goals and values were widely shared. USEUCOM has developed a variety of peacetime programs to directly engage the Newly Independent States in Eastern Europe. Three of the most successful programs are administered by different entities but operationally create a synergistic effect that helps keep the peace and promises to provide an even more stable and prosperous future for all of Europe. The three programs are the National Guard's State Partnership Program (SPP), USEUCOM s Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP) and NATO s Partnership for Peace (PfP). During the last five or so years, direct involvement by members of the National Guard executing all three of these programs has resulted in significant enhancement to U.S. National Security Objectives. Citizen soldiers from throughout the nation provide dedicated and extremely competent capabilities across the entire spectrum of military operations. However, the National Guard s contribution in the current Peacetime Engagement Programs in Europe may prove to be the most significant and longest lasting contribution to peace and stability for Europe.