The Kansas Air National Guard expanded their partnership with Armenia this year with two Humanitarian and Civic Assistance initiatives.

Airmen from the Kansas Air National Guard remodeled a school and medical clinic in the village of Darbas in Syunik region, and on Thursday, Aug 14 the Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, W. Clark Price officiated ribbon cuttings of the clinic and school in Darbas together with the Governor of Syunik region, Vahe Hakobyan and the Darbas mayor, Mayis Mizoyan, the U.S. Embassy to Yerevan said in a press release.

In addition, a plane load of medical supplies from the United Armenian Fund was presented to Armenia, utilizing the Kansas Air National Guard KC-135 as a Humanitarian Assistance airlift. The estimated value of the supplies is $4.1 million.

The humanitarian efforts have been a joint partnership between the Kansas Air National Guard, the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy, USAID, the Ministry of Defense, the United Armenian Fund, the Ministry of Education and Science, and the Ministry of Health. The Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy would also like to recognize the support from Zvartnots Armenia International Airports and Civil Aviation.

The State Partnership Program between the Kansas National Guard and the Office for Defense Cooperation is in its eleventh year. This year’s efforts are by far the largest. Previous years have included military to military engagements supporting NATO’s Operational Capabilities Concept, Expeditionary Medical Support system development, non-commissioned officer development, demining operations training, cyber defense familiarization, and senior legal engagements. The Kansas National Guard has also supported civilian to military engagements which include disaster preparedness and biosecurity training.