BOISE -- A foreign military from the Kingdom of Cambodia is in Boise Saturday.
Their military mission is to learn about the Army and Air National Guards.
Four months ago, the Idaho National Guard formally entered a partnership with the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
There are similar programs around the country that are forming military partnerships and civil cooperation.
Dressed in their military fatigues, the Major General for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and his military personnel greeted members of our local national guard.
Idaho's military has made several trips to the Pacific to meet with this military group, but this is the Cambodians’ first time on American soil.
"It gives the Cambodian Armed Forces and the kingdom of Cambodia the opportunity to develop their economic, civic and military competencies through a partnership with not only the National Guard, but the State of Idaho," said Col. Tim Kelly with the Idaho Army National Guard.
The State Partnership Program has been developed with all 50 states and U.S. territories.
It was started in 1993 and provides a unique opportunity to help with security in the Pacific Region.
"What they are doing here specifically is looking at our maintenance operations for wheeled vehicles,” Kelly said. “Through the military foreign sales program, they have received a set of vehicles that the U.S. Forces used to use. And so they are looking at how they can better maintain and operate the vehicles."
"We are quite interest(ed) to learn much more about the National Guard,” said Major General Phat Vibolsopheak of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. “As well as we wanted to see the culture of Idaho and to learn more and hopefully we can work together in partnership."
The group of ten will spend the week at Gowen Field meeting with the Idaho Army and Air National Guards and the Bureau of Homeland Security.
Both sides look forward to the visit and what they can learn and use on their own military bases.
"We get a friend in the Kingdom of Cambodia,” Kelly said. “We get to help, at a national level, provide for the security in the Pacific region."
"It will be a good trip," Vibolsopheak said.
The Republic of Singapore's Air Force is currently working with the Mountain Home Air Force Base.
A partnership between our nation and theirs will span at least the next 20 years.
The Cambodian Military will only be here for a few days, unlike the 250 active duty Singaporeans and their families who will be living in Mountain Home.
