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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas National Guard is celebrating the 10th |
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anniversary of its partnership with the armed forces of the |
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Republic of Chile in April 2019; and |
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WHEREAS, A joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Defense |
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and the National Guard Bureau, the State Partnership Program was |
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established in 1993 after the end of the Cold War, and it links the |
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national guards of individual states with the militaries of |
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countries around the world; since April 2009, the Texas National |
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Guard has been working with the Chilean armed forces; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of their partnership, the TXNG and |
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Chile have conducted dozens of exchanges, participating in such |
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exercises as airborne operations, C-130 and F-16 maintenance and |
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flight maneuvers, special forces exchanges, and homeland security |
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response preparedness; in addition, members of the TXNG have |
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traveled to Tierra del Fuego, Chile, to learn the techniques for |
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building roads in remote areas from the Chilean Army, and they have |
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collaborated with the Chilean Air Force in a medical evacuation |
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exercise and competed alongside Chilean soldiers and airmen at the |
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Best Warrior Competition at Camp Swift near Bastrop; and |
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WHEREAS, In this anniversary year, the adjutant general of |
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Texas, Major General Tracy R. Norris, is meeting with a delegation |
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of Chilean officials to sign an Agreement of Activity for the coming |
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year; these eminent Chileans include Jose Luis Briseno, the consul |
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general of Chile, Lieutenant General Albert Widmer, deputy chief of |
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the joint staff of the Chilean armed forces, Rear Admiral Leonardo |
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Quijarro, deputy chief of staff for the Chilean Navy, and Major |
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General Carlos Castillo, Chilean military attaché to the United |
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States and chief of the Chilean military mission in the United |
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States; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the past decade, the Texas National Guard and |
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the Chilean military have built a strong relationship based on |
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shared values and mutual respect, and this significant milestone in |
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their partnership is truly deserving of special recognition; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 10th anniversary of the |
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partnership between the Texas National Guard and the Republic of |
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Chile and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the visiting delegation as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |