WHEREAS, The Californian National Guard is the largest and most frequently deployed National Guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of 22,900 soldiers and airmen. Since 2001 more than 38,000 soldiers and airmen have served with distinction overseas; and

WHEREAS, Nearly every state National Guard participates in the National Guard State Partnership Program, also known as SPP, which helps partner nations to prevent failed states, improve capabilities to protect citizens, and create stable regions; and

WHEREAS, The California-Ukraine National Guard Partnership is one of 65 National Guard State Partnership Programs and this partnership was formed in 1993, just two years after Ukraine earned its independence from the Soviet Union; and

WHEREAS, The State of California’s partnership with Ukraine is among the most important and progressive partnerships in Europe. The California National Guard has actively trained with the Armed Forces of Ukraine to reinforce military respect for civilian control and rule of law while improving the professionalism of military personnel from both Ukraine and the State of California. Thanks to its strategic location, size, and population, Ukraine has the capacity to be one of the most influential countries in the region; and

WHEREAS, Prior to our strategic relationship, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were in desperate need of restructuring, modernization of forces, and information sharing. Ukraine needed the tools to learn how to build a consensus among civilian populations, analytical methods for achieving their goals, and how to become a diplomatic leader in its region; and

WHEREAS, Through the collaboration, California Guardsmen have addressed a broad range of social, economic, military, and political issues in Ukraine. The California National Guard has worked to give Ukrainian Armed Forces the tools to help secure their borders, provide emergency response training, and other training to large, diverse agencies in Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, Ukrainian military members have traveled to California to participate in disaster-relief exercises with the California National Guard and California Guardsmen have been deployed to Ukraine for antiterror exercises. Currently, the focus of the California-Ukraine National Guard Partnership is on English language training, strategic airlift collaboration, human resources and personnel management, humanitarian assistance, development of the European Union Battle Group; and

WHEREAS, The California-Ukraine National Guard partnership can be a point of pride for the almost 100,000 Californian citizens of Ukrainian origin; now, therefore, be it