Monrovia, Liberia – The 15th anniversary of the State Partnership Program (SPP) between the AFL and the Michigan National Guard (MING) has been celebrated by the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), led by Chief of Staff Major General Davidson Fayiah Forleh and a three-member delegation.
Commemorating a decade and a half of enduring cooperation and mutual security commitment, the event took place at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center in Michigan from June 9–14, 2025. It coincided with the MING’s annual training exercises and was marked by reflective, symbolic, and colorful activities.
The AFL’s dedication to fortifying its strategic alliances with the United States by means of ongoing cooperation with the Michigan National Guard was reiterated during the visit.
On June 10, 2025, a symbolic tree planting event was one of the high points of the remembrance. Senior military leaders from the United States and Liberia attended the ceremony, which was staged in recognition of the long-standing alliance.
Adjutant General of the Michigan National Guard Maj Gen Paul Rogers emphasized the value of the collaboration in his welcoming comments, stating that “vigilance, action, and reflection are essential in a dynamic world” and that “we can never rest on our laurels” in defense and security.
In a blessing based on Genesis 2:9, Maj K. Urias Zogaa, the AFL’s Chaplain General, described the planted tree as a representation of life, growth, fertility, and a legacy for coming generations.
The history of the Liberia-Michigan partnership was also recounted during the ceremony. According to U.S. Army Captain Layton, who served as the Master of Ceremony, the partnership began in 2009 when Liberia’s then-Minister of Defense, Hon. Brownie J. Samukai, formally requested to join the SPP.
Through the U.S. National Guard Bureau, the request was granted, bringing Liberia and the State of Michigan into alignment. This alignment was motivated by the vibrant Liberian-American community in Detroit, especially the family of U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Paulus Obey, a Liberian-American who serves in the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
The partnership was formally launched on October 27, 2010, during a meeting with former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Monrovia, by then-Adjutant General Maj Gen Tom Cutler, who led a MiNG delegation that reciprocated the AFL’s September 2010 familiarization tour in Michigan.
Maj Gen Forleh and his delegation witnessed a variety of operational training activities during the 2025 visit, such as the 125th Infantry Regiment familiarizing themselves with drones, the MiNG Medical Detachment (aligned with AFL’s 14 Military Hospital) conducting medical coordination drills, and the ANG Medical Readiness University Program conducting a littoral patient extraction exercise on Lake Huron at the Carmeuse Calcite Quarry in Rogers City.
More than 2,900 American troops and airmen participated in these drills, which were designed to improve operational skill and preparedness.
The AFL Chief of Staff also met with Maj Gen Paul Rogers and Brig Gen Ravindra Wagh, who has a longstanding history with the AFL, having been a mentor during the 2014–2015 Operation Onward Liberty (OOL) operation in Liberia, which was commanded by the U.S. Africa Command.
During the commemoration, Maj Gen Forleh conveyed the Government and People of Liberia’s sincere gratitude to the Government and People of the United States, particularly the Michigan National Guard, for their ongoing assistance in the country’s post-conflict defense transition.
He stressed that the SPP’s importance and efficacy are demonstrated by the AFL’s development into a competent and professional organization.
In terms of the future, both sides reiterated their dedication to strengthening their partnership through increased military education programs, improved coordination for disaster response, and improved joint training.
In the upcoming years, the AFL is committed to using the State Partnership Program as a strategic platform for mutual learning, professional growth, and regional security.
