A delegation led by U.S. Air Force Major General Gary Keefe, Massachusetts National Guard (MANG) adjutant general, delivered critical firefighting gear to Paraguay, the MANG’s partner in the State Partnership Program (SPP), on May 16.
Massachusetts fire departments contributed 1,000 sets of firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) and two fully equipped fire trucks to aid Paraguay’s military firefighters. They made the first delivery of about 500 sets of PPE after Massachusetts’ 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade collected, organized, and packaged the donations before shipping them to Paraguay. The rest of the equipment, to include two fully equipped fire trucks, is scheduled for delivery later this year.
“This equipment will not only enhance the capabilities of the Paraguayan military forces but will also provide them with the necessary tools to protect the lives and property of their citizens. It is a gesture of friendship that embodies the true essence of our partnership,” said Maj. Gen. Keefe. “This donation came from the lasting relationships formed between our state partnership team and fire departments across Massachusetts with the support of our citizens.”
PPE can mean the difference between life and death for firefighters and military members. So, when U.S. Army Captain Christopher McCrobie the MANG program manager, discovered Paraguayan firefighters were sustaining heavy injuries from heat exposure due to a lack of PPE, the Massachusetts firefighting community responded.
Over the past year Capt. McCrobie and the MANG partnered to contact local fire departments to collect fire-retardant helmets, jackets, pants, vests, and gloves. After collecting the equipment, Capt. McCrobie and the Massachusetts SPP staff worked directly with Paraguay’s National Emergency Secretariat and fire brigades to strengthen Paraguay’s fire prevention and firefighting capacity.
“They don’t have the resources that we have. Our gear falls out of National Fire Protection Agency standards every 10 years, even if it was never or lightly used,” said Capt. McCrobie. “This was an easy way for fire departments who may have a lot of excess gear they can’t use anymore due to regulatory standards to donate to our Military Division, so they can, in turn, give it to Paraguay.”
MANG’s 179th and 180th Engineer Detachments (Firefighting) are scheduled to conduct training missions with their Paraguayan military and civilian counterparts after they receive all the donated equipment.
“It’s a great gesture from the Massachusetts National Guard, and will be a huge help for us, and will help us to be prepared for firefighting,” said Paraguayan Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Antunez, the liaison officer to the U.S. Embassy for the Paraguayan Air Force. “From this, I can see that the people from Massachusetts really have the intention to tighten this partnership and reinforce this relationship.”
The training and donations are just the latest milestone in the MANG-Paraguay partnership, established in 2001 under Maj. Gen. Keefe’s father, Maj. Gen. George Keefe, who was the 39th adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard. Paraguayan leaders lauded the multigenerational trust and capabilities forged through the program.
“The SPP brings many, many programs for military engineers, aviation, and peacekeeping missions,” said retired Paraguayan Army Master Sergeant Ruben Paniagua, who has witnessed the partnership mature since the first SPP exchange in 2001.
At a Paraguayan state ceremony on May 19, Maj. Gen. Keefe addressed the program’s history and future, crediting the mutually beneficial partnership as an enduring strength of the Massachusetts National Guard and the United States. The ceremony, also dedicated to Maj. Gen. Keefe’s late father, commemorated the official reception of the firefighting equipment by each branch of the Paraguayan Armed Forces.
“This partnership has paved the way for both of our nations to learn and grow together, ensuring that we remain prepared to face any challenges that come our way. Moreover, this partnership serves as a symbol of the enduring presence of the United States in Paraguay,” Maj. Gen. Keefe said at the ceremony. “As we continue to strengthen our bonds, we reinforce our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of both our nations.”