Major General Burton, Utah National Guard Officers, and the Consul (Hon.) for the Kingdom of Morocco in Utah welcomed Congressman Chris Stewart to the Guard Headquarters

Thursday, August 7, 2014: Major General Burton, Utah National Guard Officers, and the Consul (Hon.) for the Kingdom of Morocco in Utah welcomed Congressman Chris Stewart to the Guard Headquarters 

Congressman Stewart, who will soon visit Morocco, visited with General Burton and Utah Guard officers to examine ways he can strengthen the Guard's State Partnership with Morocco. Consul (Hon) Keith W. Martin was an invited guest.

Utah has a State Partnership with Morocco. According to USARAF Commander Maj. Gen. Patrick J. DonahueII, "The State Partnership Program has the advantage of creating relationships that endure for many years, and serves as a model of success for sharing expertise, knowledge, skill sets and developing lasting relationship on the continent of Africa."*

"The Partnership between the State of Utah and the Kingdom of Morocco began in August 2003 and the first official visit was in December of that year. The partnership has enjoyed more over 145 events. This was the first partnership in North Africa and the first between a state and a predominately Muslim nation in Africa.  In February 2004 Morocco suffered a devastating earthquake off the northern coast of Morocco in Al Hociema. The Utah National Guard responded immediately with an offer of aid for the quake victims."** 

"Other Utah National Guard projects include building schools, women's centers, and libraries, drilling wells that provide clean water, agriculture and pet-farming education. Most uniquely, Moroccan families and American military families participate in a student exchange program which offers a 10-day immersion into each other's cultures." ***

Maj. General Burton visited Morocco on March 17, 2014. The following is the news report on this visit: 

Morocco's top military officer meets Utah National Guard Adjutant General
MAP | Monday, March 17th 2014

Rabat - Upon instructions of HM King Mohammed VI, supreme chief and General chief of staff of the Royal armed forces (FAR), the General de corps, FAR inspector general and commander of the Southern Zone, received on Monday in Rabat Major General Jefferson S. Burton, Adjutant General of the Utah National Guard who is on a work visit to Morocco.

Major General Jefferson S. Burton
A release of the Royal Armed Forces Chief of staff says the meeting covered reinforcement of partnership between the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces and the National Guard of the State of Utah. 

Launched in 2003, this partnership encompasses exchange of visits, experience and expertise and development of response capacities in cases of major natural catastrophes. 

In addition, Social services of the two sides are holding socio-cultural activities, including summer camps for children of Moroccan and Utah servicemen.****

*http://www.army.mil/article/96461/National_Guard_s_State_Partnership_Program_helps_build_relationships_with_African_nations/

**Utah State Partnership Program 2014. Unpublished and "unclassified" training information of the Utah National Guard.

***http://www.africom.mil/newsroom/article/7165/utah-air-national-guard-strengthens-moroccan-ties-

****http://www.lemag.ma/english/Morocco-s-top-military-officer-meets-Utah-National-Guard-Adjutant-General_a7054.html