State partnership program hosts Paraguayan leaders Published April 2, 2011 By Maj. Matthew T. Mutti, Wing Executive Staff Officer 104th Fighter Wing Barnes Air National Guard Base, 104 Fighter Wing - Westfield, Mass -- The State Partnership program is an important program for the National Guard, in that it partners States with developing countries, encouraging dialog and collaboration. Massachusetts sister country is Paraguay. Over the past 5 years delegations from Massachusetts and Paraguay have visited each other, providing support in the realms of education, contingency preparation and medical support. On March 30th, 4 Paraguayan officials visited Massachusetts and stopped at Barnes during thier trip. This delegation included General Humberto Garcete, Chief of Staff Paraguayan Armed Forces, Senator Miguel Saguier, Deputy (Representative) Mario Pintos and Col Candido Nunez, UN representative. The delegation toured the base, learned about the Air Sovereignty Alert mission and the capabilities of the F-15. The Paraguayan military is growing in size and complexity and this visit is part of their strategic planning process. The group also visited the munitions storage are and life support before heading to speak at the United Nations on their current support mission in Haiti.