Kyrgyz Republic
Ernest R. "Ric" Bridwell Biography
Ernest Bridwell has served from 1998-2004 as the Montana National Guard State Partnership Program Coordinator. He is responsible for creating, coordinating, and implementing a program to interact with the Kyrgyz Republic on the military and civilian level. Mr. Bridwell's program works to establish civil society in Central Asia through personal and professional relationships. He works diligently to continue in the spirit of the Montana State Partnership Program and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and the State of Montana.
Ernest Bridwell has received a plethora of awards, among them: The National Guard Bureau Trophy for "Outstanding Support and Contributions to the National Guard Bureau" in November of 2004, the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Defense Anniversary Medal in 2003, the Army Achievement Medal for "Exemplary Performance of Duty as the Primary Escort Officer for the State of Montana's Partnership for Peace Program" in 2007, and a Military Purple Heart Award and Military Bronze Star Medal in 1968.
Publications include, Manchu Delta, A Vietnam War Story, Army Aviation Company Cross Walk (in use by the 5th US Army), The Montana State Partnership Program, which is used by the National Guard Bureau-International Affairs, and The Montana State Partnership Program Standard Operating Procedure .
Ric was born on May 11th, 1948, and is the father of two sons-both military pilots.
