VICENZA, Italy – African partners from Senegal and Uganda explored opportunities for increased capabilities and capacities during the 2015 U.S. Army Africa Training Center Capabilities Seminar, Nov. 2-5 at the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command, Grafenwoehr, and the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.
The seminar served as an opportunity for all parties to discuss effective methods to train, develop and enhance rapid deployment of peacekeeping forces, and share lessons learned in order to strengthen existing defense institutes within African partner nations.
“We have to leverage our partners to fulfill strategic objectives and meet the objectives set forth by [U.S. Army Africa Command],” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Kenneth H. Moore, U.S. Army Africa deputy commanding general, during a similar seminar held in October.
JMTC, the U.S. Army’s largest overseas training command, offers combat maneuver and simulation centers, live-fire ranges and the expeditionary capabilities to train U.S., NATO and partner-nation leaders.
The command provides dynamic training, preparing forces to execute unified land operations and contingencies in support of the combatant commands, according to the JMTC official website. During the seminar, attendees toured JMTC and JMRC facilities to observe American Soldiers conducting live training.
Senegal Maj. Mohamadou Abdoulaye Sylla, training center commander in Thies, Senegal, said he was impressed by how well organized the ranges, safety management, interoperability capabilities and systems were.
Sylla said human resource task organization and the incorporation of Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System equipment were resources he hopes to implement within his own training in the future.
The seminar showcased how working together synchronizes efforts worldwide.
“Nowadays, it is almost sure that all challenges are global, and all good watches have the same time,” said Sylla. “If your watch is good and my watch is good, we have the same time. Synchronized.”
Moore added, building partner capacity is very much a priority in USARAF’s African Horizons strategy, a holistic approach to synchronizing Army activities to develop and deepen partnerships over time and across echelons to achieve strategic level objectives.
“We would like to see them have the institutions to train themselves in specialty areas, such as logistics and medical, as well as be able to train noncommissioned officers,” said Moore.
USARAF works regularly with JMTC and U.S. Army Europe to improve readiness and effectiveness of missions conducted on the African continent.
According to Moore, the African Horizons strategy is how USARAF is making improvements, through the leveraging of other partner capabilities.
Moore said those partners routinely include: Regionally Allocated Forces, Army Reserve, State Partnership Program of the Army National Guard, sister component capabilities and the capabilities that reside in Europe, such as JMTC, 21st Theater Sustainment Command and 7th Civil Support Command.
“These partner capabilities are what help USARAF achieve the Army’s Total Force concept,” said Moore.