Photo By Master Sgt. Evelyn Chavez | African Partnership Flight participants stand in formation during the event’s...... read more read more
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By Tech. Sgt. Evelyn Chavez
USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs
LAIKIPIA AIR BASE, Kenya -- The opening ceremonies for the first African Partnership Flight in Kenya commenced here June 21, 2016.
More than 50 U.S. Air Force Airmen along with participants from the Kenyan and Ugandan defense forces were welcomed by Robert Godec, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya and Raychelle Omamo, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Defense.
“Ladies and gentlemen it is a great pleasure to be here today as we launch this training event on personnel recovery and combat search and rescue,” said Godec. “These capabilities are vitally important to ensure the safety, security and morale of the Kenyan security forces. This week’s training exercise represents yet another example of the ongoing cooperation between the United States and Kenya.”
African Partnership Flight was designed as a collaborative learning environment that combines U.S. and African partner nation’s expertise to help build upon professional knowledge and skills.
“It is important to work together because it helps us to not only guarantee regional interoperability but also regional cooperation,” said Maj. Todd Tyler, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, APF Kenya mission commander. “Our aim for APF Kenya is to help these partner nations fight their own transnational threats and strengthen their own armed forces to the point where they are self-sustaining.”
Over the course of 10-days, instructors and participants comprised of total force Airmen from USAFE-AFAFRICA and the Massachusetts Air National Guard will conduct classroom instruction and hands-on training in areas such as personnel recovery command and control, survival and evasion principles and tactical combat casualty care.
Training will conclude with exercise Linda Rhino, a two-day, Kenyan Defense Force-led personnel recovery exercise.
I would like to thank the U.S. for sponsoring this program,” said Brigadier Francis Ogolla, deputy Kenyan air force commander. “It is obvious that you have a lot of experience in personnel recovery and combat search and rescue and this is what we want to learn.”
The intent of APF is to build strong regional partnerships among African partner nations that prepare them for potential conflicts before they start.
“We will continue to stand with the Kenyan government and people to find ways to assure peace and prosperity across Africa,” said Godec.
Community engagement through medical outreach and the USAFE-AFAFRICA band is also scheduled throughout the duration of the program. Events will conclude on June 29, 2016.
| Date Taken: | 06.21.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.21.2016 13:00 |
| Story ID: | 201930 |
| Location: | NANYUKI, KE |
| Web Views: | 226 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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