DVIDS – Information – African Air Pressure Enlisted Leaders Summit 2023

Senior leaders from the USA and 20 African international locations gathered for a Senior African Leaders Summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, November 7-9, 2023.

This can be a first of its type gathering of senior African Air Pressure leaders.

U.S. Air Pressure Chief Grasp Sgt. Randy Kwiatkowski, head of U.S. Air Forces Europe Command – Air Forces Africa, co-hosted the summit alongside Ivory Coast Air Pressure Chief Warrant Officer Okoue Denis, high chief of the Ivory Coast air drive.

Kwiatkowski started the convention with a keynote speech by which he spoke concerning the qualities that he believes make for a rare partnership. He defined that the foundations of constructing an important partnership are respect, friendship and belief.

“We’ve got a chance this week to domesticate and nurture the friendships we have now with one another,” Kwiatkowski mentioned. “I can’t wait to develop and share this expertise with every of you.”

In the course of the three-day occasion, senior enlisted leaders from every nation had the chance to share their respective views on NCO improvement and reply questions from their counterparts.

Moreover, ASELS offered an area for leaders to return collectively and share what their strengths are doing throughout a number of subjects to maximise the sharing of concepts and problem-solving options amongst accomplice nations.

“It is very important come collectively and alternate concepts at a summit like this as a result of it helps us get to know one another higher, perceive our completely different cultures and develop ourselves in order that we are able to all elevate one another up.” others,” Denis mentioned.

A part of the summit centered on advancing the Girls, Peace and Safety initiative, which acknowledges ladies as important actors in all efforts to attain lasting worldwide peace and safety. Extra subjects included enlisted drive improvement, the State Partnership Program, {and professional} navy schooling.

“One matter we mentioned that pursuits me quite a bit is the Girls, Peace and Safety initiative,” Denis mentioned. “We have to enhance the lives of girls within the navy and the way to assist feminine NCOs handle their careers and discover that work-life stability that many wrestle with.

Denis additionally spoke concerning the significance of non-commissioned officers and the necessity for them to be a transition level between officers and lower-ranking enlisted males. He burdened the necessity to empower them by delegation by giving them the authority to perform duties, which permits officers to concentrate on the larger image.

All through the summit, many senior enlisted leaders found they confronted the identical challenges and passions in caring for his or her Airmen. Many leaders have been relieved to know that they weren’t alone on this battle and hope that by the brand new friendships made, they will come collectively and discover options to those issues.

“We actually need to set up a community the place we construct on one another’s challenges and successes,” Kwiatkowski mentioned. “This occasion permits us to speak throughout this community to assist one another develop and strengthen the partnerships, friendships and belief we have now in one another.”

The 20 African international locations that participated in ASELS 2023 have been Benin, Botswana, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique , Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal and Sierra Leone. , Tanzania, Tunisia and Zambia.

Different U.S. representatives in attendance included senior leaders from the Inter-European Air Pressure Academy, Nationwide Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, USAFE Area Forces Directorate and the U.S. Africa Command.

In his closing statements, Kwiatkowski mentioned he gained a deep sense of unity, hope and certainty from his expertise at ASELS. He famous that each air drive faces related challenges, uniting all of them to search out options collectively. His emotions of hope stem from how every chief focuses on enhancing the lives {and professional} improvement of their Airmen. He additionally believes that the way forward for every nation is vibrant with the concentrate on creating these aviators.

“The Airmen we’re coaching now are going to steer us by the challenges we face 20 years from now,” Kwiatkowski mentioned. “We can not take their improvement calmly. »

The subsequent ASELS is deliberate for 2025 with out the situation being decided but. Many members at this 12 months’s summit share the identical anticipation and enthusiasm for the upcoming assembly.