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 Ward: Guard partnership with Botswana a 'model' program By Maj. Steven Lamb
                U.S. Africa Command
 GABORONE, Botswana, - The Botswana Defence  Force (BDF) hosted a visit by General William E. Ward, commander of U.S. Africa  Command, to meet with military officials and soldiers of the BDF in Gaborone on  April 28, when he discussed ongoing regional security efforts and potential  future military-to-military activities with the BDF. "I am here to discuss our ongoing security  cooperation programs, our great partnership and to look for ways that U.S.  Africa Command can work with Botswana and its regional neighbors as we pursue  our mutual goals for stability," said Ward during a press event with local  journalists. Botswana is a southern African nation about the size of  Texas with a population of about 1.8 million people. This visit, Ward's third visit to Botswana, yet his first  since 2007, was part of an ongoing partnership with the BDF to provide  military-to-military training with a focus on sustainable regional security,  said Lt. Col. William "Chris" Wyatt, chief of the Office of Security  Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Botswana. The BDF and U.S. military conducted 40 cooperation events  together in 2010, Wyatt said. The U.S. National Guard State Partnership Program with  Botswana is a "model" program, Ward said. This program has linked,  since 2008, the BDF with the North Carolina National Guard to conduct training  events, exchanges and other activities. Botswana is one of eight African partner nations, which  participate in the program and one of 61 worldwide. "U.S. Africa Command is excited to see that  relationship has shifted from the traditional military-to-military engagements  and is now incorporating military-to-civilian engagements," Ward said.  "Such evolution clearly demonstrates the long-term and diverse benefits  that can be achieved through our partnerships." Ward was initially welcomed by Col. M. C. Mophuting,  commandant of the Force Training Establishment. The Force Training  Establishment is the organization that provides basic training for new BDF  soldiers, along with officer and senior NCO training as soldiers advance  through the ranks. Brig. Gen. Giotseleene Morake, commandant of the Defence  Command and Staff College, gave Ward a tour of the college to highlight its  training programs and capabilities. The Force Training Establishment recently completed its  first gender-integrated accession class which included 24 women. Of those 24,  three are pilot candidates. Underscoring the college's regional approach to  force development, five of the graduates were from Swaziland and five others  were from Lesotho, Wyatt said. Ward gave a 30-minute speech to an audience of about 700  BDF senior leaders and students of the DCSC. In that speech, he congratulated  the students for their achievements. While visiting in Gaborone, Ward met with Lt. Gen.  Masire, chief of Defence Forces, and Assistant Minister Mokgwetsi Masisi,  Minister of Defence, Justice and Security. Both meetings were devoted to  discussing the current state of the BDF's training and readiness and what other  potential exercises and military-to-military events may be considered for the  future. Ward said visits such as this allow him to "gain a  better understanding of the Botswana perspective on defense and security issues  and to look for ways that we can continue to work together." Ward also praised the BDF for being a model of a  professional and disciplined force working within a democracy. Ward and Ambassador Stephen Nolan, U.S. Ambassador to  Botswana, met with print, radio and TV journalists in Gaborone to discuss  Ward's visit and U.S. Africa Command's programs and activities. Ward emphasized U.S. Africa Command has "no  intention" of seeking bases in Africa, nor is it looking to move its  headquarters to Africa. "Too often when we visit a partner nation, there is  speculation that we are looking for bases or seeking a place to place U.S.  troops here ... That is simply not the case," Ward stated. "It has never  been the case as I have told a few of you before." The same question was raised at the DCSC earlier that  day, to which he declared: "There are no designs to put the headquarters  any place on the continent, and there are no plans to do so ...." Ward said the establishment of Africa Command means  partner nations have "a more dedicated partner than ever before"  working to support them. He pointed out the work of the command "is about  helping Africans increase their capacity to deal with their security and be  better able to provide for their own stability." To achieve this goal, the command works with nations,  regional organizations and the African Union to help foster regional  cooperation and complement the work being done by international partners and  other U.S. government agencies. Ambassador Nolan told the journalists that command  programs, such as the Africa Partnership Station maritime program, are about  "helping African countries deal with African problems." "It's about working with the militaries across  Africa to increase their capacity, to give African militaries the experience of  working with a world-class institution and learning new skills and applying new  skills," Nolan added. "So where Africa Command is [located], is not the  issue. It's what Africa Command does across the continent. That is the  important thing. So the programmatic side is really the heart and soul of what  the Africa Command is about." During his visit, Ward was able to meet with Dr. Boga  Fidzani, chairman of the board for the Botswana-based HIV counseling and  testing non-governmental organization Tebelopele. A plaque at the entrance to the facility reads:  "Construction of this facility was made possible by the financial support  of the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. European Command, the U.S. Embassy  Botswana and the People of the United States of America." Thirteen of the 16 Tebelopele Centers in Botswana were  built by the U.S. Department of Defense through the DOD HIV/AIDS Prevention  Program under the U.S. President's Emergency Program for AIDS Relief. The  center provides prevention, counseling, testing and medical referrals for  HIV/AIDS related issues. Ward highlighted that U.S. Africa Command is supporting  African militaries in HIV and AIDS prevention programs in 39 African countries. "Our work trains senior military leaders, peer  educators and health care workers. We are making an impact in the combined  fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa," according to Ward. More than 500,000  African military members and their families have benefited from these  counseling and testing efforts. Ward left Botswana April 29 and flew to Windhoek,  Namibia. During his first visit to Namibia, he met with Namibia's National  Defense Force officials to discuss potential future cooperation activities.
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