Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 National Guard Joins Air Force African Senior Enlisted Leader Summit By Staff Sgt. Heather Ley,
                USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs
 ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire - Senior enlisted leaders from the United States, including the State Partnership Program, and 20 African nations attended the African Senior Enlisted Leader Summit Nov. 7-9. The meeting was a first-of-its-kind gathering of African Air Force senior enlisted leaders. U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Randy Kwiatkowski, U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa command chief, co-hosted the summit alongside Côte d’Ivoire air force Chief Warrant Officer Okoue Denis, Côte d’Ivoire air force senior enlisted leader. In opening remarks, Kwiatkowski said the foundations of a great partnership are respect, friendship and trust. “We have an opportunity this week to cultivate and nourish the friendships that we have among one another,” said Kwiatkowski. “I look forward to growing and sharing this experience with each and every one of you.” During the three-day event, senior enlisted leaders from each country shared their insights on noncommissioned officer development and problem-solving and answered questions from their counterparts. “It’s important to gather and share ideas at a summit like this because it helps us to know each other better, understand our different cultures and develop oneself so we can all raise each other up,” said Denis. One summit section focused on advancing the Women, Peace and Security initiative, which recognizes women as critical to achieving sustainable international peace and security. Additional topics included enlisted force development, the U.S. Space Force, the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program and professional military education. “A topic we discussed that greatly interests me is the Women, Peace and Security initiative,” said Denis. “We need to improve the life of women in the military and how to help female NCOs manage their careers and find that work-life balance that many struggle with.” Denis also spoke about the importance of NCOs and how they need to be a transition point between officers and the lower enlisted. He emphasized the need to empower them through delegation, allowing them proper authority to accomplish tasks, which frees officers to focus on the bigger picture. Throughout the summit, many senior enlisted leaders discovered they faced similar challenges in caring for their Airmen. “We really want to establish a network where we are leaning into each other’s challenges and successes,” said Kwiatkowski. “This event allows us to communicate across that network to help each other grow and to enhance those partnerships, friendships and the trust that we have in each other.” The African countries that participated in ASELS 2023 were Benin, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zambia. Other U.S. representatives attending were senior enlisted leaders from the Inter-European Air Forces Academy, the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, the USAFE Directorate of Space Forces and the U.S. Africa Command. “The Airmen we are developing now are going to lead us through the challenges we face 20 years from now,” said Kwiatkowski in closing remarks. “We cannot take their development lightly.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  National Guard Bureau
 State Partnership Program
 Africa
 
 Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program
 By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Pena,
  Hokanson: State Partnership Program Stable, Steadfast and Growing
 By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely,
  National Guard chief returns from African regional security talks in Rome
 By Army Master Sgt. Jim Greenhill,
  More
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise5/3/2024Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar5/2/2024Massachusetts Air Guard Airmen Test New Air Combat Tactics5/2/2024 View more Guard News »
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School5/3/2024
New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa4/30/2024
Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa4/19/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership5/3/2024

Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program5/3/2024

Enduring Partners 2024 Begins with Thai-US Airmen Exchange5/2/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil