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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Ghana air force delegates pose for a photo inside a C-130J Super Hercules during the African-European Partnership Flight on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 17 - 21, 2019. This multilateral military-to-military security cooperation event is intended to strengthen U.S. strategic partnerships with key countries in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristof J. Rixmann)Ghana air force delegates pose for a photo inside a C-130J Super Hercules during the African-European Partnership Flight on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 17 - 21, 2019. This multilateral military-to-military security cooperation event is intended to strengthen U.S. strategic partnerships with key countries in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristof J. Rixmann)
                
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        A U.S. Air Force Team Ramstein airman listens to a Ghana air force delegate as he compares the differences of the interior appearance of Ghana aircraft versus the C-130J Super Hercules he stood in on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2019. Over 40 air force delegates from eight different nations toured the C-130J Super Hercules as part of the African-European Partnership Flight event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristof J. Rixmann)A U.S. Air Force Airman listens to a Ghana air force delegate as he compares the differences of the interior appearance of Ghana aircraft versus the C-130J Super Hercules, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 19, 2019. Over 40 air force delegates from eight different nations toured the C-130J as part of the African-European Partnership Flight event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristof J. Rixmann)
                
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USAFE – AFAFRICA hosts force development event for African, European partnersPublished June 25, 2019
                    
                    By Senior Airman Kristof J. Rixmann
                    
                    
                    86th Airlift Wing
            **RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --**U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa hosted an African-European Partnership Flight force development event at Ramstein Air Base, June 17 – 21.
The A-EPF is a security cooperation program with European and African partner nations to improve professional military knowledge and skills. This event included workshops in a variety of disciplines, including officer and enlisted development, recruitment and retention, quality of life programs, logistics and other topics.
Approximately 40 air force delegates from Ghana, Botswana, Zambia, Cameroon, Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia participated in the partnership event.
This multilateral military-to-military security cooperation event strengthens U.S. strategic partnerships with key countries in Europe and Africa.
In a closing speech, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven L. Basham, USAFE-AFAFRICA deputy commander, summarized the importance of the A-EPF event and how it further strengthens the partnerships between the United States and its allied nations.
“When you come together in large groups like this you can’t help but build relationships,” Basham said. “Those relationships that you’ve built within these eight nations and the relationships you will build throughout the rest of the program help to gain a better understanding of the different opportunities that are out there. Those opportunities give us the chance to improve regional security and regional stability. Individually, we each bring something to regional security and stability, but together we’re stronger.”
This A-EPF event focused specifically on force development. Foreign delegates found it interesting to learn and observe how consistent force development, on a large scale, impacts regional security and stability.
“I have seen how force development works on a small level, but this is the first time I’ve seen it done on a large level,” said Ghana air force Group Captain Reginald Cole, Tamle air force base commander. “It’s quite interesting and it’s been a good learning experience.”
This is the second combined A-EPF event since the program started in 2012. This experience, involving countries from Europe and Africa, specifically impressed Albanian air force Col. Agim Shahu, Planning Branch chief.
“The great thing about this week was the participation of the many countries in this event,” Shahu said. “It was the best thing to share your ideas with others and to also get their ideas as well. That was very beneficial.”
As attendees learned about U.S. Air Force force development, they asked: ‘How do you develop the force? How do you make them capable? How do you improve upon their skill sets to do their job? What about their leadership?’
Consistency in training was the primary theme in each answer.
“Prior to the commencement of this partnership (in 2012), (the Ghana air force) was not training people continuously throughout their service,” Ghana air force Group Captain Thomas Okai said. “Based on our experience at Ramstein, that is when we implemented leadership schools to continue force development.”
Okai said the leadership schools and continued training for their airmen empower them and instill the necessary confidence to deliver in their work. He said he believes they are just getting started.
“It’s been a worthwhile experience and we’re all quite happy. Many thanks to the U.S. Air Force for letting us see what you have,” Cole said. “We definitely know what we learned will be put to good use. We look forward to the next partnership flight.”LR 



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