Senior Enlisted Forum held at AACS 2023

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven M. Adkins
  • U.S. Air Forces in Europe Air Forces Africa

A Senior Enlisted Forum took place during the 2023 African Air Chiefs Symposium in Dakar, Senegal, March 4, 2023.

The purpose of the SEF is to collaborate in pursuit of solutions for shared challenges across enlisted forces in Africa.

Senegalese Air Force Ajudant-Major Alassane Ndiaye, senior enlisted leader of the Senegalese Air Force and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Benjamin Hedden, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Air Forces Africa command chief co-hosted this year’s SEF.

The SEF was established in 2019 with 13 original member countries. Since then, the forum has nearly doubled, with 25 members at the 2023 AACS.

“The Senior Enlisted Forum gives these enlisted leaders the opportunity to get in the same room with one another and learn from each other to help advance their role as the advisors to their air chiefs,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Robert Wyman, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa enlisted international affairs manager.

“It’s crucial to have the enlisted leaders of our African partner air forces together, under one roof,” Hedden said. “Focusing on senior enlisted development, shared communication and training is imperative to peace and security in Africa.”

African nation SEF members are comprised of Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force equivalents, or designated senior enlisted leaders for the air forces of Bénin, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sénégal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia.

During the 2023 AACS SEF, the new Association of African Air Forces (AAAF) logo was unveiled by Botswanan Air Force Warrant Officer Seboloko Mosimanyana, Botswanan Air Force senior enlisted leader. In the center of the logo is a grasped partnership hand shake design symbolizing partnership among SEF members.

“To quote General C.Q. Brown, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,’” Mosimanyana said. “We have to work hand-in-hand, together, to accomplish our shared goals.”

The nexyt SEF will be at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in June 2023 for a regional African Senior Enlisted Summit.