African media delegation visits HQ AFAFRICA

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. James M. Hodgman
  • USAFE Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - --  Twelve representatives of the Niger and Burkina Faso media visited U.S. Air Forces Africa Headquarters here Nov. 28 as part of U.S. Africa Command's public information initiative.

The purpose of the delegation's visit was to inform international media outlets about AFAFRICA's mission and field any questions the media may have.

The delegation was welcomed by Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Schmidt, Special Assistant to the commander for United States Air Forces in Europe.

"One of the great aspects of the program your participating in this week," Schmidt told the delegation, "is that you will gain insight into the command and you'll learn why we exist, what we do and why we are here.

"We want to encourage and foster the free exchange of information between our nations, militaries and the media," he added. "U.S. Air Forces Africa is committed to working with our military partners in Africa, along with other international and African partners as part of our combined effort to defeat common threats to our security and stability."

After Schmidt's opening comments, the delegation heard briefings about U.S. AFAFRICA, the air component of U.S. AFRICOM, including its history, roles and outreach programs.

Gabriel J. Myers, U.S. AFAFRICA public affairs planner, explained that U.S. AFAFRICA has an area of operations that includes 54 African nations, more than 200 aircraft and about 60,000 people.

He also said, U.S. AFAFRICA is focused on providing air, space and cyber forces to conduct sustained security engagement and operations to promote air safety, security and development across the African continent; something that is important for African media to understand.

"It's vital for the people of each nation we operate in to understand why we're there and what we're doing," Myers said. "If the local populace understands that we're there to help, assist and listen to their concerns it will foster trust and negate any misconceptions of our mission.

"Public support is key to operational success, and a safe and secure Africa is not only in their best interest, but it's also in ours," Myers added.

From October 2011 to September 2012, U.S. AFAFRICA hosted more than 140 events from senior leader engagements to regional air chief's conferences with 30 countries across Africa. The component currently has 122 events planned for 2013.

Lt. Col. Michael D. King, North Africa regional desk officer for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. AFAFRICA spoke about the many events the command hosts on the African continent.

One event King highlighted during his presentation was African Partnership Flight, a flying program designed to promote U.S. and African partnerships regionally, last conducted in Ghana in March 2012.

The APF program and events like it enable U.S. AFAFRICA to partner with African countries to talk about concerns within those nations, as well as capabilities each nation can provide, King said.

Events like APF are incredibly important and benefit U.S AFRICOM and the African nations involved, he added.

The colonel also stressed the importance of taking the time necessary to understand different cultures.

"The more you can learn about a culture the better you position yourself to interact with that culture and develop mutually beneficial relationships," King said.

"I've had the privilege and honor of meeting with senior leaders from Libya, Morocco and Nigeria to have a cup of tea and learn about their families, the way they think and the concerns they have," King said.

The colonel added that by doing this he was able to foster relations with those countries and said it's important to foster those same relations with members of the African media.

Along with visiting HQ AFAFRICA the media delegation also toured the studios of American Forces Network Europe, Stars and Stripes and the city of Stuttgart, home of U.S. AFRICOM.