U.S. ANG members partner with African nation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stefanie Torres
  • 17th Air Force Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  U.S. Air National Guard members traveled to Africa for two weeks in March to develop a construction project-training engagement in the capitol of the Central African Republic, Bagui.

The project came in response from a State Department request to U.S. Africa Command to develop a positive interaction between the U.S. military and the Central African Armed Forces, explained Lt. Col. John Wolverton, 245th Air National Guard Civil Engineering Flight operations officer. This interaction came in the form of a Project Construction Course taught by U.S. Guard members.

"The end result was a three-building, U.S. funded, construction project used as an Anti-Poaching Station, called "D'Une Caserne A Bria," said Colonel Wolverton.

During the two-week class, U.S. service members worked with FACA engineers teaching them the basic skills required to manage any construction project. Students were taught surveying techniques and mapping as it relates to construction management.

"This mission is different from many others I have undertaken and yet has similar feel as all the others," Colonel Wolverton said. "The objectives of the trip included training of the FACA engineers and to identify longer-term peace keeping operations projects. Both of these objectives were met with great ease because of the outstanding support provided by AFRICOM, Seventeenth Air Force and the embassy staff."

Seventeenth Air Force provided coordination efforts with a lead from U.S. Africa Command to send Air Force engineers to the African continent to teach these engineering skills.

The 245th Civil Engineering Flight, based in Charlotte, N.C., is one of a very few architectural and engineering design teams that only exist in the reserve components. They have proven to be significant in helping U.S. Africa Command deliver similar capabilities to the continent in the past.

"The 245th has the experience and the people to make this project a success," Maj. Joshua Tyler, 17 AF chief, Civil Engineer Division said. "We work with them frequently and they always do great work."

Other tasks during this mission included disaster preparedness training for the local fire department, a review of expedient water purification methods and Self Aid and Buddy Care techniques.

Planning for the project started in August 2009 when a small team headed to CAR to develop a strategy that would meet the U.S. Ambassador's objectives and the needs of the FACA. Details of the trip were worked out months before actually landing in country, Colonel Wolverton explained. A lot of flexibility was involved in planning this mission, but they kept focused on the number one objective.

"Ambassador Cook's direction is always consistent," said Colonel Wolverton. "Provide a positive military role model for the FACA to follow."

The engineering team had to adjust to the local needs of the FACA. The students had a mixed level of skills and the language barrier was a challenge, explained the colonel. Their supplies were limited and that was a major concern of students.

"One student carried a journal he had been using since 1996," he said. "We assured them we had all the supplies required for the class. I was surprised what a relief that was to the class. They really have very little to work with."

While the engineers trained on one side of the base, Master Sgt. Robert Pike from the 125th Civil Engineering Squadron, Florida Air National Guard, went to the other side of the base to lead the students in a two-day Self Aid and Buddy Care class so they would be able to use it in the field..

Sergeant Pike had three main tasks during this trip, Colonel Wolverton explained. He was to act as the group medic; determine their medical capabilities; and train as many FACA as possible in two weeks. Students were taught how to stabilize patients and in exchange for the training, the FACA medical team members agreed to train the FACA engineers in SABC. The colonel said everyone remained "gainfully employed" during this two-week mission with great benefits to both instructors and students.

Despite the language barriers and different experience levels requiring adaptation, the U.S. and FACA engineers all had one thing in common.

"We quickly discovered that engineers have a common language, -- numbers -- and this class was all about making and recording measurements using numbers we all understood," Colonel Wolverton said. "The first day of class ended with great anticipation on the students' part for what was to come, they were not disappointed."

All of the FACA engineers were presented with a certificate of completion, 245th CEF and 125th FW unit coins, and a lapel pin emblazoned with the U.S. and CAR flags.
"More importantly, the instructors gain a whole new respect for their engineering colleagues in Central African Republic, said the Colonel. "They truly have started the process of building a positive role model for all to follow."