Cooperation and solving challenges at the African Air Chiefs Conference

  • Published
  • By Capt. Joel Harper
  • United States Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, GERMANY --  Leaders of 14 African nations' Air Forces gathered here this week to discuss cooperation and challenges affecting the African continent.

The event, called the African Air Chiefs Conference, gave a unique opportunity for nations to come together and candidly discuss a wide array of important issues, said Brig. Gen Michael Snodgrass, director of Plans, Programs, and Analysis for USAFE.

"The goal of this conference was to create a forum for air force chiefs in Africa to explore ways in which strategic partnerships and regional cooperation can improve air safety and security across the continent," said Gen. Tom Hobbins, USAFE commander.

"The conference was a great success," said Brig. Gen. Snodgrass. "Issues that were discussed here will go a long way toward bringing more interoperability and cooperation among African nations."

The openness and constructive debate was surprising, said Brig. Gen. Snodgrass.

"For a first-of its kind in history conference, with countries who have not had a forum where they all could sit together and debate airman-to-airman issues, the amount of professional, vigorous debate was very exciting," said Brig. Gen. Snodgrass.

Some of the issues discussed included air security and surveillance, search and rescue capability, and airlift for peace keeping operations, said Air Vice Marshall Julius O. Boateng, Ghana Air Force Chief of Staff.

"Conferences like these allow us to share experiences, and for us to view the weaknesses and strengths that each country has," said Air Vice Marshall Boateng. "By so doing we can leverage the strengths and then perhaps overcome some of our weaknesses."

The conference gave an opportunity to better forge relationships between African nations, said Air Vice Marshall Boateng.

"You'd be surprised to realize that until I came here, only about two or three of my colleagues, I have met before," said Air Vice Marshall Boateng. "Improving our networking can help us address some of the issues confronting us."

Increasing training opportunities was one of the biggest interests of the African Air Chiefs, said Brig. Gen. Snodgrass.

"They want to be as good as they can possibly be," said Brig. Gen Snodgrass. "They recognize that the United States has a great breadth and depth of training capabilities, across the board, for their air forces."

USAFE has taken feedback from participating countries to heart, said Brig. Gen Snodgrass. Suggestions and requests that came out of the conference will be evaluated on a country-to-country basis, and plans will be made to best assist in many ways, whether it is medical capability, logistics support, or specialized training, either locally or in the United States.

"We want to be involved and engaged to help Africans take care of African problems," said Brig. Gen. Snodgrass. "The potential for additional momentum in Africa is immense."

The conference is the culmination of more than two years of planning and was co-sponsored by the African Center for Strategic Studies. According to the ACSS an organization that supports the Department of Defense and other U.S. agencies in assisting African nations to improve their security and strengthen their defense establishments by promoting good governance, security sector professionalism, and democratic civil-military relations.

USAFE hopes to make the conference a bi-annual event with African countries hosting regional conferences in the off years, said Brig. Gen. Snodgrass.