African Partnership Flight Mauritania

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jerome Williams, ground safety instructor from the 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., hangs up an African Partnership Flight Mauritania banner Aug. 30, 2014, in his classroom prior to students arriving the next day. Airmen from six African nations will arrive to Atar Air Base in Mauritania to take part in the third APF for this year. This APF is scheduled to teach students ground and flight safety, as well as, Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance, and command operations with a primary goal to help partner nations fight terrorism in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Brian Boisvert/Released)

African Partnership Flight Mauritania

U.S. Air Force Maj. Steve Payne, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance mission planning instructor from U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, tests his laptop for operations in Atar, Mauritania prior to starting a class where airmen from six African nations will learn about ISR mission planning during African Partnership Flight, Aug. 30, 2014. APF is the premier program for building aviation capacity, enhancing regional cooperation, and increasing U.S. and African interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Brian Boisvert/Released)

Mauritania hosts U.S. Airmen, leads multi-national event

Published Aug. 31, 2014
By Master Sgt. Brian M. Boisvert
AFAFRICOM Mauritania

ATAR, Mauritania -- A total of 17 U.S. Air Forces Africa and Air Mobility Command Airmen arrived here Aug. 25 to 30 to participate in African Partnership Flight, co-hosted by the Mauritanian government and the U.S. Air Force.

This event involves Airmen from the U.S. and six African countries including, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and Tunisia.

"This event is designed to give our African partners the ability to increase the effectiveness of their aviation capabilities and provide mutual support for each other in air operations," said, U.S. Air Force Maj. Hartmut Casson, APF Mauritania mission commander.

APF is a security cooperation engagement in which African air forces build aviation capacity, enhance regional cooperation and increase interoperability.

This is the third APF event this year, following similar events in Senegal and Angola. This is an essential engagement event for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, whose involvement on the continent is centered on building partnerships and advancing African airpower.

APF Mauritania will include classroom discussions and hands-on learning in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance mission planning, air operation fundamentals, and flight and ground safety. Sharing techniques and information is vital to building and maintaining successful partnerships in Africa.

Following the two-day classroom events, the airmen will participate in a capstone event. This is a field exercise where participants will have an opportunity to apply the knowledge gained during classroom discussions.

Senior Master Sgt. Philip Leonard, APF Mauritania team sergeant said, "A safe, stable and secure Africa is a combined goal for all the participating African partner nations and the U.S., and this APF is designed to provide the tools required to meet that goal."

"APF Mauritania demonstrates both the capability and promise of forming global partnerships," said Casson.

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