LUSAKA, Zambia -- Senior Enlisted Representatives from 20 African nations and the U.S. gathered for the Senior Enlisted Forum held during the 14th African Air Chiefs Symposium, Feb 17-21 in Lusaka, Zambia.
The purpose of the forum is to collaborate in pursuit of solutions to common challenges faced by enlisted forces in Africa.
During the symposium SERs from the Association of African Air Forces presented the first-ever African noncommissioned officer handbook, a unified set of guidelines with the goal to develop the next generation of competent and committed NCOs in their respective air forces.
Air chiefs from the association voted unanimously to include the handbook as a part of the AAAF library – a monumental success for the team, said Chief Master Sgt. Randy Kwiatkowski, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa command chief.
“Since the majority of military service members are enlisted, it is crucial that there be deliberate plans to develop and train them,” said Kwiatkowski. “This handbook will play a vital role in the future of all African air forces and this collaborative effort will provide commanders with an empowered enlisted force.”
African nation SEF members are Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force equivalents or designated senior enlisted representatives.
Warrant Officer Class 1 Festus Mwelwa, Zambia Air Force SER, co-hosted the forum with Kwiatkowski. He said the handbook will better facilitate interoperability and enhance the ability of air chiefs to leverage their NCOs at all levels, including warrant officers.
“The Zambia Air Force is proud and excited to have hosted this historic event,” said Mwelwa. “We are now working diligently to build on the foundation of the African NCO Handbook to develop a Zambia Air Force Warrant Officers’ Handbook, which will expand and dive more deeply into those things crucial to the success of the Zambia Air Force’s NCO corps.”
Air Force SERs in attendance during this year's forum included Benin, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia and the U.S.
The AAAF is a voluntary, non-political organization focused on collaborative, multilateral engagements to promote African-led air power solutions among 29 African member nations in collaboration with the United States Air Force.