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Kentucky and Virginia National Guard Soldiers participate in medical evacuation and hoist extraction training with their Kosovo Force (KFOR) multinational partners at Camp Novo Selo on July 19, 2022. The training, hosted by Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Soldiers, helped build interoperability between the U.S. and its multinational partners. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Alexander Hellmann)
A Luxembourg Army soldier stands guard next to a armored infantry mobility vehicle during exercise Saber Junction 15 at the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 23, 2015. Saber Junction 15 prepares NATO and partner nation forces for offensive, defensive, and stability operations and promotes interoperability among participants. Saber Junction 15 has more than 4,700 participants from 17 countries, to include: Albania, Armenia, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey and the U.S. (U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Markus Rauchenberger/Released)
PHILIPPINE SEA (June 4, 2022) Seaman Daniel Aguilar, from Phoenix, stands lookout watch as Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer ROKS Munmu the Great (DDG-976) sails in formation with Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) following the conclusion of Carrier Strike Group Exercise 2022. Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 and Maritime Task Flotilla (MTF) 7 operated together during this partnership between Republic of Korea Navy and U.S. Navy, as well as provide an opportunity to assure allies and partners of the U.S. commitment to the region and rules-based international order. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Arthur Rosen)
A German Army Leopard II tank, assigned to 104th Panzer Battalion, moves through the Joint Multinational Readiness Center during Saber Junction 2012 in Hohenfels, Germany, Oct. 25. The U.S. Army Europe's exercise Saber Junction trains U.S. personnel and 1800 multinational partners from 18 nations ensuring multinational interoperability and an agile, ready coalition force.
(U.S. Army Europe photo by Visual Information Specialist Markus Rauchenberger/released)
Soldiers from the 500th Engineer Company, 15th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade and Slovenian army engineers prepare for a mission to dig fire positions on a hillside at Hohenfels Training Area, Sept. 4. Exercise Saber Junction 2014 includes participants from the U.S., NATO allies and European security partners, conducting unified land operations at the 7th Army's Joint Multinational Training Command's Hohenfels Training Area. The exercise trains units in the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations while improving international interoperability, commitment to NATO and allied nations and strategic access to critical areas within the European Command's area of responsibility. More information about Saber Junction 2014 can be found at www.eur.army.mil/SaberJunction/ (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina M. Dion/Released)
Estonian Army Cpl. Albert Benedik of Rakvere, and assigned to the Estonia Scout Battalion, provides security during an STX (simulated training exercise) lane at Hohenfels Training Area Aug. 27. Saber Junction 14 is a large-scale, joint, multinational, annual military exercise, involving hundreds of aircraft and vehicles and thousands of personnel from 16 different nations. The exercise will prepare brigade-level units for worldwide contingency operations. The exercise further focuses U.S., NATO, and partner forces on concepts such as decisive and sustainable land operations through the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations and on interoperability with partnered nations. More information about Saber Junction 2014 can be found at www.eur.army.mil/SaberJunction/ (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina M. Dion/Released)
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division interact with role players during a situational training exercise in Western Accord 14, June 24. Western Accord 14 is a U.S. Africa Command-sponsored, U.S. Army Africa-hosted annual joint training and partnership exercise between the U.S. and Economic Community of West Africa States, which is designed to increase interoperability between military forces and ensure the common ability to conduct peace operations throughout Western Africa. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Sgt. William Gore)
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U.S. Army Soldiers from Eagle Troop 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, stationed out of Vilseck, Germany, fire an FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile during a live fire field training exercise at Tapa Training Area, Estonia, June 3, 2016. Eagle Troop conducted a six-hour platoon level training lane during their rotation to Operation Atlantic Resolve (OAR) to test the Soldiers' strength and endurance. OAR contributes to regional stability through the enhanced land force multi-national training and security cooperation activities taking place in each of the participating countries, strengthens relationships among allied militaries, and improves multi-national interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Steven M. Colvin)
U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Richard D. Thresher speaks with Marines and sailors from Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a visit aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) at Naval Base San Diego Jan. 24, 2015. Thresher is the sergeant major of 1st Marine logistics Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elize McKelvey/Released)
Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Eric Hady (right), an aircraft loadmaster assigned to the 103rd Operations Group, 103rd Airlift Wing, Connecticut Air National Guard and an Italian paratrooper jump master prepare for a jump during an airdrop mission, as part of Exercise Swift Response 22, May 11, 2022, in Pisa, Italy. Swift Response is a U.S. EUCOM scheduled, U.S. Army Europe and Africa conducted, and SETAF-AF led global exercise, focused on Allied Airborne forces' ability to quickly and effectively respond to crisis situations as an interoperable, multi-national team. Swift Response demonstrates U.S. and Allied force projection and high readiness interoperability in support of NATO Connected Force Initiative (CFI). Swift Response consists of Joint Forcible Entries (JFEs) into the Nordic, Baltics, and Balkans, followed by multinational training, and live-fire exercises. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Tamara R. Dabney)
A soldier from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force uses bushes and branches as camouflage for his shooting position during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 10, 2014. Iron Fist is an amphibious exercise that brings together Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, other I Marine Expeditionary Force units, and soldiers from the JGSDF, to promote military interoperability and hone individual and small-unit skills through challenging, complex and realistic training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ricardo Hurtado/Released)
Marine Staff Sgt. Justin Parker, with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment out of Little Rock, Ark., discusses internally displaced person procedures with Soldiers from Ghana during Exercise Western Accord 14, June 19. Exercise Western Accord is a partnership exercise between the United States and Economic Community of West Africa States, which is designed to increase interoperability between military forces and ensure the common ability to conduct peace operations throughout Western Africa. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Sgt. William Gore)
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U.S. Army Africa photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Davis
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) hosted its second annual C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 2-4 at Caserma Ederle, headquarters of U.S. Army Africa, in Vicenza, Italy.
The communications and intelligence community event, hosted by Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell, AFRICOM C4 director, drew approximately 80 senior leaders from diverse U.S. military and government branches and agencies, as well as representatives of African nations and the African Union.
“The conference is a combination of our U.S. AFRICOM C4 systems and intel directorate,” said Ferrell. “We come together annually to bring the team together to work on common goals to work on throughout the year. The team consists of our coalition partners as well as our inter-agency partners, as well as our components and U.S. AFRICOM staff.”
The conference focused on updates from participants, and on assessing the present state and goals of coalition partners in Africa, he said.
“The theme for our conference is ‘Delivering Capabilities to a Joint Information Environment,’ and we see it as a joint and combined team ... working together, side by side, to promote peace and stability there on the African continent,” Ferrell said.
Three goals of this year’s conference were to strengthen the team, assess priorities across the board, and get a better fix on the impact that the establishment of the U.S. Cyber Command will have on all members’ efforts in the future, he said.
“With the stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command, it brings a lot of unique challenges that we as a team need to talk through to ensure that our information is protected at all times,” Ferrell said.
African Union (AU) representatives from four broad geographic regions of Africa attended, which generated a holistic perspective on needs and requirements from across the continent, he said.
“We have members from the African Union headquarters that is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; we have members that are from Uganda; from Zambia; from Ghana; and also from the Congo. What are the gaps, what are the things that we kind of need to assist with as we move forward on our engagements on the African continent?” Ferrell said.
U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, welcomed participants as the conference got under way.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be the host for this conference, and we hope that this week you get a whole lot out of it,” said Hogg.
He took the opportunity to address the participants not only as their host, but from the perspective of a customer whose missions depend on the results of their efforts to support commanders in the field.
“When we’re talking about this group of folks that are here — from the joint side, from our African partners, from State, all those folks — it’s about partnership and interoperability. And every commander who’s ever had to fight in a combined environment understands that interoperability is the thing that absolutely slaps you upside the head,” Hogg said.
“We’re in the early stages of the process here of working with the African Union and the other partners, and you have an opportunity to design this from the end state, versus just building a bunch of ‘gunkulators.’ And so, the message is: think about what the end state is supposed to look like and construct the strategy to support the end state.
“Look at where we want to be at and design it that way,” Hogg said.
He also admonished participants to consider the second- and third-order effects of their choices in designing networks.
“With that said, over the next four days, I hope this conference works very well for you. If there’s anything we can do to make your stay better, please let us know,” Hogg said.
Over the following three days, participants engaged in a steady stream of briefings and presentations focused on systems, missions and updates from the field.
Col. Joseph W. Angyal, director of U.S. Army Africa G-6, gave an overview of operations and issues that focused on fundamentals, the emergence of regional accords as a way forward, and the evolution of a joint network enterprise that would serve all interested parties.
“What we’re trying to do is to work regionally. That’s frankly a challenge, but as we stand up the capability, really for the U.S. government, and work through that, we hope to become more regionally focused,” he said.
He referred to Africa Endeavor, an annual, multi-nation communications exercise, as a test bed for the current state of affairs on the continent, and an aid in itself to future development.
“In order to conduct those exercises, to conduct those security and cooperation events, and to meet contingency missions, we really, from the C4ISR perspective, have five big challenges,” Angyal said.
“You heard General Hogg this morning talk about ‘think about the customer’ — you’ve got to allow me to be able to get access to our data; I’ve got to be able to get to the data where and when I need it; you’ve got to be able to protect it; I have to be able to share it; and then finally, the systems have to be able to work together in order to build that coalition.
“One of the reasons General Ferrell is setting up this joint information enterprise, this joint network enterprise . . . it’s almost like trying to bring together disparate companies or corporations: everyone has their own system, they’ve paid for their own infrastructure, and they have their own policy, even though they support the same major company.
“Now multiply that when you bring in different services, multiply that when you bring in different U.S. government agencies, and then put a layer on top of that with the international partners, and there are lots of policies that are standing in our way.”
The main issue is not a question of technology, he said.
“The boxes are the same — a Cisco router is a Cisco router; Microsoft Exchange server is the same all over the world — but it’s the way that we employ them, and it’s the policies that we apply to it, that really stops us from interoperating, and that’s the challenge we hope to work through with the joint network enterprise.
“And I think that through things like Africa Endeavor and through the joint enterprise network, we’re looking at knocking down some of those policy walls, but at the end of the day they are ours to knock down. Bill Gates did not design a system to work only for the Army or for the Navy — it works for everyone,” Angyal said.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Searyoh, director general of Defense Information Communication Systems, General Headquarters, Ghana Armed Forces, agreed that coordinating policy is fundamental to improving communications with all its implications for a host of operations and missions.
“One would expect that in these modern times there is some kind of mutual engagement, and to build that engagement to be strong, there must be some kind of element of trust. … We have to build some kind of trust to be able to move forward,” said Searyoh.
“Some people may be living in silos of the past, but in the current engagement we need to tell people that we are there with no hidden agenda, no negative hidden agenda, but for the common good of all of us.
“We say that we are in the information age, and I’ve been saying something: that our response should not be optional, but it must be a must, because if you don’t join now, you are going to be left behind.
“So what do we do? We have to get our house in order.
“Why do I say so? We used to operate like this before the information age; now in the information age, how do we operate?
“So, we have to get our house in order and see whether we are aligning ourselves with way things should work now. So, our challenge is to come up with a strategy, see how best we can reorganize our structures, to be able to deliver communications-information systems support for the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.
Searyoh related that his organization has already accomplished one part of erecting the necessary foundation by establishing an appropriate policy structure.
“What is required now is the implementing level. Currently we have communications on one side, and computers on one side. The lines are blurred — you cannot operate like that, you’ve got to bring them together,” he said.
Building that merged entity to support deployed forces is what he sees as the primary challenge at present.
“Once you get that done you can talk about equipment, you can talk about resources,” Searyoh said. “I look at the current collaboration between the U.S. and the coalition partners taking a new level.”
“The immediate challenges that we have is the interoperability, which I think is one of the things we are also discussing here, interoperability and integration,” said Lt. Col. Kelvin Silomba, African Union-Zambia, Information Technology expert for the Africa Stand-by Force.
“You know that we’ve got five regions in Africa. All these regions, we need to integrate them and bring them together, so the challenge of interoperability in terms of equipment, you know, different tactical equipment that we use, and also in terms of the language barrier — you know, all these regions in Africa you find that they speak different languages — so to bring them together we need to come up with one standard that will make everybody on board and make everybody able to talk to each other,” he said.
“So we have all these challenges. Other than that also, stemming from the background of these African countries, based on the colonization: some of them were French colonized, some of them were British colonized and so on, so you find that when they come up now we’ve adopted some of the procedures based on our former colonial masters, so that is another challenge that is coming on board.”
The partnership with brother African states, with the U.S. government and its military branches, and with other interested collaborators has had a positive influence, said Silomba.
“Oh, it’s great. From the time that I got engaged with U.S. AFRICOM — I started with Africa Endeavor, before I even came to the AU — it is my experience that it is something very, very good.
“I would encourage — I know that there are some member states — I would encourage that all those member states they come on board, all of these regional organizations, that they come on board and support the AFRICOM lead. It is something that is very, very good.
“As for example, the African Union has a lot of support that’s been coming in, technical as well as in terms of knowledge and equipment. So it’s great; it’s good and it’s great,” said Salimba.
Other participant responses to the conference were positive as well.
“The feedback I’ve gotten from every member is that they now know what the red carpet treatment looks like, because USARAF has gone over and above board to make sure the environment, the atmosphere and the actual engagements … are executed to perfection,” said Ferrell. “It’s been very good from a team-building aspect.
“We’ve had very good discussions from members of the African Union, who gave us a very good understanding of the operations that are taking place in the area of Somalia, the challenges with communications, and laid out the gaps and desires of where they see that the U.S. and other coalition partners can kind of improve the capacity there in that area of responsibility.
“We also talked about the AU, as they are expanding their reach to all of the five regions, of how can they have that interoperability and connectivity to each of the regions,” Ferrell said.
“(It’s been) a wealth of knowledge and experts that are here to share in terms of how we can move forward with building capacities and capabilities. Not only for U.S. interests, but more importantly from my perspective, in building capacities and capabilities for our African partners beginning with the Commission at the African Union itself,” said Kevin Warthon, U.S. State Department, peace and security adviser to the African Union.
“I think that General Ferrell has done an absolutely wonderful thing by inviting key African partners to participate in this event so they can share their personal experience from a national, regional and continental perspective,” he said.
Warthon related from his personal experience a vignette of African trust in Providence that he believed carries a pertinent metaphor and message to everyone attending the conference.
“We are not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but the one thing that I am sure of is that we are able to do something. Don’t know when, don’t know how, but as long as our focus is on our ability to assist and to help to progress a people, that’s really what counts more than anything else,” he said.
“Don’t worry about the timetable; just focus on your ability to make a difference and that’s what that really is all about.
“I see venues such as this as opportunities to make what seems to be the impossible become possible. … This is what this kind of venue does for our African partners.
“We’re doing a wonderful job at building relationships, because that’s where it begins — we have to build relationships to establish trust. That’s why this is so important: building trust through relationships so that we can move forward in the future,” Warthon said.
Conference members took a cultural tour of Venice and visited a traditional winery in the hills above Vicenza before adjourning.
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U.S Marine Sgt. Ian Walker prepares for takeoff before an aerial sniper mission on an MH-60S Seahawk during maritime interoperability training aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 12, 2015. Walker is an assistant team leader with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Force Reconnaissance Detachment. MIT prepares the 15th MEU's Maritime Raid Force for their upcoming deployment by enhancing their combat skills and teaching them techniques for boarding vessels. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Allison Burgos/Released)
U.S Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force post security while boarding the ATLS-9701 during maritime interoperability training in the San Diego Bay, Calif., Jan. 11, 2015. MIT prepares the 15th MEU's MRF for their upcoming deployment by enhancing their combat skills and teaching them techniques for boarding vessels. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Allison Burgos/Released)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Rymer, 435th Contingency Response Squadron mobile aerial port supervisor, provides training on securing cargo to Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina 2nd Lt. Medina Hodzic, Basic Platoon in Transport commander, Battalion of Logistic Support, Sept. 11, 2019, at Tuzla International Airport, BiH. Silver Arrow is a U.S. European Command and U.S. Air Forces Europe sponsored training event that supports multinational interoperability and establishes a way-ahead for introducing air coordination and a Media Information Center element - a new capability for Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Sarah McClanahan)
U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 464, Detachment A, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a logistic resupply mission in a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from the U.S.S. Sacagawea during exercise Ssang Yong 2014 on April 1, 2014. Exercise Ssang Yong is conducted annually in the Republic of Korea (ROK) to enhance the interoperability of U.S. and ROK forces by performing a full spectrum of amphibious operations while showcasing sea-based power projection in the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Chief Warrant Officer Clinton Runyon, MCIPAC Combat Camera/Released)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Members of Ghost Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment wait for the order to assault the village of Duzdag here Oct. 13. The mission is part of U.S. Army Europe's exercise Saber Junction trains U.S. personnel and more than 1800 multinational partners from 18 different nations ensuring multinational interoperability and an agile, ready coalition force. (U.S. Army Europe photo by Staff Sgt. Joel Salgado)
Military forces from the U.S., U.K., Lithuania and Poland conduct a convoy movement from Poland to Lithuania to continue the next portion of Saber Strike 2017 near Rukla, Lithuania, June 18, 2017. Saber Strike 17 is a U.S. Army Europe-led multinational combined forces exercise conducted annually to enhance the NATO Alliance throughout the Baltic region and Poland. This year's exercise includes integrated and synchronized deterrence-oriented training designed to improve interoperability and readiness of the 20 participating nations' militaries. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Stefan English)
PHILIPPINE SEA (June 4, 2022) An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to the “Golden Falcons” of helicopter sea combat squadron (HSC) 12, lands on the flight deck of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) during flight operations. Benfold is assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Arthur Rosen)
U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force practice visit, board, search, and seizure techniques during maritime interoperability training in San Diego Bay Jan. 10, 2015. MIT prepares the MRF for their upcoming deployment by enhancing their combat skills and teaching them techniques for boarding vessels. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jamean Berry/Released)
A U.S. Marine, right, pre-scout sniper instructor, 1st Marine Division Schools, explains shooting techniques to soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force while conducting shooting drills during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 29, 2014. Iron Fist is an amphibious exercise that brings together Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, other I Marine Expeditionary Force units, and soldiers from the JGSDF, to promote military interoperability and hone individual and small-unit skills through challenging, complex and realistic training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ricardo Hurtado/Released)
U.S. Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment (Attack Reconnaissance), 12th Combat Aviation Brigade load a CH-47 Chinook helicopter while conducting cold load training during exercise Saber Junction 15 at the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 11, 2015. Saber Junction 15 prepares NATO and partner nation forces for offensive, defensive, and stability operations and promotes interoperability among participants. Saber Junction 15 has more than 4,700 participants from 17 countries, to include: Albania, Armenia, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, and the U.S. More at www.eur.army.mil/SaberJunction. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Shardesia Washington/Released)
MANILA, Philippines (Aug. 4, 2021) U.S. Army Maj. Maren Mason, left, a veterinarian, demonstrates how to assess a dog to an Armed Forces of the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency service member during a Pacific Partnership 2021 mission discussion. Pacific Partnership, now in its 16th iteration, brings nations together to prepare during calm periods to effectively respond in times of crisis. Each year, the mission team works collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joseph R. Vincent/Released)
Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division call cadance as they march through the streets of old Riga as part of the Latvia Day parade that took place November 18, 2014 to mark the country's 96th year of independence. The Latvian national holiday treated spectators to Latvian, U.S. and other NATO allied soldiers performing a pass and review for the Latvian President, Andris Bērziņš, and a march to the Freedom Monument in Riga. The U.S. soldiers participated in the event as part of the U.S. Army Europe-led Operation Atlantic Resolve land force assurance training taking place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to enhance multinational interoperability, strengthen relationships among allied militaries, contribute to regional stability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy J. Fowler)
Estonian army Sgt. 1st Class Andrei Kurotskin of Palkiski, and assigned to the Estonia Scout Battalion, provides security during an STX (simulated training exercise) lane at Hohenfels Training Area Aug. 27. Saber Junction 14 is a large-scale, joint, multinational, annual military exercise, involving hundreds of aircraft and vehicles and thousands of personnel from 16 different nations. The exercise will prepare brigade-level units for worldwide contingency operations. The exercise further focuses U.S., NATO, and partner forces on concepts such as decisive and sustainable land operations through the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations and on interoperability with partnered nations. More information about Saber Junction 2014 can be found at www.eur.army.mil/SaberJunction/ (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina M. Dion/Released)
As part of Exercise Saber Junction 14, Bulgarian soldiers attacked and cleared a village against opposing forces of 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment Soldiers Aug. 30 at Hohenfels Training Area. Exercise Saber Junction 2014 includes participants from the U.S., NATO allies and European security partners, conducting unified land operations at the 7th Army's Joint Multinational Training Command's Hohenfels Training Area. The exercise trains units in the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations while improving international interoperability, commitment to NATO and allied nations and strategic access to critical areas within the European Command's area of responsibility. More information about Saber Junction 2014 can be found at www.eur.army.mil/SaberJunction/ (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina Dion/Released)
INDIAN OCEAN (Aug. 27, 2017) - The Talwar-class frigate INS Trikand (F51) practices underway replenishment approaches with the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) as part of bilateral interoperability drills following the Pearl Harbor's visit to Goa, India. The bilateral drills between Pearl Harbor and Trikand were aimed to enhance interoperability between the two navies and emphasize the importance of communications and coordination while operating together at sea. Pearl Harbor, with embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, recently completed a routine port visit to Goa, India to experience the city's culture and history as part of their scheduled patrol in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Kris) 170827-N-JN410-102
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Battle Group Poland U.S. Soldiers prepare for a tactical movement to the field during Saber Strike 2017, at Bemowo Piskie Training Area near Orzysz, Poland, June 13, 2017. Saber Strike 17 is a U.S. Army Europe-led multinational combined forces exercise conducted annually to enhance the NATO alliance throughout the Baltic region and Poland. This year's exercise includes integrated and synchronized deterrence-oriented training designed to improve interoperability and readiness of the 20 participating nations' militaries. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Stefan English)
Soldiers of the Hungarian Defense Forces stood watch as Troopers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, conducted a deliberate water crossing in their M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicles using a bypass bridging site during Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 17, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)
Sgt. Kaine Marzola, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the civil affairs detachment with 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, hands out newly donated bed nets to local children during a community relations event June 19 at Ou Village, Kampot Province, Cambodia. The event is part of Cambodia Interoperability Program 2011, a regularly-held exercise between the U.S. and Cambodian forces that allows both nations to conduct joint medical and dental operations, improve interoperability and foster goodwill to ensure regional peace and stability.
III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs
Photo by Cpl. Kentavist Brackin
Date Taken:06.19.2011
Location:OU, KH
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U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, in AAV-7 Amphibious Assault Vehicles in order to disembark the USS Rushmore (LSD 47) off the coast of Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 25, 2015. The 15th MEU was embarked aboard the three ships of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group - the USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Anchorage (LPD 23), and USS Rushmore – from Jan. 22-25 to familiarize themselves with the ships as they continue to prepare for their upcoming deployment this spring. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Steve H. Lopez/Released)
Col. Andrew Aquino (from left), chaplaincy director for the Ohio National Guard; Col. Saša Milutinović, head of division for religion for the Serbian Armed Forces; and Col. Slajan Stamenkovic, duty commander, 4th Army Brigade, Serbian Armed Forces, gather together with United Arab Emirates soldiers for a traditional Emirate meal, June 19, 2018, at Serbia’s South Base and Boravac Training Area, during Exercise Platinum Wolf 2018. The goal of the meal was to ensure the soldiers’ religious dietary needs were properly met and share ideas for continued religious support of the Emirate soldiers in the future. Platinum Wolf 18, a two-week multinational peacekeeping exercise, brings 10 nations together to enhance military cooperation and interoperability, June 11-22. (Ohio National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker)
U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, load in AAV-7 Amphibious Assault Vehicles in order to disembark the USS Rushmore (LSD 47) off the coast of Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 25, 2015. The 15th MEU was embarked aboard the three ships of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group - the USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Anchorage (LPD 23), and USS Rushmore – from Jan. 22-25 to familiarize themselves with the ships as they continue to prepare for their upcoming deployment this spring. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Steve H. Lopez/Released)
A Latvian Army soldier moves to his next fighting position during exercise Saber Junction 15 at the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 23, 2015. Saber Junction 15 prepares NATO and partner nation forces for offensive, defensive, and stability operations and promotes interoperability among participants. Saber Junction 15 has more than 4,700 participants from 17 countries, to include: Albania, Armenia, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey and the U.S. More at www.eur.army.mil/SaberJunction. (U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Markus Rauchenberger/Released)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany --The United Kingdom’s 3rd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment fires a 5-11 Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle at Grafenwoehr Training Area’s calibration range, Oct. 13. Forces from the United Kingdom are participating among 19 multinational nations training during Saber Junction 2012. U.S. Army Europe's exercise Saber Junction features the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, who trains with 1800 multinational partners from 18 nations ensuring interoperability and an agile, ready coalition force. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Franklin R. Moore)
Cpt. Gerald Stoermer (front), and Pvt. David Armstrong from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division parade the unit guidon through the heart of old Riga as part of the Latvia Day parade November 18, 2014. The company was just part of the massive parade that featured partners from various NATO allies who marched with Latvian armed forces to commemorate the 96th year of the country's indepence. The Latvian national holiday took place during part of the U.S. Army Europe-led Operation Atlantic Resolve land force assurance training taking place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to enhance multinational interoperability, strengthen relationships among allied militaries, contribute to regional stability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy J. Fowler)
A member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conceals his position with bushes and tree branches during sniper training Feb. 10, 2014, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., as part of exercise Iron Fist 2014. Iron Fist is a three-week bilateral training event held annually between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force designed to increase interoperability between the two services while aiding the Japanese in their continued development of amphibious capabilities. (DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Ricardo Hurtado/Released)
Soldiers from the Slovenia Armed Forces, United Kingdom, and the Colorado National Guard's 1-157 Infantry, conduct a training exercise with the Deployable Instrumentation System Europe (DISE) provided by the 7th Army Training Command's Training Support Division Expeditionary during the Triglav Star IV exercise, Bohinisja Bela, Slovenia, Sept. 19, 2018.
Exercise Triglav Star IV is an annual multinational Mountain Warfare Exercise hosted by the Slovenian Armed Forces in Bohinjska Bela, Slovenia and is an intense, two-week tactical exercise where Soldier from United Kingdom, and the 1-157 IN Colorado, and Slovenia demonstrate interoperability while performing unit tactics in the Julian Alps. (U.S. Army photo by Massimo Bovo)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- The United Kingdom’s 3rd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment fires a 5-11 Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle round at Grafenwoehr Training Area’s calibration range, Oct. 13. Forces from the United Kingdom are participating among 19 multinational nations training during Saber Junction 2012. U.S. Army Europe's exercise Saber Junction features the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, who trains with 1800 multinational partners from 18 nations ensuring interoperability and an agile, ready coalition force. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Franklin R. Moore)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- The United Kingdom’s 3rd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment line-up Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle’s at Grafenwoehr Training Area’s calibration range. Forces from the United Kingdom are participating among 19 multinational nations training as part of Saber Junction 2012. During U.S. Army Europe's exercise Saber Junction the 2nd Cavalry Regiment trains with 1800 multinational partners from 18 nations ensuring interoperability and an agile, ready coalition force. U.S. Army Europe's exercise (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Franklin R. Moore)
German Army Soldiers in a Marder infantry fighting vehicle scan the battlefield during Saber Junction 2012 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Oct. 25. The U.S. Army Europe's exercise Saber Junction trains U.S. personnel and 1800 multinational partners from 18 nations ensuring multinational interoperability and an agile, ready coalition force.
(U.S. Army Europe photo by Visual Information Specialist Markus Rauchenberger/released)
U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force fast-rope onto a gas and oil platform from a UH-1Y Venom during maritime interoperability training off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif., Jan. 16, 2015. MIT prepares the MRF for their upcoming deployment by enhancing their combat skills, and teaching them techniques for boarding vessels. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Allison Burgos/Released)
“El Ejército de Tierra ha mostrado que es capaz de liderar una fuerza ágil, interoperable, preparada e indivisible”, ha afirmado el 2ª JEME, teniente general Juan Campins, en referencia a la Fuerza Conjunta de Muy Alta Disponibilidad (VJTF, en sus siglas en inglés), durante su visita a “Camp Karliki”, en el campo de maniobras de Zagan (Polonia), el 3 de junio.
Allí, y en la localidad polaca de Świętoszów, se encuentran desplegadas las tropas españolas para la fase final del ejercicio “Brilliant Jump”, cuyo grueso aporta y lidera la Brigada “Galicia” VII.
Tras ser recibido por el jefe de la VJTF, teniente general Varela, y por jefe de la Brigada de la VJTF, general Cebrián, asistió a varias presentaciones sobre la preparación de la fuerza, el despliegue realizado y el apoyo logístico, en el Puesto de Mando de esta Brigada.
Después, presenció un tema táctico en el que pudo comprobar sobre el terreno la preparación y operatividad del personal, medios y vehículos desplegados, y destacó la capacidad demostrada por el Ejército para “mejorar los procedimientos e interoperabilidad entre las distintas unidades que componen esta fuerza multinacional”.
España lidera la Fuerza Conjunta de Muy Alta Disponibilidad durante 2016 y será declarada como fuerza plenamente operativa en la cumbre que la OTAN celebrará en Varsovia los próximos días 8 y 9 de julio.
“The Army has demonstrated that it is able to lead an agile, interoperable, ready and indivisible force,” asserted the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Juan Campins, referring to the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) during his visit to Camp Karliki in the Zagan training area (Poland) on 3 June.
Spanish soldiers have been deployed at the camp and in the village of Świętoszów for the final phase of exercise Brilliant Jump. They are led by the 7th Brigade ‘Galicia’, which also contributes the bulk of the troops.
Lt.-Gen. Campins was received by Lt.-Gen. Varela, commander of the VJTF, and by General Cebrián, commander of the VJTF Brigade. He subsequently attended several presentations at the Brigade’s Command Post on the training of the Force as well as its deployment for the exercise and the logistic support it has been provided with.
Campins then witnessed a tactical activity to verify the degree of preparedness and operability of the personnel, resources and vehicles deployed. He highlighted the ability shown by the Army to “improve procedures and interoperability between the different units which make up this multinational Force.”
During 2016 Spain is leading the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, which will be declared a fully operational force at a NATO summit in Warsaw on 8 and 9 July.
U.S. Army Cpt. Scott Hall (right), with 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, who serves as an Observer/Coach-Trainer during exercise Saber Junction 15, talks to a Belgian Army soldier at the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, April 23, 2015. Saber Junction 15 prepares NATO and partner nation forces for offensive, defensive, and stability operations and promotes interoperability among participants. Saber Junction 15 has more than 4,700 participants from 17 countries, to include: Albania, Armenia, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey and the U.S. (U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Markus Rauchenberger/Released)
A Czech soldier waits for a convoy out of Camp West at Hohenfels Training Area Sept. 2. Exercise Saber Junction 2014 includes participants from the U.S., NATO allies and European security partners, conducting unified land operations at the 7th Army's Joint Multinational Training Command's Hohenfels Training Area. The exercise trains units in the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations while improving international interoperability, commitment to NATO and allied nations and strategic access to critical areas within the European Command's area of responsibility. More information about Saber Junction 2014 can be found at www.eur.army.mil/SaberJunction/ (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina M. Dion/Released)
A M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System fires its payload at the Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Bemowo Piskie, in Poland, on June 16, 2017. Saber Strike 17 is a U.S. Army Europe-led multinational combined forces exercise conducted annually to enhance the NATO Alliance throughout the Baltic region and Poland. This year's exercise includes integrated and synchronized deterrence-oriented training designed to improve interoperability and readiness of the 20 participating nations' militaries. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Brooks)
A Slovenian soldier radios to leaders situational information at Hohenfels Training Area Sept. 2. Exercise Saber Junction 2014 includes participants from the U.S., NATO allies and European security partners, conducting unified land operations at the 7th Army's Joint Multinational Training Command's Hohenfels Training Area. The exercise trains units in the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations while improving international interoperability, commitment to NATO and allied nations and strategic access to critical areas within the European Command's area of responsibility. More information about Saber Junction 2014 can be found at www.eur.army.mil/SaberJunction/ (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina M. Dion/Released)
Hosts and guests of the U.S. AFRICOM C4ISR Senior Leader Conference tour a winery in the hills above Vicenza, Italy, Feb. 3, 2011.
U.S. Army Africa photo by David Ruderman
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) hosted its second annual C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 2-4 at Caserma Ederle, headquarters of U.S. Army Africa, in Vicenza, Italy.
The communications and intelligence community event, hosted by Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell, AFRICOM C4 director, drew approximately 80 senior leaders from diverse U.S. military and government branches and agencies, as well as representatives of African nations and the African Union.
The conference is a combination of our U.S. AFRICOM C4 systems and intel directorate,” said Ferrell. “We come together annually to bring the team together to work on common goals to work on throughout the year. The team consists of our coalition partners as well as our inter-agency partners, as well as our components and U.S. AFRICOM staff.”
The conference focused on updates from participants, and on assessing the present state and goals of coalition partners in Africa, he said.
“The theme for our conference is ‘Delivering Capabilities to a Joint Information Environment,’ and we see it as a joint and combined team ... working together, side by side, to promote peace and stability there on the African continent,” Ferrell said.
Three goals of this year’s conference were to strengthen the team, assess priorities across the board, and get a better fix on the impact that the establishment of the U.S. Cyber Command will have on all members’ efforts in the future, he said.
“With the stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command, it brings a lot of unique challenges that we as a team need to talk through to ensure that our information is protected at all times,” Ferrell said.
African Union (AU) representatives from four broad geographic regions of Africa attended, which generated a holistic perspective on needs and requirements from across the continent, he said.
“We have members from the African Union headquarters that is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; we have members that are from Uganda; from Zambia; from Ghana; and also from the Congo. What are the gaps, what are the things that we kind of need to assist with as we move forward on our engagements on the African continent?” Ferrell said.
U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, welcomed participants as the conference got under way.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be the host for this conference, and we hope that this week you get a whole lot out of it,” said Hogg.
He took the opportunity to address the participants not only as their host, but from the perspective of a customer whose missions depend on the results of their efforts to support commanders in the field.
“When we’re talking about this group of folks that are here — from the joint side, from our African partners, from State, all those folks — it’s about partnership and interoperability. And every commander who’s ever had to fight in a combined environment understands that interoperability is the thing that absolutely slaps you upside the head,” Hogg said.
“We’re in the early stages of the process here of working with the African Union and the other partners, and you have an opportunity to design this from the end state, versus just building a bunch of ‘gunkulators.’ And so, the message is: think about what the end state is supposed to look like and construct the strategy to support the end state.
“Look at where we want to be at and design it that way,” Hogg said.
He also admonished participants to consider the second- and third-order effects of their choices in designing networks.
“With that said, over the next four days, I hope this conference works very well for you. If there’s anything we can do to make your stay better, please let us know,” Hogg said.
Over the following three days, participants engaged in a steady stream of briefings and presentations focused on systems, missions and updates from the field.
Col. Joseph W. Angyal, director of U.S. Army Africa G-6, gave an overview of operations and issues that focused on fundamentals, the emergence of regional accords as a way forward, and the evolution of a joint network enterprise that would serve all interested parties.
“What we’re trying to do is to work regionally. That’s frankly a challenge, but as we stand up the capability, really for the U.S. government, and work through that, we hope to become more regionally focused,” he said.
He referred to Africa Endeavor, an annual, multi-nation communications exercise, as a test bed for the current state of affairs on the continent, and an aid in itself to future development.
“In order to conduct those exercises, to conduct those security and cooperation events, and to meet contingency missions, we really, from the C4ISR perspective, have five big challenges,” Angyal said.
“You heard General Hogg this morning talk about ‘think about the customer’ — you’ve got to allow me to be able to get access to our data; I’ve got to be able to get to the data where and when I need it; you’ve got to be able to protect it; I have to be able to share it; and then finally, the systems have to be able to work together in order to build that coalition.
“One of the reasons General Ferrell is setting up this joint information enterprise, this joint network enterprise . . . it’s almost like trying to bring together disparate companies or corporations: everyone has their own system, they’ve paid for their own infrastructure, and they have their own policy, even though they support the same major company.
“Now multiply that when you bring in different services, multiply that when you bring in different U.S. government agencies, and then put a layer on top of that with the international partners, and there are lots of policies that are standing in our way.”
The main issue is not a question of technology, he said.
“The boxes are the same — a Cisco router is a Cisco router; Microsoft Exchange server is the same all over the world — but it’s the way that we employ them, and it’s the policies that we apply to it, that really stops us from interoperating, and that’s the challenge we hope to work through with the joint network enterprise.
“And I think that through things like Africa Endeavor and through the joint enterprise network, we’re looking at knocking down some of those policy walls, but at the end of the day they are ours to knock down. Bill Gates did not design a system to work only for the Army or for the Navy — it works for everyone,” Angyal said.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Searyoh, director general of Defense Information Communication Systems, General Headquarters, Ghana Armed Forces, agreed that coordinating policy is fundamental to improving communications with all its implications for a host of operations and missions.
“One would expect that in these modern times there is some kind of mutual engagement, and to build that engagement to be strong, there must be some kind of element of trust. … We have to build some kind of trust to be able to move forward,” said Searyoh.
“Some people may be living in silos of the past, but in the current engagement we need to tell people that we are there with no hidden agenda, no negative hidden agenda, but for the common good of all of us.
“We say that we are in the information age, and I’ve been saying something: that our response should not be optional, but it must be a must, because if you don’t join now, you are going to be left behind.
“So what do we do? We have to get our house in order.
“Why do I say so? We used to operate like this before the information age; now in the information age, how do we operate?
“So, we have to get our house in order and see whether we are aligning ourselves with way things should work now. So, our challenge is to come up with a strategy, see how best we can reorganize our structures, to be able to deliver communications-information systems support for the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.
Searyoh related that his organization has already accomplished one part of erecting the necessary foundation by establishing an appropriate policy structure.
“What is required now is the implementing level. Currently we have communications on one side, and computers on one side. The lines are blurred — you cannot operate like that, you’ve got to bring them together,” he said.
Building that merged entity to support deployed forces is what he sees as the primary challenge at present.
“Once you get that done you can talk about equipment, you can talk about resources,” Searyoh said. “I look at the current collaboration between the U.S. and the coalition partners taking a new level.”
“The immediate challenges that we have is the interoperability, which I think is one of the things we are also discussing here, interoperability and integration,” said Lt. Col. Kelvin Silomba, African Union-Zambia, Information Technology expert for the Africa Stand-by Force.
“You know that we’ve got five regions in Africa. All these regions, we need to integrate them and bring them together, so the challenge of interoperability in terms of equipment, you know, different tactical equipment that we use, and also in terms of the language barrier — you know, all these regions in Africa you find that they speak different languages — so to bring them together we need to come up with one standard that will make everybody on board and make everybody able to talk to each other,” he said.
“So we have all these challenges. Other than that also, stemming from the background of these African countries, based on the colonization: some of them were French colonized, some of them were British colonized and so on, so you find that when they come up now we’ve adopted some of the procedures based on our former colonial masters, so that is another challenge that is coming on board.”
The partnership with brother African states, with the U.S. government and its military branches, and with other interested collaborators has had a positive influence, said Silomba.
“Oh, it’s great. From the time that I got engaged with U.S. AFRICOM — I started with Africa Endeavor, before I even came to the AU — it is my experience that it is something very, very good.
“I would encourage — I know that there are some member states — I would encourage that all those member states they come on board, all of these regional organizations, that they come on board and support the AFRICOM lead. It is something that is very, very good.
“As for example, the African Union has a lot of support that’s been coming in, technical as well as in terms of knowledge and equipment. So it’s great; it’s good and it’s great,” said Salimba.
Other participant responses to the conference were positive as well.
“The feedback I’ve gotten from every member is that they now know what the red carpet treatment looks like, because USARAF has gone over and above board to make sure the environment, the atmosphere and the actual engagements … are executed to perfection,” said Ferrell. “It’s been very good from a team-building aspect.
“We’ve had very good discussions from members of the African Union, who gave us a very good understanding of the operations that are taking place in the area of Somalia, the challenges with communications, and laid out the gaps and desires of where they see that the U.S. and other coalition partners can kind of improve the capacity there in that area of responsibility.
“We also talked about the AU, as they are expanding their reach to all of the five regions, of how can they have that interoperability and connectivity to each of the regions,” Ferrell said.
“(It’s been) a wealth of knowledge and experts that are here to share in terms of how we can move forward with building capacities and capabilities. Not only for U.S. interests, but more importantly from my perspective, in building capacities and capabilities for our African partners beginning with the Commission at the African Union itself,” said Kevin Warthon, U.S. State Department, peace and security adviser to the African Union.
“I think that General Ferrell has done an absolutely wonderful thing by inviting key African partners to participate in this event so they can share their personal experience from a national, regional and continental perspective,” he said.
Warthon related from his personal experience a vignette of African trust in Providence that he believed carries a pertinent metaphor and message to everyone attending the conference.
“We are not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but the one thing that I am sure of is that we are able to do something. Don’t know when, don’t know how, but as long as our focus is on our ability to assist and to help to progress a people, that’s really what counts more than anything else,” he said.
“Don’t worry about the timetable; just focus on your ability to make a difference and that’s what that really is all about.
“I see venues such as this as opportunities to make what seems to be the impossible become possible. … This is what this kind of venue does for our African partners.
“We’re doing a wonderful job at building relationships, because that’s where it begins — we have to build relationships to establish trust. That’s why this is so important: building trust through relationships so that we can move forward in the future,” Warthon said.
Conference members took a cultural tour of Venice and visited a traditional winery in the hills above Vicenza before adjourning.
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A U.S. Marine with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force provides security during maritime interoperability training in San Diego Bay Jan. 10, 2015. MIT prepares the MRF for their upcoming deployment by enhancing their combat skills and teaching them techniques for boarding vessels. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jamean Berry/Released)