African Partnership Flight Mauritania begins

by Master Sgt. Brian M. Boisvert
AFAFRICOM Mauritania

8/31/2014 - ATAR, Mauritania -- More than 60 military members from the U.S. Air Force and six African nations including Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and Tunisia gathered here for the start of African Partnership Flight Mauritania, Aug. 31, 2014.

APF is the premier classroom training event that is designed to build aviation capacity, enhance regional cooperation, and increase U.S. and African interoperability.

This is the third APF this year, which will be hosted by Airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Force Africa as well as Air Mobility Command. U.S. Airmen will spend this week teaching students from six African nations about Intelligence, Surveillance and

Reconnaissance, in addition to, ground and flight safety, and command operations.
More than 50 African airmen stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a military formation during the opening ceremony where speeches about the importance of this event and the value of the training were presented by several commanders.

During the opening ceremony, U.S. Air Force Maj. Hartmut Casson, APF Mauritania mission commander said, "It is our shared value of duty and service that binds us together and it is our hope that the lessons and friendships we make today will endure for years to come."

Following three previous successful APF events, this is the first APF to be co-hosted by the U.S. Air Force and the Mauritanian government.

"The U.S. has helped Africa in all domains and organizing of military training to meet all challenges and potential dangers," Lt. Col. Zeine Sweidat, advisor of the Mauritania Air Force, representing and speaking on behalf Col. Mohammad Lehreitani, Mauritania Air Force chief in command said. "The U.S. has remained a strategic partner and a reliable ally to Africa in its best and worst moments."

"This event creates a lasting sustainable partnership that enables us to fight against terrorism now and in the future," said Casson.