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

by Master Sgt. Brian M. Boisvert
AFAFRICOM Mauritania

9/2/2014 - 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.