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A delegation of Botswanan forces engaged in a familiarization event at 17th Air Force from Sept. 21 to 24.
The Botswanans, like several groups who have made trips to Ramstein Air Base from the African continent recently, were looking to glean expertise and build their military capacity.
The Botswana Defense Force contingent focused on the area of enlisted development, said Master Sgt. Deborah Madden, of the 17th Air Force Personnel Directorate, who orchestrated their itinerary here.
She and other members of the personnel directorate have been working with the BDF since July 2008, when Air Forces Africa personnelists first traveled to Botswana for a theater security cooperation event.
“The purpose of their visit was continuing the engagement on enlisted professional development,” Sergeant Madden said. “We can talk about the activities that build the professionalism of our enlisted corps, but we wanted them to be able to see this first hand. During their visit, they saw enlisted professional development at every level.”
Members of the delegation, from the BDF’s Air Arm, visited the Ramstein Airman Leadership School and Kisling NCO Academy at Vogelweh and received orientations on the Air Force’s Senior NCO Academy and Chief’s Leadership Course. They also were treated to a host of development-related briefings by the personnel directorate.
Senior Master Sgt. J. Lee Phillips, director of education at the Kisling NCO Academy, said he found the visit enlightening and inspirational.
“I hope that they were able to get everything they needed to persuade their leaders on the importance of getting their NCOs the type of training that our predecessors fought so hard for us to obtain today,” Sergeant Phillips said.
In addition to recognizing the historical significance of Botswana’s strides toward development of it’s enlisted servicemmbers, Sergeant Phillips said he was awed by the delegation and their status as pioneers in the BDF.
One member of the delegation, 2nd Lt. Lesedi Kelesitse, is not only a pioneer for her role in enlisted development, but is among the first year group of women permitted to join the BDF in 2008.
“Their experience opened my eyes to the importance of our role as we work with African defense forces,” Sergeant Phillips said. “I realized that I was engaging with leaders that would be recognized in history much like our leaders of the past. Lieutenant Kelesitse is very similar to Esther Blake – she was one of the first 30 female airmen in the Botswana Defense Air Arm – incredible!
“We showed them the Airmen’s Creed video and as I watched it again, I saw it through their eyes. It was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. That creed represents every Airman from the past and future. It is the bond that holds us all together.”
Members of the delegation said they were just as impressed with the depth and synchronicity of enlisted development in the Air Force.
Maj. Jenamiso Mountain, director of personnel and training for the BDF’s Air Arm, said the cohesive orchestration of training among the different tiers of PME is something he wants to develop in the BDF.
“I have learned that there is a smooth transition in development from the Airmen to the chiefs,” Major Mountain said. “We don’t have this back home. So when I get back home, I will make a request through the U.S. Embassy, so that they might consider sending instructors TDY, so we can develop our own instructors. Then we can begin to have training in line with what you have here.”
Major Mountain said the uniformity in the curricula across Air Force institutions is key to the success of PME.
“Where there are two classes running at Airmen Leadership School, they will run on the same topic in the same minute and hour, with the same standards and expectations. By the end of the day, it encourages Airmen to speak the same language, and it will standardize performance as well,” the major said.
Warrant Officer II Bernard Bimbo, also connected to training and development for the Air Arm, said the techniques and strategies could be implemented across the BDF.
“I would like to see the development of the entire enlisted corps of the BDF, not just in the Air Arm,” Mr. Bimbo said, also taking time to thank the hosts and organizers of the visit. “I would like to thank the Office of Defense Cooperation and to thank 17th Air Force for everything they have done to educate us, to work with us and be there throughout the week.”
As Mr. Bimbo and his delegation begin planning to implement ideas garnered from their visit to Ramstein and Vogelweh, members of Air Forces Africa will also look ahead for more cooperative events with their Botswanan partners.
