These joint mission sets (teams typically include other Sister Services) are crucial to the US Security Cooperation Effort. We are fortunate that our active duty counterparts at AFRICOM/USARAF have come to rely on the USAR Soldier’s initiative, tangible skills and professionalism. We can be a critical enabler as AFRICOM/USARAF leadership continues to meet objectives in this region of the world.
During FY 2011, 1st Brigade, 95th Training Division (IET) Senior NCOs, along with Marine Forces Africa (MARFORAF) Soldiers, recently completed three M2M events with the new Mozambique NCO Leadership Academy in Boane, Mozambique. All three events were conducted between March and September 2011.
Sgt. Maj. Michael L. Granado and Sgt. 1st Class Derek M. Macleod, 1st Brigade, 95th Training Division (IET) senior leaders recently returned from their third consecutive trip to the continent of Africa. They are working with the Forcas Armadas de Defensa de Mozambique (FADM) and their new Non-Commissioned Officers Academy. The FADM is in their second session of training NCOs at their NCO academy (which is currently instructed by officers) with similar Professional Military Education (PME) requirements as the United States Military. The FADM has welcomed the opportunity to see how US Armed Forces NCOs conduct basic business.
The primary objective of the M2M missions is to foster a professional relationship and partnership, along with demonstrating how US Armed Forces NCOs conduct NCO PME for its Soldiers. The familiarization sessions are based on a combination of current Warrior Leaders and Advanced Leadership programming. The uniqueness of these sessions and the byproduct familiarization agenda is a collaborative effort between the leadership of the FADM NCOA and the USAR leadership of the 108th Training Command (IET), in particular the 95th Training Division (IET).
This journey began in July 2010 when members of the 108th Training Command (IET) and 95th Training Division (IET) Staff participated in a USARAF USAR Force Providers Conference to kick off the effort. 1st Brigade Operations Sergeant Major Michael Granado saw the global benefit of these types of missions and was quick to see the empowerment of the NCO amongst partner nations.
“Any military that is interested in the particulars of basic leadership tenets and critical thinking for those Soldiers and junior NCOs working on the ground deserve our attention; especially since our world is getting smaller when it comes to joint operations and partnerships in the fight against terrorism around the world,” said Granado.
The potential for these mission sets to grow is here now. This is also a way to keep our USAR senior leadership in the joint operational environment mindset as the requirements increase.
Macleod stated the mission is very different from our traditional basic training operations and he has continued to volunteer for these select missions to further his operational experience and global leadership skill set. M2M mission leaders have to be adaptable, have the ability to think critically, be self sufficient, and able to make decisions without major resources all while adjusting to the current operational environment which can change at a moment’s notice.
Working with a host nation military is nothing new to the USAR, but when you are this close and personal to a set of NCOs that are being groomed to lead their own NCO academy for the first time, it makes being an NCO that much more special. Both Granado and Macleod are eager to share common experiences and best practices with the FADM NCOs.
“They were professional, humble and sincere, traits admired by any Soldier, whether US or Foreign in delegation. They not only presented “A Way” but ways that could be selected and incorporated within the FADM to better enhance the FADM force structure, if chosen. I like to think that they provided “Options” which leads to benefits,” said USARAF Southern Africa Region Desk Officer/Strategy Specialist Cindi Unger.