An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Aug. 7, 2012

Rwanda: Texas National Guard members, Rwandan Defense Force exchange best practices

By Army Staff Sgt. Malcolm McClendon Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

GAKO, Rwanda - At various military-to-military exchanges hosted by the Rwandan Defense Force Texas Army National Guard, and Rwandan soldiers and policemen shared their experiences and knowledge on basic soldier skills and staff officer duties and responsibilities.

During one of these exchanges, U.S. Army Maj. Timothy Amerson, 1st Lt. Charles Cummings, and Staff Sgt. Corey Roder, Task Force Raptor, 3rd Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment, participated in several exercises to develop best practice exchange. Amerson in particular participated in a command post exercise with fellow staff officers from the RDF, held June 11 to 22. The exercise presented scenarios staff officers might have to deal with in a combat environment.

Amerson, operations officer for Headquarters Troop, 3-124th CAV, said he appreciated the opportunity to witness how a senior RDF officer would handle opposition forces.

"In one of the scenarios, I was a rebel blocking the road and not letting the humanitarian assistance convoy he was in charge of get through," he said. "Because of his experience, he came up to me and tried to establish a relationship, rather than use force to accomplish his mission."

RDF Warrant Officer 1 Nikonsanzwe J. Boscoe, a nurse at the Gako Military Academy, had the opportunity to share his experience at a combat lifesaver seminar held, June 11 to 15.

He said the opportunity to exchange best practices on the subject was a valuable experience to all.

"We exchanged best practices on the basics of combat casualty care," Boscoe said. "I myself learned a lot from the tactics U.S. soldiers use to administer first aid in combat. It was good to meet with medical professionals like myself and exchange ideas. We all had something to share and learn."

At a peace support operations soldiers skills field training event held, June 18 to July 13, Cummings and Roder learned more from the RDF about jungle warfare and conversely had the opportunity to share their knowledge on fighting in desert environments.

Cummings said he was grateful for the opportunity.

"Being able to work with them and share our best tactics, techniques and procedures [provided great insight] into each other's best practices," Cummings said. "Because of the different types of combat environments our militaries have experience in, we were able to share, discuss and grow from our combined knowledge."

The soldiers from 3-124th CAV conduct military-to-military exchanges like these throughout East Africa in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, whose mission is to strengthen partner nation military capacity in East Africa.

 

 

Related Articles
New York Army National Guard Sgt. Carlos Garcia, left, and Spc. Samantha Bruce, perform military funeral honors at the burial of Wilfred “Spike” Mailloux, a 100-year old New York National Guard veteran of the World War II Battle of Saipan, at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Waterford, New York, May 7, 2024. Mailloux survived the war’s largest Japanese banzai attack, which killed 502 Soldiers in the New York National Guard’s 105th Infantry Regiment on July 7, 1944.
New York Guard Says Farewell to 100-year-old Guard Veteran
By Petty Officer 1st Class Stephanie Butler and Eric Durr, | May 16, 2024
WATERFORD, N.Y. - A 100-year-old New York National Guard World War II veteran who survived the bloody Battle of Saipan was honored by a New York Army National Guard Honor Guard team as he was laid to rest May 7. Cpl. Wilfred...

A C-130 Hercules assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, part of the New York Air National Guard, flies over East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Operator (SEALs), Norwegian Naval Special Operations Commandos and the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767) during an integration exercise designed to bolster skills in an Arctic environment March 9, 2024, as part of Arctic Edge 24.
New York Air Guard Transports Special Operations Forces
By Tech. Sgt. Madison Scaringe, | May 15, 2024
STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. - Forty-six Airmen from the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing participated in Arctic Edge 24, a U.S. Northern Command-led homeland defense exercise demonstrating the...

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing unload pallets of cargo under blizzard conditions during an engine-running offload from a Kentucky C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in Deadhorse, Alaska, April 26, 2024. The cargo consists of construction materials to build homes for civilians as part of Innovative Readiness Training, a Defense Department program that provides service members with real-world deployment experience while offering lasting benefits to civilian populations.
Kentucky Guard Airlifts Materials for Arctic Circle Housing
By Airman 1st Class Annaliese Billings, | May 15, 2024
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - More than 20 Kentucky Air National Guard Airmen deployed to Alaska in April to airlift 15 tons of homebuilding materials to the North Slope of Alaska to support needy communities.Maj...