Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Michael Simmons | The Green Buffaloes Dance Troupe performs in Lusaka for visiting Southern Accord 15...... read more read more
LUSAKA, Zambia - Take an evening walk around the living area where U.S. and Zambian Defense Force troops share tents and you can hear the pulsing beat of music, witness Americans and Zambians watching movies together, and find Soldiers from both countries sharing various items from a Meal, Ready-to-Eat.
At the Nanking Training Area outside Lusaka, U.S. and Zambian Soldiers live and train in integrated platoons. This training site, used for exercise Southern Accord 2015, mirrors that of a typical combat outpost you would see in a forward operating area.
Southern Accord 2015 is an annual joint, combined peacekeeping training exercise, held this year, in Lusaka, Zambia, Aug. 3-14. SA 15 brings together approximately 320 U.S. Army personnel with partner European militaries and counterparts from throughout southern Africa to promote working relations between participating forces.
The exercise strengthens U.S. working relationships with the Zambian Defense Force and Southern African Development Community as well as promoting cultural understanding among the participants.
“We see these exercises as an opportunity to train with our African partners, for our U.S. military personnel to get a better understanding of the culture and differences of different military on the continent," said U.S. Army Africa Deputy Commanding General Brig. Gen. Peter Corey.
U.S. and Zambian Defense Force Soldiers train, live and work closely together in an austere environment to enhance their tactical proficiency to support United Nations peacekeeping operations on the continent of Africa.
During their downtime you can see that Soldiers will be Soldiers, regardless of where they’re from, said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Shepherd of the 2nd Battalion, 13th Cavalry Regiment.
When they weren’t busy training, the U.S. and Zambian Soldiers swapped gear, raced one another, put on skits and joked with their counterparts, said Shepherd.
“The Zambian Soldiers have been very friendly and receptive,” said 2nd Lt. William Wilkins, 978th Military Police Battalion. “Even though we are from a world apart, we are really very similar.”
“Before this exercise, all we knew of Americans was from what we saw on television,” said Zambian Police Constable Kiapulo Chewe. “We were surprised that the American Soldiers were much nicer than expected.”
“I’m really enjoying this exercise and meeting Americans,” said Chewe. “I hope to travel to the U.S. someday.”
“This exercise has been amazing to have the opportunity to see how my American counterpart interacts with his Soldiers,” said Staff Sgt. Amon Chellah, chaplain assistant, 5th Battalion, Zambian Defense Force. “We are sharing and learning so much.”
One highlight of the exercise was a cultural day – a non-training day allowing U.S. Soldiers to experience Zambian culture.
Soldiers traveled to the Chaminuka Game Reserve to see elephants, large cats, antelope and zebra. Some wandered through the markets, restaurants and artisan tents of Lusaka. Others chose to visit Kalimba Reptile Park to observe giant Nile crocodiles and a variety of indigenous snakes, tortoises and other reptiles.
The Zambian Defense Force hosted a dinner for visiting Southern Accord 2015 participants that included performances by the Zambian National Service Dance Troupe and the Green Buffaloes. Contemporary music was performed by the Zambian Air Force Air Power Band.
“It was refreshing to learn that although our cultures may be different, we share many of the same everyday pressures and concerns,” said Capt. Jonathan Lorenz, 2nd Battalion, 13th Cavalry Regiment chaplain. “Even though we are a world away; we're still people.”
Culture is defined as the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group. Southern Accord 2015 not only enhances the military capabilities of the U.S. Army and it’s counterparts throughout southern Africa, it has also been an opportunity to promote cultural understanding between U.S. and Zambian Soldiers.
| Date Taken: | 08.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.12.2015 09:35 |
| Story ID: | 172893 |
| Location: | LUSAKA, ZM |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Southern Accord 2015 increase effectiveness and cultural awareness, by SFC Michael Simmons, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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