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Members of the North Carolina National Guard and Botswana Defence Force personnel engaged students at Gaborone Technical College as part of the broader North Carolina-Botswana State Partnership Program, emphasizing how personal health, informed decisions, and individual readiness can influence education, employment, relationships, and the ability to achieve long-term goals on August 13, 2026, in Gaborone, Botswana. Southern Accord 2026 is U.S. Africa Command’s primary exercise in Southern Africa, designed to strengthen security capabilities and readiness of the U.S., African nations, and global allies.
The North Carolina National Guard and Botswana Defence Force have a history of legal cooperation dating back to at least 2012. In previous years, NCNG Judge Advocate General Corps personnel and BDF JAG officers conducted bilateral legal exchanges and prepared a mock court-martial exercise for BDF Staff College students.
“I think it’s important for students to think about how the decisions they make today can affect their options and opportunities in the future,” said U.S. Army Maj. Katie Reynolds, Judge Advocate. “Students may be certain about their career course and path in life now, but that can, and often does, change. By maintaining a clean legal record, students can preserve as many opportunities as possible.”
Medical cooperation between North Carolina and Botswana goes back at least to 2010. More recently, the medical civic-action program during Southern Accord 2024 reached roughly 300 patients per day in and around Shoshong, with U.S. personnel supporting planning and BDF leading the medical effort.
“Physical fitness and mental health are a priority for service members, of course, but they should be a priority for civilians as well,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Colin MacIntosh, Medical Support for the exercise. “Maintaining physical fitness helps to prevent and manage chronic diseases, like coronary artery disease that may lead to a heart attack. Physical and mental fitness go hand in hand as well.”
The engagement reflects the State Partnership Program's broader focus on building relationships beyond military-to-military cooperation. North Carolina has maintained its partnership with Botswana since 2008, with engagements extending into education, health, emergency response, and other areas of civil-military cooperation.
“As we leave this gathering today, remember that collaboration is more than simply working together. It is about respecting different perspectives, sharing responsibilities, helping one another overcome challenges, and pursuing common goals for the benefit of everyone. A nation that collaborates is a nation that prospers,” said Botswana Defence Force Lt. Col. Lefoko J Bojosi, civic military relations. “A nation that collaborates is a nation that prospers. A community that collaborates becomes safe and more united. A family that collaborates becomes stronger. Young people who embrace collaboration become leaders capable of transforming society.”
| Date Taken: | 08.12.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.15.2026 09:26 |
| Story ID: | 572487 |
| Location: | GABORONE, BW |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NCNG, BDF engage Gaborone Technical College students on Health and Readiness, by 2LT Bridget Pittman-Blackwell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
