VICENZA, Italy – Erica J. Barks-Ruggles, U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Rwanda, toured U.S. Army training facilities in Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels, Germany Oct. 21-22 to explore opportunities for further security cooperation between the U.S. and Rwandan Defence Forces.
The Joint Multinational Training Command, based in Grafenwoehr is the U.S. Army’s largest overseas training command, offering combat maneuver and simulation centers, live-fire ranges as well as expeditionary capabilities to train U.S., NATO and partner-nation units and leader.
Brig. Gen. Kenneth H. Moore, U.S. Army Africa deputy commanding general, accompanied Barks-Ruggles on her tour of the facilities. USARAF routinely partners with Rwandan forces as part of the annual Accord series of exercises and several direct security-cooperation events annually.
“She is visiting because she is interested in increasing and improving the capabilities of the RDF,” said Moore.
“Which is one of the largest troop contributing countries to United Nations peacekeeping missions.”
Moore said the RDF currently gets most of its training from the Africa Contingency Operations Training & Assistance, which is a state department program that enhances the capacities of African partner nations to participate in worldwide multinational peace operations.
“She is really interested in having the RDF take the next step and be able to train themselves,” said Moore.
During the two-day visit, Barks-Ruggles received briefs and toured facilities at both JMTC in Grafenwoehr and the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels.
Moore said building partner capacity is very much a priority in USARAF’s African Horizons strategy, a holistic approach to synchronizing Army activities to develop and deepen partnerships over time and across echelons to achieve strategic level objectives.
“We would like to see them have the institutions to train themselves in specialty areas, such as logistics and medical, as well as be able to train noncommissioned officers,” said Moore.
An ocean closer to Africa, USARAF works regularly with JMTC and U.S. Army Europe to improve readiness and effectiveness of missions conducted on the continent of Africa.
Moore said one example of the capabilities was the JMTC - 7th Noncommissioned Officers Academy. The academy has trained multiple African partner-nation leaders.
“I hope this tour informed her of the capabilities that our military forces can provide,” said Moore. “I also hope it helps her identify specifics that meet her strategy and goals that she has set forth for her country.”
According to Moore, the African Horizons strategy also focuses on leveraging the capabilities of others.
Moore said unlike in Europe, which has approximately 30,000 assigned U.S. Soldiers, USARAF has no assigned forces.
“We have to leverage our partners to fulfill strategic objectives and meet the objectives set forth by [U.S. Army Africa Command],” Moore said.
Moore said those partners routinely include: Regionally Allocated Forces, Army Reserve, State Partnership Program of the Army National Guard, sister component capabilities and the capabilities that reside in Europe, such as JMTC, 21st Theater Sustainment Command and 7th Civil Support Command.
“These partner capabilities are what help USARAF achieve the Army’s Total Force concept,” said Moore.