WEBVTT 00:00.419 --> 00:02.670 I'm Major Andrew her and I am a 00:02.680 --> 00:06.190 security Cooper desk officer at CFF . 00:07.349 --> 00:09.659 So as a security co-operation desk 00:09.670 --> 00:12.020 officer , my job is to serve as a 00:12.029 --> 00:14.739 liaison between the command and the US 00:14.750 --> 00:16.930 embassies in Africa and also to serve 00:16.940 --> 00:18.829 as a political military expert to 00:18.829 --> 00:21.649 provide information to CTF F senior 00:21.659 --> 00:24.270 leaders and staff sections . Part of 00:24.280 --> 00:26.169 how skid the security corporation 00:26.169 --> 00:29.149 directorate helps CTA F is by , by 00:29.159 --> 00:31.326 supporting senior leader engagements . 00:31.326 --> 00:33.729 So oftentimes we'll travel with the CG 00:33.740 --> 00:35.796 or DC GS as they engage with African 00:35.796 --> 00:38.040 leader leaders on the continent , we'll 00:38.049 --> 00:40.259 also prepare briefings to help them be 00:40.270 --> 00:42.381 better informed about things that are 00:42.381 --> 00:44.603 happening across Africa that may affect 00:44.603 --> 00:47.479 us embassies or us persons or army 00:47.490 --> 00:49.268 forces that are deployed on the 00:49.268 --> 00:51.101 continent . Southern Accord is a 00:51.101 --> 00:53.212 bilateral exercise between the United 00:53.212 --> 00:55.479 States and Botswana and it looks to 00:55.490 --> 00:58.430 train tactical skills to engage in 00:58.439 --> 01:01.869 academics and to help the Botswana 01:01.880 --> 01:03.602 forces in areas that they have 01:03.602 --> 01:06.559 identified as needing improvement 01:06.569 --> 01:08.402 during the recent deployments to 01:08.402 --> 01:11.470 Mozambique for CTF Southern Accord is 01:11.480 --> 01:13.313 an important exercise because it 01:13.313 --> 01:15.480 solidifies our relationship with a key 01:15.480 --> 01:18.099 regional partner with Botswana in this 01:18.110 --> 01:19.999 region . Botswana is probably our 01:19.999 --> 01:22.221 closest , our closest partner in one of 01:22.221 --> 01:24.699 our longest lasting relationships . And 01:24.709 --> 01:27.129 so getting to do this kind of bilateral 01:27.139 --> 01:29.339 exercise is just strengthening that 01:29.349 --> 01:32.339 already strong relationship and also 01:32.349 --> 01:34.460 exercising our ability to move in and 01:34.460 --> 01:36.516 out of the region . Because entering 01:36.516 --> 01:38.516 the theater from this far away is a 01:38.516 --> 01:41.129 complex task . I hope the Botswana's 01:41.139 --> 01:43.083 are able to improve their military 01:43.083 --> 01:46.339 readiness by exercising with us forces . 01:46.839 --> 01:48.839 And then also , I hope that this 01:48.849 --> 01:50.779 exercise builds the relationship 01:50.790 --> 01:53.199 between the US Army and the Botswana 01:53.209 --> 01:55.819 Defense Forces because we can hopefully 01:55.830 --> 01:58.830 sustain that going into exercises in 01:58.839 --> 02:01.550 the next few years . Another great 02:01.559 --> 02:03.226 thing that I've , I've got to 02:03.226 --> 02:05.170 experience both in Zambia with the 02:05.170 --> 02:07.392 African Land Forces Summit and here for 02:07.392 --> 02:09.669 exercise Southern Accord is to see the 02:09.679 --> 02:11.568 building of the state partnership 02:11.568 --> 02:13.679 program in this region , which is the 02:13.679 --> 02:15.790 North Carolina National Guard , which 02:15.790 --> 02:18.259 is partnered with Zambia , Malawi and 02:18.270 --> 02:20.389 Botswana now . And so you really have 02:20.399 --> 02:22.343 like a regional partnership that's 02:22.343 --> 02:24.343 developing and we're getting to see 02:24.343 --> 02:26.455 those North Carolina guys here in the 02:26.455 --> 02:28.566 exercise for Southern Accord . And we 02:28.566 --> 02:30.343 also saw them doing the signing 02:30.343 --> 02:32.510 ceremony up at , at Si Am Major Andrew 02:32.510 --> 02:34.550 her and we are C Africa .