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African Partnership Flight Senegal kicks off

Senegalese Brig. Gen. Joseph Diop, Senegal air force Chief of Staff, speaks during the opening ceremony of African Partnership Flight Senegal at Captain Andalla Cissé Air Base, Senegal, March 19, 2018. The purpose of APF Senegal is to conduct multilateral, military-to-military engagements and security assistance with African air forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eli Chevalier)

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Photo by: Airman 1st Class Elijah Chevalier 

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African Partnership Flight Senegal kicks off

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Dieter Bareihs, U.S. Air Forces in Africa director of plans, programs and analyses, speaks during the opening ceremony of African Partnership Flight Senegal at Captain Andalla Cissé Air Base, Senegal, March 19, 2018. The APF program is U.S. Air Forces in Africa’s premier security cooperation program with African partner nations to improve professional military aviation knowledge and skills. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eli Chevalier)

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Photo by: Airman 1st Class Elijah Chevalier 

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African Partnership Flight Senegal kicks off

Participants of African Partnership Flight Senegal pose for a photo after the opening ceremony of APF at Captain Andalla Cissé Air Base, Senegal, March 19, 2018. Ten nations are participating in this event, which will focus on casualty evacuation, aeromedical evacuation, as well as air and ground safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eli Chevalier)

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Photo by: Airman 1st Class Elijah Chevalier 

CAPTAIN ANDALLA CISSÉ AIR BASE, Senegal -- African Partnership Flight Senegal kicked off after an opening ceremony at Captain Andalla Cissé Air Base, Senegal, March 19.

“It is the goal of African Partnership Flight to build aviation capacity, to enhance regional cooperation and to increase interoperability in the region,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Dieter Bareihs, U.S. Air Forces in Africa director of plans, programs and analyses. “Together, we can achieve those goals. Together, we learn and we can become stronger.”

Over the course of the week-long event, approximately 40 U.S. Airmen and one West Virginia Air National Guard C-130H Hercules are set to conduct multilateral, military-to-military engagements focusing on casualty evacuation, aeromedical evacuation, as well as air and ground safety with partner African air forces from nine countries.

“APF is the U.S. Air Force’s premier event where we aim to strengthen relationships with our African air force partners by sharing best practices while discussing tactics, techniques and procedures for enhancing regional and continental cooperation,” said Maj. Natosha Reed, APF mission commander.

This is the 12th APF held since the program began in 2012 and the second co-hosted by Senegal.

“We are very proud to host this kind of event, it is a sign of confidence for Senegal’s air force,” said Senegal Brig. Gen. Joseph Diop, Senegal air force chief of staff.

APF Senegal is slated to take place March 19-23.