Namibian enlisted leaders toured major military training facilities in Germany on February 23, 2009, so see how U.S. soldiers and their international partners train.

The members of the Namibia Defence Force toured Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC) in Grafenwoehr in the southern German state of Bavaria.

Namibian Forces Sergeant Major David Angolo, Regimental Sergeant Major Albert Siyaya and Formation Sergeant Major Leonard Iyambo, alongside U.S. Africa Command Sergeant Major Mark Ripka and Namibia Defense Attache Lieutenant Colonel Christian Ramthun toured JMTC to gather ideas for their emerging education program for noncommissioned officers.

"This has been a very fruitful trip," said Angolo "We had the opportunity to establish a critical link with the United States, and we look forward to learning from and working with them as we continue to establish our own noncommissioned officer education program in the years to come."

Namibia gained its independence in 1990. The Namibia Defence Force (NDF) is comprised of two groups that had fought each other for the previous 23 years: the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and South West African Territorial Force (SWATF). Namibia contributed 900 troops to UN peacekeeping efforts in Liberia and has offered to volunteer troops to support peacekeeping operations in Darfur.

The Namibian delegation began the two-day visit with a tour of the ranges and various training aids available at JMTC. The first stop on the tour was at the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST 2000). The EST 2000 is a computerized marksmanship range which allows units to train in a simulated live-fire environment. In addition to being able to train on all varieties of weapons, soldiers can train in a series of marksmanship and collective tasks as well as shoot and don’t shoot scenarios. The delegation participated in the simulations and learned how the EST would help possibly train their troops in the future.

The next stop on the visit was the Medical Simulation Training Center (MSTC). Located within the Grafenwoehr Training Area (GTA), the MSTC is a computerized system that enables troops to learn critical life-saving procedures within a simulated combat environment. Soldiers learn to triage casualties and administer treatment on electronic dummies that record their every action.

From the MTSC, the group went to GTA's range 309, which has a new state-of-the-art facility that allows trainers to observe and record a unit's performance throughout the compound, which is then reviewed and critiqued.

Day two was spent at the Noncommissioned Officers Academy. The group received a detailed briefing on how the U.S. and its NATO counterparts train their Noncommissioned Officer corps. The delegation was provided detailed information on the Warrior Leader's Course for newly promoted sergeants. Additionally, the delegates were provided with information and techniques that will help them establish their own training program.