Members of a U.S. Army Africa team recently shared their knowledge of logistics with a group of officers from the Botswana Defense Force (BDF), according to a news release April 10, 2009.

The program, at a BDF camp in Gaborone, Botswana, was held to familiarize 18 BDF officers with U.S. Army movement control procedures, said Sergeant 1st Class Marina Harris, a senior movement NCO in the U.S. Army Africa logistics section.

"We're advising them on how we handle our movements. We also asked them how they do things, so we can learn from them," Harris said. "It's a two-way street."

While other Army jobs might be more glamorous, few are as important as logistics, said Harris, who has spent the past 10 years in uniform, serving in roles that ranged from Army watercraft operator to drill sergeant.

Harris joined Chief Warrant Officer 2 Terry Throm, a U.S. Army Africa logistics expert, for the weeklong partnership program.

"We briefed them on the roles of our movement control officers and teams. There were discussions on how U.S. Army transportation officers work within all levels of command," Thom said. "We talked about how movement control works for us. Some things we went over were ground convoys, airfield operations, and monitoring equipment while in transit."

The BDF does not currently employ movement control teams or battalions. However, BDF officers discussed establishing teams within their units, which could create a future mentorship role for U.S. Army Africa logisticians.

"They see how movement control is vital," Throm said. "They may be able to include these in their military as the BDF grows. We can help them through future partnership programs."