The first joint U.S. Africa Command, Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC) and U.S. Embassy Environmental Security workshop was conducted in Windhoek, Namibia, September 27-30, 2011.

Key objectives of the workshop included information exchange and capacity building in the area of environmental considerations in military activities, and especially sustainable management of military training ranges, and environmental outreach for mission sustainability.

Environmental considerations in military operations, including AU/UN Peacekeeping Operations, comprise a broad spectrum of issues that require integration into the everyday lives of service members. There is an increasing appreciation for the interdependence between the military mission, the community, and the environment. The integration and application of environmental values into the military mission helps sustain readiness, protect quality of life, strengthen civil relations, and conserve valuable natural resources.

The Sustainable Range Program (SRP) is comprised of two programs; Integrated Training Area Program (ITAM) and the Range and Training Lands Program (RTLP). The mission of SRP is to maximize the capability, availability, and accessibility of ranges and training lands to support training, mobilization and deployments.

The U.S. team of technical experts included Art Kolodziejski , AFRICOM, Jeff Andrews and Nate Whelan, Joint Multinational Training Command, and Clare Mendelsohn, director of the AF Western Regional Environmental Office.