AFRICOM’s Senior Enlisted Leader Conference wraps up in Malawi



By U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs United States Africa Command Stuttgart, Germany Sep 13, 2024
View Gallery
fallback
Gallery contains 1 image

More than 50 senior enlisted leaders from the U.S. and 30 African countries convened in Lilongwe, Malawi Sept. 9-13 for the 6th annual Africa Senior Enlisted Leader Conference, held for only the second time on the continent.

“This conference, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, marks a historic milestone not only for the Malawi Defence Force and Malawi, but also all the esteemed senior enlisted leaders from across our great continent,” said Gen. Dr. Paul V. Phiri, Commander, Malawi Defence Force.

Hosted by the Malawi Defence Forces and U.S. Africa Command, the conference provides a forum for senior noncommissioned officers to share best practices, discuss challenges, and strengthen partnerships. Through briefings and breakout sessions, senior NCOs will hear how others militaries are developing their NCO corps, and have the opportunity to work together on ways they might improve current programs.

“We are deeply honored that you have chosen our nation—the Warm Heart of Africa, to be the canvas upon which this event unfolds,” Phiri said. “As we commence our discussions this morning let us use this opportunity to exchange insights, share best practices, and develop strategies that will enhance our collective security efforts. It is my sincere hope that we recognize the importance of open and constructive dialogue as a means to strengthen our partnerships, build trust, and forge enduring bonds of friendship.”

Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Troy E. Black also attended the conference and stressed the importance of developing noncommissioned officers.

"The more we educate our enlisted force," Black said, "the better we can unencumber the officer force to get after the strategic missions."

Participating countries heard from U.S., NATO and partners about new developments in service NCO academies, and progress made in strengthening programs in each other’s countries. Breakout sessions will allow participants to have more in-depth discussions on the topics brought up in plenary.

In an effort to support countries on its southern flank, NATO established agreements with Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, and is looking to support African countries in developing their NCO corps as well.

Sgt. Maj. Ludek Kolesa, NATO Defence Education Enhancement Programme Non-Commissioned Officer Coordinator, shared information during the conference about how the program can help support African partner nations’ efforts in developing their NCO corps. 

The DEEP program established an NCO working group to help develop professional military education programs at partners’ requests. The program also helps identify areas that specifically need development and modernization to support their country’s priorities. NATO also offers NCO Corps Professional Development as a vector for transformation of respective countries' military organizations in order to emphasize the importance of having a professional NCO Corps.

Through the theme of, “The Competent, Capable and Credible NCO,” this year’s senior enlisted conference provides the opportunity to bring the leaders of partner militaries together to expand and deepen relationships, and support partner senior NCOs in developing programs to build leadership, proficiency and resiliency among their NCO corps.

"Each of us here represents our nation's Profession of Arms," Sgt. Maj. Michael Woods, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Africa Command said. 

"This conference is about bringing Senior Non-Commissioned Officers together to discuss our shared interests and gain unique insight from each other. We will have an open dialogue, where every perspective is considered, and every opinion is welcomed."

Last year's event was held in Lusaka, Zambia.


###

More in Partnerships
Winning the Peace through Religious Collaboration
U.S. chaplain delegation led by U.S. Africa Command Chaplain Colonel Karen Meeker conducted collaborative meetings to bring stability through faith and new avenues of collaboration in support of the warfighter while in Cairo, Egypt, March 17, 2025.
Read more
General Langley Engages with Leaders in Côte d’Ivoire
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, traveled to Côte d’Ivoire, April 24-25, to meet with Ivorian leaders and deliver remarks at the opening ceremony of Flintlock 25, the command's annual combined special operations exercise.
Read more
Army lawyers provide training on rules for armed conflict at exercise Justified Accord
NAIROBI, Kenya – Among the flurry of tactical live fires and squad movement drills, air ground integration and even the humanitarian initiatives at exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25), lies the one thing those who serve in any armed force must follow: The Law. The Law of Armed Conflict, or LOAC, is a key aspect of training for any military. JA25’s academics course aimed at learning from the international legal lessons of previous wars in an effort to reduce the amount of human suffering in future conflicts. “The soldier’s rules are a broad set of rules that we have pulled from the large breadth of international law,” said U.S. Army Maj. Tim Olliges, an operational law attorney assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), the lead U.S. Army command and planner of JA25. “The LOAC is extensive and can be complex, so we pull out the ten most critical concepts that every soldier, right down to the private, should know before they go into combat.”
Read more
More in Partnerships
Winning the Peace through Religious Collaboration
U.S. chaplain delegation led by U.S. Africa Command Chaplain Colonel Karen Meeker conducted collaborative meetings to bring stability through faith and new avenues of collaboration in support of the warfighter while in Cairo, Egypt, March 17, 2025.
Read more
General Langley Engages with Leaders in Côte d’Ivoire
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, traveled to Côte d’Ivoire, April 24-25, to meet with Ivorian leaders and deliver remarks at the opening ceremony of Flintlock 25, the command's annual combined special operations exercise.
Read more
Army lawyers provide training on rules for armed conflict at exercise Justified Accord
NAIROBI, Kenya – Among the flurry of tactical live fires and squad movement drills, air ground integration and even the humanitarian initiatives at exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25), lies the one thing those who serve in any armed force must follow: The Law. The Law of Armed Conflict, or LOAC, is a key aspect of training for any military. JA25’s academics course aimed at learning from the international legal lessons of previous wars in an effort to reduce the amount of human suffering in future conflicts. “The soldier’s rules are a broad set of rules that we have pulled from the large breadth of international law,” said U.S. Army Maj. Tim Olliges, an operational law attorney assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), the lead U.S. Army command and planner of JA25. “The LOAC is extensive and can be complex, so we pull out the ten most critical concepts that every soldier, right down to the private, should know before they go into combat.”
Read more
More in Partnerships
Winning the Peace through Religious Collaboration
U.S. chaplain delegation led by U.S. Africa Command Chaplain Colonel Karen Meeker conducted collaborative meetings to bring stability through faith and new avenues of collaboration in support of the warfighter while in Cairo, Egypt, March 17, 2025.
Read more
General Langley Engages with Leaders in Côte d’Ivoire
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, traveled to Côte d’Ivoire, April 24-25, to meet with Ivorian leaders and deliver remarks at the opening ceremony of Flintlock 25, the command's annual combined special operations exercise.
Read more
Army lawyers provide training on rules for armed conflict at exercise Justified Accord
NAIROBI, Kenya – Among the flurry of tactical live fires and squad movement drills, air ground integration and even the humanitarian initiatives at exercise Justified Accord 2025 (JA25), lies the one thing those who serve in any armed force must follow: The Law. The Law of Armed Conflict, or LOAC, is a key aspect of training for any military. JA25’s academics course aimed at learning from the international legal lessons of previous wars in an effort to reduce the amount of human suffering in future conflicts. “The soldier’s rules are a broad set of rules that we have pulled from the large breadth of international law,” said U.S. Army Maj. Tim Olliges, an operational law attorney assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), the lead U.S. Army command and planner of JA25. “The LOAC is extensive and can be complex, so we pull out the ten most critical concepts that every soldier, right down to the private, should know before they go into combat.”
Read more