MONROVIA, Liberia – Located 700 miles south of Africa’s Sahara Desert and 435 miles north of the equator, Monrovia hardly ever dips under 70 levels Fahrenheit. It’s a sub-Saharan beachside paradise teeming with lush inexperienced fauna and palm bushes.
Ties to america are deep and unmistakable. Liberia was the primary African nation to declare independence, led by the American Colonization Society within the early to mid-1800s. Monrovia’s capital was named after James Monroe, founding father and fifth U.S. president. Even the Liberian nationwide flag resembles the American flag. The unique design was stitched collectively by previously enslaved Black individuals born in america.
“The connection to the U.S. is robust: Ten of the primary 12 Liberian presidents had been born in america,” stated Michael McCarthy, U.S. ambassador to Liberia.
In November 2009, the ties grew stronger because the Michigan Nationwide Guard (MING) started work with the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) underneath the State Partnership Program (SPP). The MING has additionally partnered with the Latvian Nationwide Armed Forces (LNAF) underneath this system since 1993. Within the newer partnership, the Michigan Guard assisted Liberia with its medical response to infectious illness, engineering assist and an alternate of navy greatest practices.
The SPP is exclusive in that it hyperlinks a state’s Nationwide Guard with the navy forces of a companion nation in a mutually helpful navy relationship. Michigan has hosted quite a lot of Latvian and Liberian service members, from generals to infantry Troopers, at key chief engagements and live-fire workouts throughout coaching occasions similar to Northern Strike, held yearly on the Nationwide All-Area Warfighting Heart (NADWC) in Northern Michigan.
The partnership was largely MING/Latvia and MING/Liberia till lately. Navy leaders from all three entities met final 12 months in Michigan to debate rising interoperability and mutual assist between Liberia and Latvia. To strengthen the connection, the three SPP companions performed a key chief engagement in Monrovia Feb. 4-13.
“It simply is smart,” stated U.S. Army Capt. Rob Mason, MING’s Safety Cooperation Division desk officer for U.S. European Command (EUCOM). “Latvia and MING have discovered a lot from one another over our practically 30-year partnership, and it is a nice alternative to realize new understanding via reciprocal exchanges with our AFL counterparts.”
U.S. Army Maj. Catalin Bugan, MING’s bilateral affairs officer to U.S. European Command (EUCOM) in Latvia, agreed.
“Latvia’s navy is well-respected in NATO, and so they’ve served aspect by aspect with MING Troopers in Afghanistan on a number of events. Moreover, the nation plans to host a big, multinational navy train in Europe within the coming months,” stated Bugan. “There’s no cause why Latvia and Liberia can’t share their distinctive expertise and experience with each other, particularly as Liberia stands up its multinational noncommissioned officer academy.”
Latvian and Liberian navy personnel continuously journey to different international locations, exchanging greatest practices with regional companions and NATO allies, together with america, to construct navy experience and conduct peacekeeping missions.
U.S. Army Col. Ravi Wagh, MING’s state operations officer (J3), attended the U.S. Army Warfare School with AFL navy management. He additionally instructions the Indiana Nationwide Guard’s 54th Safety Drive Help Brigade (SFAB), helping and advising international militaries. Wagh’s go to to Monrovia in February was simply the newest in a protracted line of SPP engagements relationship again to 2014.
Wagh has centered the previous a number of years on rising the readiness of the Latvian and Liberian militaries.
“Sharing of navy experience and sources between companion international locations isn’t a brand new idea,” stated Wagh. “Nonetheless, the truth that Michigan is enjoying a distinguished position in facilitating this alternate between Latvia and Liberia could be very thrilling. It demonstrates the distinctive capabilities and management of our state’s Nationwide Guard.”
The trilateral relationship has grown, resulting in this most up-to-date key chief engagement in Monrovia.
MING despatched touring contact groups to Liberia and Latvia quite a few occasions to strengthen relationships, provide medical and engineering assist, and develop the navy specialties of service members.
“Previously 12 months, we coordinated visits to Liberia from MING engineer items such because the 107th Engineer Battalion in addition to medical assist from the a hundred and tenth Wing, 127th Wing and the 126th Infantry Regiment,” stated Maj. Jason Everts, MING’s bilateral affairs officer to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Liberia. “The 107th assisted with numerous tasks to incorporate perimeter reinforcement and emplacement of concertina wire round key amenities.”
MING medical groups assisted in a number of areas, together with the grand opening of a navy hospital in Monrovia in September that serves navy personnel and civilians.
“Michigan has been an amazing companion for us,” stated AFL’s Maj. Joseph Kowo, commander of the hospital. “They helped us make this the very first navy hospital within the nation’s historical past.”
Kowo indicated the hospital had a decrease COVID dying charge than others all through the nation, primarily due to navy coaching and help from MING throughout a current Ebola outbreak.
“We established greatest practices from previous outbreaks and had been higher ready,” Kowo stated.
The AFL’s motto is “A Drive for Good.” Its success with the hospital says one thing in regards to the willpower of Liberia’s navy to make a constructive distinction within the nation.
“Studies from the United Nations and different companions all converse to the exhausting work and professionalism of the AFL,” added Wagh.
Moreover, the three companions share the purpose of strengthening their numbers whereas rising variety. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, MING’s adjutant basic, noticed this firsthand whereas touring the hospital.
“This can be a very progressive hospital and navy power,” stated Rogers. “Many females at the moment serve on workers on the hospital, together with Liberian-born Dr. Zoe Parwan, the chief medical officer for the ability. Moreover, feminine AFL Troopers or spouses of present servicemembers serve in distinguished roles starting from neonatal care to medical triage.”
“A logical outcome within the trilateral relationship is for LNAF and AFL to conduct joint workouts,” stated Rogers. “All three SPP companions are right here in Liberia to debate the following steps to make {that a} actuality. It’s really a momentous and mutually helpful endeavor.”
Liberian Maj. Gen. Prince C. Johnson III, AFL’s chief of workers, offered some perception throughout the engagement into how far the AFL has come.
“We went from the seventh-worst group within the nation throughout the civil conflict period to among the best, most well-respected militaries within the area,” stated Johnson. “MING performed a big position in creating our capabilities. We stay up for what comes subsequent.”
Johnson stated the AFL has gone from observing workouts like Northern Strike to coaching on the identical techniques and supporting different militaries within the area.
“We have now expanded into three different companion international locations. We even have an operational presence in Mali, our northern neighbor.” Johnson stated.
Additionally in attendance on the February key chief engagement was LNAF Brig. Gen. Imants Ziedins, deputy chief of protection for Latvia. He shared how his forces additionally function in Mali, along with Liberia and a number of different nations.
“We stay up for additional increasing this partnership,” Ziedins stated. “We may all profit from coaching in a number of operational environments.”
