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htrnews.com
An Army brigade will deploy to Africa next year in a pilot program that rotates brigades to regions around the globe, the Army said.
Roughly 3,000 soldiers and likely more are expected to serve tours across the continent in 2013, training foreign militaries and aiding locals.
As part of a regionally aligned force concept, soldiers will live and work among Africans in safe communities approved by the U.S. government, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, head of U.S. Army Africa, said late last month.
Tours could last a few weeks or months and include multiple missions at different locations, he said. The Army has not announced which brigade would deploy or where the soldiers would come from.
As the war in Afghanistan winds down, the new program affords units more time to learn regional cultures and train for specific missions. Africa has emerged as a greater priority for the U.S. government because terrorist groups there have become an increasing threat.
Though U.S. soldiers have operated in Africa for decades, including more than 1,200 soldiers now stationed at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, the region in many ways remains the Armys last frontier.
As far as our mission goes, its uncharted territory, Hogg said from his headquarters in Vicenza, Italy. But, Im not there to win their wars or settle their differences.
Instead, with more soldiers, U.S. Army Africa will continue to strengthen ties with regional militaries and governments by teaching military tactics, medicine and logistics, as well as combating famine, disease and terrorism. The Army now allows conventional soldiers to enter only 46 of the 54 African countries because of security risks.
The State Department and U.S. special operations commands handle activities in the other countries.
Active-duty soldiers, guardsmen and reservists have helped quell regional violence, assist sick and injured Africans and feed the famished in East Africa. Each week, U.S. Army Africa operations personally help 300 to 400 locals, Hogg said.
It gets out the indirect approach (toward) some of these violent, extremist organizations that will talk bad about the Americans and the U.S, he said. It leaves behind a lasting effect over time.
An Army brigade will deploy to Africa next year in a pilot program that rotates brigades to regions around the globe, the Army said.
Roughly 3,000 soldiers and likely more are expected to serve tours across the continent in 2013, training foreign militaries and aiding locals.
As part of a regionally aligned force concept, soldiers will live and work among Africans in safe communities approved by the U.S. government, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, head of U.S. Army Africa, said late last month.
Tours could last a few weeks or months and include multiple missions at different locations, he said. The Army has not announced which brigade would deploy or where the soldiers would come from.
As the war in Afghanistan winds down, the new program affords units more time to learn regional cultures and train for specific missions. Africa has emerged as a greater priority for the U.S. government because terrorist groups there have become an increasing threat.
Though U.S. soldiers have operated in Africa for decades, including more than 1,200 soldiers now stationed at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, the region in many ways remains the Armys last frontier.
As far as our mission goes, its uncharted territory, Hogg said from his headquarters in Vicenza, Italy. But, Im not there to win their wars or settle their differences.
Instead, with more soldiers, U.S. Army Africa will continue to strengthen ties with regional militaries and governments by teaching military tactics, medicine and logistics, as well as combating famine, disease and terrorism. The Army now allows conventional soldiers to enter only 46 of the 54 African countries because of security risks.
The State Department and U.S. special operations commands handle activities in the other countries.
Active-duty soldiers, guardsmen and reservists have helped quell regional violence, assist sick and injured Africans and feed the famished in East Africa. Each week, U.S. Army Africa operations personally help 300 to 400 locals, Hogg said.
It gets out the indirect approach (toward) some of these violent, extremist organizations that will talk bad about the Americans and the U.S, he said. It leaves behind a lasting effect over time.
