The commander of U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, has furthered the command’s desire to deepen its partnerships and defense relations by empowering today’s leaders during a discussion with students attending Marine Corps University and the U.S. International Military Education and Training program recently in Quantico, Virginia.
Students, representing numerous allied and interagency partners, and sister services from the U.S. Department of Defense met with Langley to garner his insight on how they can leverage their current training to assist in strengthening relationships with our African partners while supporting efforts to build partner nation capabilities.
“Advancing relationships with our African partners is an effort that requires unification from a three-dimensional approach,” Langley stated. “Your participation in your respective program is a testament of how two dimensions of this dynamic approach – Diplomacy and Defense – marry together to strengthen our defense institutions through shared values.”
AFRICOM is a U.S. Combatant Command, saddled with the multilayered primary mission, opportunities to work with and educate rising leaders in allied defense organizations, builds a bridge to foster interagency efforts that later assists in negating the drivers of conflict and extremism found throughout Africa’s regions.
“Having our African partners at the center and forefront of what we do solidifies our partnership and efforts to promote regional security, stability, and prosperity in Africa,” Langley deduced.
Started nearly fifty years ago, the IMET program is an instrument of U.S. national security and foreign policy that has a purpose of promoting more professional militaries and defense cooperation between the U.S. and foreign countries through training.
As the Professional Military Education proponent, Marine Corps University develops the professional competence of its Marines, other service, international and civilian students.
After completing their respective course, graduates are prepared to lead and perform more effectively in multinational environments at the tactical, operational and strategic levels.
