9BEB shares knowledge with Malawi Armed Forces College

By Staff Sgt. Candace MundtAugust 12, 2016

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1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. David Hopkins, senior enlisted leader of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, unloads boxes of Field Manuals, Army Doctrine Publications and Army Doctrine Reference Publication... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. David Hopkins, senior enlisted leader, 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, donates boxes of Field Manuals, Army Doctrine Publications and Army Doctrine Reference Publications, on ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. David Hopkins, senior enlisted leader, 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and Malawi Defence Force Maj. Edgar Chiangwa, commanding officer of Admin, Research and Development for ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brigade Sgt. Maj. Saly Mussa, 94th Brigade, Malawi Defence Force, thanks Command Sgt. Maj. David Hopkins, senior enlisted leader, 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, for his unit's donation of Fiel... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SALIMA, Malawi - U.S. Soldiers supporting Southern Accord 2016 presented approximately 100 manuals spanning ten different topics to leaders of the Malawi Armed Forces College (MAFCO) in Salima, Malawi, Aug. 9.

Senior representatives of 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Georgia handed over Army Doctrine Publications and Army Doctrine Reference Publications on various subjects such as leadership and unified land operations.

"For me, it's very rewarding to be able to share some of the lessons that we've learned in the U.S. Army over the course of many years and share it with one of our partners here on the African continent," said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. David Hopkins, 9th BEB senior enlisted advisor.

The 9th BEB staff of SA16 make up the joint exercise support group, which monitors living conditions on camp, coordinates logistical support, conducts reception and integration operations and provides medical assistance as needed.

SA16 is a U.S. Army Africa-led annual, combined military exercise that brings together U.S. military personnel with African partner nations to improve readiness, promote interoperability, build capacity and strengthen partner relationships.

The exercise has allowed 9th BEB to work closely with their Malawi Defense Force partners and share knowledge that could bolster the senior noncommissioned officer course that began at MAFCO two years ago.

"We brought them here to assist them with their school," Hopkins said. "This is going to help them improve the curriculum they have specifically targeting their NCO corps."

"Our library has no manuals like this," said Maj. Edgar Chiangwa, officer commanding for administration and research and development for MAFCO. "I hope they can impart more knowledge to our soldiers."

Even though the manuals were created for U.S. Soldiers, Hopkins said they speak in generalities that can be applied to troops of any nation.

"The topics in there are very relevant to anyone, whether you're a basic junior leader or you've been leading individuals for many years," Hopkins said. "I think that there are subjects and topics in there that can be used by all."