U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development

By Staff Sgt. Luke WilsonFebruary 7, 2023

U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
1 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Malawian army instructor teaches squad leader tactics during a non-commissioned officer (NCO) development course at the Malawi Armed Forces College in Salima, Malawi, on Nov. 30, 2022. The development and mentorship of junior NCOs is crucial and ensures that positive leadership characteristics are passed on. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
2 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Chief of Training (incoming) Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Jackel, at 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) watches as a Malawian army instructor teaches squad leader tactics during a non-commissioned officer (NCO) development course at the Malawi Armed Forces College, Salima, Malawi, Nov. 30, 2022. The development and mentorship of junior NCOs is crucial and ensures that positive leadership characteristics are passed on. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
3 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Chief of Training (outgoing) Army Master Sgt. David McClain, at the 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA), and Malawian army Warrant Officer Frank Balasani, Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC) regimental sergeant major, observe squad leader training at the Malawi AFC, in Salima, Malawi, on Nov. 30, 2022. U.S. and Malawian Army NCOA leaders met in a military-to-military engagement to discuss and review syllabus criteria for upcoming classes at the Malawi AFC. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
4 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Instructors from the Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC) met with instructors from 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) and Combined Arms Training Center (CATC), in Salima, Malawi, on Dec. 1, 2022. The visit was part of a military-to-military engagement where members of the Malawi AFC, 7th Army NCOA and CATC discussed and shared information in order to streamline and enhance current NCO development course material. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
5 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Master Sgt. David McClain, chief of training (outgoing) 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA), reviews a proposed syllabus during a military-to-military engagement with instructors from the Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC), Malawi AFC, in Salima, Malawi, on Dec. 1, 2022. The engagement focused on the sharing of information and teaching methods used by both the 7th Army NCOA and Malawi AFC to better increase future NCO development and partner capabilities.(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
6 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members from the 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Southern European Task Force, Africa and Africa Command meet with instructors and cadre from the Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC), in Salima, Malawi, on Dec. 1, 2022. The meeting was part of a military-to-military engagement which saw the sharing of information concerning the future development and mentorship of non-commissioned officers and increased partnership capabilities in the region. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
7 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Instructors from the Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC) met with instructors from 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) and Combined Arms Training Center (CATC), in Salima, Malawi, on Dec. 1, 2022. The visit was part of a military-to-military engagement where members of the Malawi AFC, 7th Army NCOA and CATC discussed and shared information in order to streamline and enhance current NCO development course material. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
8 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Master Sgt. David McClain, chief of training at the 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA), and Malawian army Warrant Officer Frank Balasani, Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC) regimental sergeant major., discuss squad leader training topics at the AFC in Salima, Malawi, on Nov 30, 2022. U.S. and Malawian army NCOA leaders met in a military-to-military engagement to discuss and review syllabus criteria for upcoming classes at the Malawi AFC. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
9 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Instructors from the Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC) pose for a photo with instructors from 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) and Combined Arms Training Center (CATC) at the Malawi AFC headquarters building, in Salima, Malawi, on Dec. 1, 2022. Members of both schools met as part of an engagement that focused on the sharing of information and teaching methods used by both the 7th Army NCOA and Malawi AFC to better increase future NCO development and partner capabilities.(Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
10 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Instructors from the Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC) give a tour of facilities to visiting instructors from the 7th Army Non-commissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) and Combined Arms Training Center (CATC) in Salima, Malawi, on Nov. 30, 2022. The tour was part of a military-to-military engagement where members of the Malawi AFC, 7th Army NCOA and CATC discussed and shared information in order to streamline and enhance current NCO development course material. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
11 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Chief of Training (outgoing) U.S. Army Master Sgt. David McClain, at 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA), gives Malawian army Lance Cpl. Luward Mbamera a 7th Army NCOA coin at the Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC), in Salima, Malawi, on Nov. 30, 2022. Lance Cpl. Mbamera was awarded the coin in recognition of his efforts as an instructor at the Malawi AFC. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
12 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Instructors from the 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) and Combined Arms Training Center (CATC) visited the Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC), in Salima, Malawi, on Nov. 30, 2022. The visit was part of a military-to-military engagement where members of the Malawi AFC, 7th Army NCOA and CATC discussed and shared information in order to streamline and enhance current NCO development course material. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
13 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Malawian army Lance Cpl. Luward Mbamera proudly displays a 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy coin at the Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC), in Salima, Malawi, on Nov. 30, 2022. Lance Cpl. Mbamera was awarded the coin in recognition of his efforts as an instructor at the Malawi AFC. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. & Malawi Army Instructors Discuss NCO Development
14 / 14 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Instructors from the Malawi Armed Forces College (AFC) pose for a photo with instructors from 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) and Combined Arms Training Center (CATC) at the Malawi AFC headquarters building, in Salima, Malawi, on Dec. 1, 2022. Members of both schools met as part of an engagement that focused on the sharing of information and teaching methods used by both the 7th Army NCOA and Malawi AFC to better increase future NCO development and partner capabilities. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Luke Wilson) VIEW ORIGINAL

VICENZA, Italy — U.S. and Malawi army instructors met in Salima, Malawi, Nov. 28 - Dec. 1 to discuss upcoming course offerings at the Malawi Armed Forces College.

Instructors from the 7th Army Training Command Noncommissioned Officer Academy and Combined Arms Training Course, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) met with leaders and instructors from the MAFC to collaborate on course curriculum for Malawi’s premiere military college.

The meeting culminated months of collaboration between Malawian and U.S. members to build a foundational training for noncommissioned officers in the Malawian army.

“The purpose for this meeting was to review the section commander's syllabus and the platoon sergeant syllabus, as well as the instructor's development,” said Warrant Officer Frank Balasani, regimental sergeant major, Malawian Armed Forces College. “This meeting will help the current NCOs and future NCOs in the aspect of leadership and that they will be well equipped in the knowledge of planning management.”

U.S. Army Master Sgt. David McClain said NCOs have an influential role in the military.

“A well-trained and confident NCO is capable of leading, training and caring for soldiers in terms of readiness, training management, leadership, communication operations and program management,” said McClain, chief of training at the 7th Army NCOA. “This engagement stressed the importance of an NCO and how critical they are to the success of any organization.”

The meeting was part of a military-to-military engagement sharing information about the future development and mentorship of non-commissioned officers and increased partnership capabilities in the region.

“The key takeaways from this meeting were mainly to review the planning and at the same time teaching the students the specific lessons on their specific level,” Balasani said. “The section commanders and sergeants would like to continue this meeting time again and in the future as well.”

Since establishing relations with Malawi in 1964, the U.S. has worked with the Malawian army to maintain and increase partner opportunities within both countries as well as on the African continent.

McClain emphasized that, “This engagement reinforces our commitment to our Malawian partners, and it strengthens our relationship that builds multinational interoperability, shared understanding and future collaborations with our military and defense force.”

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) is responsible for achieving U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Campaign Plan objectives while conducting all U.S. Army operations, exercises and security cooperation on the African continent.