SETAF-AF commander makes opening remarks at African Alumni Symposium

By Maj. Cain ClaxtonFebruary 26, 2023

SETAF-AF commander hosts opening to AAS23
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Todd R. Wasmund makes opening remarks at the African Alumni Symposium in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Feb. 26, 2023. Wasmund, commanding general of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, was joined by former African graduates of the Army War College to attend the African Alumni Symposium at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center Feb. 26 to March 2. The symposium is a U.S. Africa Command annual event bringing together African alumni from U.S. military education schools. Every three years, the Army takes its turn to host African graduates of the Army War College. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Cain S. Claxton) (Photo Credit: Maj. Cain Claxton) VIEW ORIGINAL
SETAF-AF commander hosts opening to AAS23
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Todd R. Wasmund makes opening remarks at the African Alumni Symposium in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Feb. 26, 2023. Wasmund, commanding general of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, was joined by former African graduates of the Army War College to attend the African Alumni Symposium at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center Feb. 26 to March 2. The symposium is a U.S. Africa Command annual event bringing together African alumni from U.S. military education schools. Every three years, the Army takes its turn to host African graduates of the Army War College. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Cain S. Claxton) (Photo Credit: Maj. Cain Claxton) VIEW ORIGINAL
SETAF-AF commander hosts opening to AAS23
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund (right) meets with Mauritanian army Brig. Gen. Mohamed Boide on the opening day of the African Alumni Symposium 2023 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Feb. 27, 2023. Wasmund, commanding general of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, and Boide, commander of the Mauritania army special operations command, discussed items of mutual concern related to security conditions in the Sahel region and opportunities for future collaboration. Former African graduates of the Army War College returned to Carlisle, Pennsylvania,to attend the African Alumni Symposium at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center Feb. 26 to March 2. The symposium is a U.S. Africa Command annual event bringing together African alumni from U.S. military education schools. Every three years, the Army takes its turn to host African graduates of the Army War College.(U.S. Army photo by Christopher House) (Photo Credit: Chris House) VIEW ORIGINAL
SETAF-AF commander hosts opening of AAS23
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund (center) meets with Kenyan army Lt. Gen. Jonah Maina Mwangi (right) and Maj. Gen. Frederick Lmongoni Leuria on the opening day of the African Alumni Symposium 2023 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Feb. 27, 2023. Wasmund, commanding general of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, Mwangi, Kenya National Defence University vice chancellor, and Leuria, assistant chief of Kenya Defence Forces, Operations, Plans and Doctrine, discussed items of mutual concern related to security conditions in east Africa and opportunities for future collaboration. Former African graduates of the Army War College returned to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to attend the African Alumni Symposium at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center Feb. 26 to March 2. The symposium is a U.S. Africa Command annual event bringing together African alumni from U.S. military education schools. Every three years, the Army takes its turn to host African graduates of the Army War College.(U.S. Army photo by Christopher House) (Photo Credit: Chris House) VIEW ORIGINAL
SETAF-AF commander hosts opening to AAS23
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund (right) meets with Uganda army Brig. Gen. Keith Kukunda Katungi on the opening day of the African Alumni Symposium 2023 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Feb. 27, 2023. Wasmund, commanding general of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, and Katungi, a former commander of the Africa Transition Mission in Somalia, discussed items of mutual concern related to security conditions in east Africa and opportunities for future collaboration. Former African graduates of the Army War College returned to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to attend the African Alumni Symposium at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center Feb. 26 to March 2. The symposium is a U.S. Africa Command annual event bringing together African alumni from U.S. military education schools. Every three years, the Army takes its turn to host African graduates of the Army War College.(U.S. Army photo by Christopher House) (Photo Credit: Chris House) VIEW ORIGINAL
SETAF-AF commander hosts opening to AAS23
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. David C. Hill (right) and Malawi army Brig. Gen. Dan Kuwali talk during the opening meeting of the African Alumni Symposium in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Feb. 26, 2023. Hill, commandant of the Army War College, and Kuwali, Malawi Defence Force judge advocate general, joined dozens of former African graduates from 19 nations returning to the Army War College to attend the symposium Feb. 26 to March 2. The symposium is a U.S. Africa Command annual event bringing together African alumni from U.S. military education schools. Every three years, the Army takes its turn to host African graduates of the Army War College.(U.S. Army photo by Maj. Cain S. Claxton) (Photo Credit: Maj. Cain Claxton) VIEW ORIGINAL
SETAF-AF commander hosts opening to AAS23
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Togo army Lt. Col. Samah Soussou (center) meets with fellow African Alumni Symposium 2023 participants in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Feb. 26, 2023. Former African graduates of the Army War College returned to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to attend the African Alumni Symposium at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center Feb. 26 to March 2. The symposium is a U.S. Africa Command annual event bringing together African alumni from U.S. military education schools. Every three years, the Army takes its turn to host African graduates of the Army War College.(U.S. Army photo by Maj. Cain S. Claxton) (Photo Credit: Maj. Cain Claxton) VIEW ORIGINAL

Carlisle, Pennsylvania -- The commanding general of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, hosted the opening session of the African Alumni Symposium Feb. 26 here.

Maj. Gen. Todd R. Wasmund, commander of SETAF-AF in Vicenza, Italy, joined with dozens of army leaders from Africa to begin the week of discussion on "collaborative security building," the theme of this year's symposium.

Wasmund signaled the need for collective commitment among participants to work together to solve mutual security challenges in Africa, such as the influence of malign actors.

"Without countering that influence, we will not be successful in the future," Wasmund said. "So your commitment to being here and continuing our relationship is essential to that. Each time we meet, if may only be a small step, but if we are not making progress, then we are losing."

Dozens of participants from 19 African countries arrived Carlisle, most returning to the Army War College where they attended through the U.S. military's International Military Education and Training Program. Every three years, SETAF-AF and the Army War College host returning African graduates to network and collaborate on mutual defense and security issues.