MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Gen. Michael Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, visited senior Angola defense officials in Luanda, Angola, while observing a military medical readiness exercise involving U.S. and Angolan doctors and nurses. There to provide interpretation support was Portuguese European Language Enabled Airman Program Scholar Maj. Patrick Fromm.
The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, coordinates medical readiness exercises with African militaries and U.S. Army medical providers to enhance military medical capabilities of all participants. In addition, the exercises allow the participants to exchange best practices to improve treatment capabilities and support to soldiers.
During this event, Fromm assisted the U.S. Embassy in communicating with port officials during the port visit of the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams and officials at the ministry for the USAFRICOM Commander’s visit to bridge the communication gap and ensure security protocols were adhered to.
“I interacted with the U.S. embassy in Luanda and the military attaché, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and Army special agents. I learned from each that small details are carefully planned, and as a result, the mission goals are accomplished. That creates a lasting return of benefits over many years,” Fromm said.
Fromm gained new insight into working with partners in Angola and the importance of the work done at the U.S. Embassy in Angola.
“The experience expanded my knowledge of the missions of the U.S. Embassy in Angola. I saw how the benefits of meetings between high-level officials could benefit each nation for years to come. I learned how the U.S. Embassy in Angola supports U.S. citizens in Angola and the international relationships between the countries,” Fromm said. “It was an experience that I could have never experienced outside of this great opportunity.”
Fromm also left this Language Intensive Training Event with a new perspective on partnership building to enhance his mission set working with NATO.
“I feel a renewed sense of commitment as I return to work at Allied Joint Force Command Naples, NATO, to the international missions we support,” Fromm said. “This LITE experience gave me an up-close experience of the work performed by the office of the Defense Attaché and understanding that there will be opportunities after military service.”
This medical readiness exercise was the first of six planned for Fiscal Year 2023 by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, designed to emphasize the importance of the medical readiness exercise program and future collaboration between Angola and the United States.