2004 Press Releases

The U.S. Government Funds Troop Training in Freetown - Malian and RSLAF Soldiers Graduate

January 4, 2004

Freetown, Sierra Leone
Contact: PAO Kevin Green
Tel: 226481.

Freetown, January 7, 2004… The United States government-funded military logistics facility at Murray Town Barracks, graduated forty-six (46) Malian and 8 RSLAF soldiers on Wednesday, January 7. Lt. Colonel William Godbout, Defense Attaché Officer of the U.S. Embassy, presented the participants with their Certificates of training.

They completed a three-week training program in military communications, logistics, and vehicle maintenance at the training facility located at the PAE government Services, PAE compound, Murray Town. Twenty-five Malian and 8 RSLAF soldiers went through a communications course and twenty-one Malians through the Basic Driver/Maintenance course.

The U.S. government committed $ 3 million to fund the PAE and construction of the facility, and also provided over $1 million in vehicles and radio equipment for use by the Malian contingent on its ECOWAS-authorized missions.

The training facility’s purpose is to deliver quality logistics training and maintenance support to West African militaries, in furtherance of peace and stability operations, and with focus on building capacity. Troops from RSLAF and Guinea have also been trained at the PAE depot.

The U.S. plans to provide additional future training to troops from Mali, Niger, Mauritania and Chad at the PAE facility. This is the third graduation class from Mali and it launches another phase in the evolution of regional security cooperation. The U.S. government thanks the Government of Sierra Leone, and all ECOWAS states, for their partnership and vision in this endeavor. ##