Photo by Staff Sgt. George B. Davis, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Members of an Angolan Armed Forces delegation visiting the U.S., along with their embassy and defense attachés, stand with Ohio National Guard senior leaders outside of the Joint Force Headquarters at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio, June 4, 2019. The State Partnership Program hosted the delegation at the request of U.S. Army Africa, enabling meetings and discussions between Angolan military and Ohio National Guard leadership.
Angolan Armed Forces general visits US, Ohio for first time
Senior Airman Amber Mullen, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
COLUMBUS, Ohio (06/06/19)
The Ohio National Guard hosted Gen. Jaques Raul, Angolan Armed Forces deputy land force commander, along with four other members of the Angolan military, June 2-6.
During the visit, Raul and the Angolan delegation had the opportunity to observe an Ohio National Guard (OHNG) Homeland Response Force (HRF) disaster response and medical exercise at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center near Newton Falls, Ohio. The OHNG HRF, one of only 10 in the nation, showcased some of the capabilities the National Guard has when responding to natural disasters.
In addition, the delegation met with the Ohio Department of Veterans Services at the Ohio Statehouse, and toured the Schottenstein Center at The Ohio State University and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in downtown Columbus. There were also briefings held at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base with the Ohio National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing; Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group; and the 52nd Civil Support Team.
Raul’s visit to Ohio followed a three-day trip to U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) in Vicenza, Italy. The purpose of the visits was to build U.S.-Angola defense relations, provide an overview of U.S. Army and National Guard defense capabilities, and identify future security cooperation opportunities. In addition, Raul was briefed on the Department of Defense State Partnership Program and the wide range of specialty skills, units and capabilities provided by this unique civilian-military organization.
“We came to get experience, learn from (Ohio), and apply it back home,” Raul said. “We have learned how to act during natural disasters. The knowledge we have gained corresponds with the objectives we want to implement in our country.”
The OHNG has participated in five medical security cooperation engagements with the Republic of Angola since 2017. Raul’s visits to USARAF and the OHNG provided the opportunity to share military best practices, encourage cross-nation cultural understanding and promote the development of professional relationships.
“This visit helps all of us,” said Ohio Army National Guard Col. Daniel J. Shank, Ohio assistant adjutant general for Army. “It helps us understand our processes so we can communicate them clearly, and it helps to showcase our views and bring understanding to others on how we approach different scenarios.”
The U.S. is committed to working with African partners and regional security organizations to strengthen defense capabilities and enable partner nation armed forces to better address natural disasters, emergencies and threats.
“Both the United States and Angola can benefit from a strengthened relationship because we have various capacities we can share with each other,” said U.S. Army Col. Matthew Sousa, the U.S. defense attaché in Angola. “If we begin to work together and understand each other, then we can pursue these common goals together.”
U.S. Army Col. Daniel J. Shank (second from right), Ohio assistant adjutant general for Army, explains to Gen. Jaques Raul (center), the Angolan Armed Forces deputy land forces commander, how service members assigned to the Ohio National Guard Homeland Response Force train on rescuing victims out of a rubble pile June 3, 2019, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center near Newton, Ohio. The OHNG Homeland Response Force, one of only 10 in the nation, showcased to the Angolan delegation some of the unique capabilities of the National Guard when called to respond to natural disasters.
Photo by Senior Airman Amber Mullen, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
U.S. National Guard members and an Angolan Armed Forces delegation observe the decontamination processing line during an Ohio National Guard Homeland Response Force exercise June 3, 2019, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center near Newton Falls, Ohio. The exercise was a simulated nuclear explosion incident where service members had to work together to rescue victims, decontaminate the area and treat victims’ simulated wounds.
Photo by Senior Airman Amber Mullen, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Marcos Nascimento (right), a public health noncommissioned officer in charge assigned to the 111th Attack Wing, translates for an Angolan Armed Forces delegation observing treatment of a simulated medical causality during an Ohio National Guard Homeland Response Force nuclear explosion exercise, June 3, 2019, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center .
Photo by Senior Airman Amber Mullen, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Retired Maj. Gen. Deborah Ashenhurst (left), director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, shakes hands with Gen. Jaques Raul, the deputy land forces commander of the Angolan Armed Forces, June 4, 2019, at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. The Angolan Armed Forces delegation met with the Ohio DVS to learn more about the services provided to veterans in Ohio.
Photo by Senior Airman Amber Mullen, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
U.S. service members and an Angolan Armed Forces delegation tour The Ohio State University Schottenstein Center during an official visit to Ohio from Gen. Jaques Raul, Angolan Armed Forces deputy land forces commander, June 4, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. The visit enabled the sharing of military best practices, encouraged cross-nation cultural understanding and promoted the development of professional relationships.
Photo by Senior Airman Amber Mullen, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
U.S. service members and an Angolan Armed Forces delegation tour the weightlifting facility at The Ohio State University Schottenstein Center during an official visit to Ohio from Gen. Jaques Raul, Angolan Armed Forces deputy land forces commander, June 4, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. The visit encouraged cross-nation cultural understanding and provided an opportunity to see some local sites popular in Ohio.
Photo by Senior Airman Amber Mullen, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Marcos Nascimento (right), a public health NCO in charge assigned to the 111th Attack Wing, explains the significance of the battlefield cross to Gen. Jaques Raul, the deputy land forces commander of the Angolan Armed Forces in the Memorial Grove at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum June 4, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. The battlefield cross is a memorial to service members who are killed in action, and is made up of a service member’s rifle, boots, helmet and sometimes their identification tags, as a way to show respect and honor for the fallen member.
Photo by Senior Airman Amber Mullen, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Gen. Jaques Raul (center), deputy land forces commander of the Angolan Armed Forces, and Brig. Gen. Eduardo Neto (right), Angolan defense attaché (right), meet with Col. Daniel Shank, Ohio assistant adjutant general for Army, at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio, June 4, 2019. The State Partnership Program hosted the delegation at the request of U.S. Army Africa, enabling meetings and discussions between Angolan military and Ohio National Guard leadership.
Photo by Staff Sgt. George B. Davis, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Col. Daniel Shank (left), Ohio assistant adjutant general for Army, greets Gen. Jaques Raul, deputy land forces commander of the Angolan Armed Forces, as his delegation arrives at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio, June 4, 2019. The State Partnership Program hosted the delegation at the request of U.S. Army Africa, enabling meetings and discussions between Angolan military and Ohio National Guard leadership.
Photo by Staff Sgt. George B. Davis, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Photos by Senior Airman Amber Mullen and Staff Sgt. George B. Davis, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs