The United States Army
07/26/2024 | News release | Archived content
US Special Operations Forces Africa conduct joint exchange with Botswana partners
[Link] 1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption -A member of the U.S. Army 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) reviews contact drills conducted by members of the Botswana Defense Force during a Joint Combined Exchange Training in Thebephatshwa Air Base, Botswana, June 20, 2024. JCETs enhance U.S. relationships with partner nations by developing and maintaining critical military-to-military connections and improving allied readiness and interoperability. (Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua DeGuzman)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption -Members of U.S. Army 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) discuss shooting maneuvers as a member of the Botswana Defence Force listens during a Joint Combined Exchange Training at Thebephatshwa Air Base, Botswana, June 18, 2024. The JCETs enhance U.S. relationships with partner nations by developing and maintaining critical military-to-military connections and improving readiness and interoperability. (Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Healy)VIEW ORIGINAL
Back to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
THEBEPHATSHWA AIR BASE, Botswana - U.S. Special Operations Command Africa conducted a joint combined exchange training between 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Green Berets and the Botswana Defence Force at Thebephatshwa Air Base, which concluded July 18, 2024.
During the seven-week duration of the training, U.S. forces and the BDF refined multiple ground and aerial tactical skills including military freefall training, close quarter contact and shooting drills. The culmination of these activities is designed to strengthen U.S.-Botswana bonds and defense cooperation.
[Link] 1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption -A member of the U.S. Army 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) lands after a military freefall training jump during a Joint Combined Exchange Training at Thebephatshwa Air Base, Botswana, June 19, 2024. JCETs enhance U.S. relationships with partner nations by developing and maintaining critical military-to-military connections and improving joint and allied readiness and interoperability. (Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Healy)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption -A member of the U.S. Army 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) speaks with a member of the Botswana Defence Force after the opening ceremony for a Joint Combined Exchange Training at Thebephatshwa Air Base, Botswana, June 19, 2024. JCETs enhance U.S. relationships with partner nations by developing and maintaining critical military-to-military connections and improving joint and allied readiness and interoperability. (Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Healy)VIEW ORIGINAL
"We came to do tactic exchange or technique exchanges based on experiences fighting counterterrorism in various theaters," said the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Team Lead. "We basically come together, share our experiences and our different techniques we've used to counter these threats and learn from each other on what they've done to be successful and share what we've done to be successful and survive in the battlefield."
JCETs leverage existing relationships to provide partner nations with tailored special operations training to reinforce security training across Africa. JCETs are mutually beneficial for U.S. forces and African partners as they aim to enhance critical military-to-military connections and boost interoperability and mission readiness.
U.S. forces maintain a longstanding defense and diplomatic rapport with Botswana. This exchange marks the third collaboration with the BDF in the past three years. The U.S. previously engaged with their Botswanan partners through two previous JCETs in 2022 and intend for further security cooperation in the future.
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