JUBA, South Sudan – Five service members from U.S. Africa Command, or AFRICOM, partnered with the year-old Sudan People’s Liberation Army, or SPLA, Aug. 22 to Sept. 7, 2012, to instruct 18 SPLA soldiers.
This marks the third humanitarian mine action, or HMA, military-to-military training engagement between AFRICOM and the SPLA, during which HMA explosive ordnance disposal, or EOD, and tactical casualty combat care, or TCCC, train-the-trainer courses were held with a simple mission focus.
“We partnered to teach students to be instructors,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Lewis, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa EOD technician.
Although a perishable skill set, according to Lewis, de-mining and TCCC practices are important to the South Sudanese people.
“De-mining is a very simple process. It’s mainly paying attention to what you’re doing,” Lewis said. “Due to their years of war, the armies mined the country. Then the war ended, and people were stepping on land mines. If something does happen, these soldiers will know what they’re doing.”
During the three-week partner effort, instructors covered a variety of topics, ranging from open and closed fractures to knot tying to basic ordnance disposal practices; but only after overcoming simple learning obstacles.
“Language was the biggest thing,” Lewis said. “But, where language was a barrier, we showed them through hands-on, practical training. Nonverbals cross all language barriers. I was incredibly impressed with the soldiers’ level of retention of the material and their willingness to learn.”
Lewis recalled one SPLA soldier who successfully crossed these barriers.
“Cpl. John Maciek only spoke the tribal language so he couldn’t understand anything when we tried to do a test. He would try and draw the answers,” Lewis said. “Once someone translated to him, he probably did the best out of everyone.”
At the graduation ceremony, the SPLA’s ranking soldier delivered his thanks for the opportunity to share best practices between the U.S. and SPLA.
“I want to extend my deepest thanks to USAFRICOM, the U.S. and its commanders,” SPLA Maj. Gen. Kiir Garang De Kuek, Engineer Corps commander. “The SPLA is in their infancy and trips like this are imperative to the growth of our country. Through help from [non-government organizations] we’ve de-mined a third of the country. Trips like these create the foundation for the country to become prosperous. We hope for a continued partnership with the U.S. to provide advanced training to the SPLA to increase effectiveness.”
Connected Media
Newer articles:
- Jonglei revolt gives South Sudan a security headache - The Citizen Daily - 02/10/2012 15:28
- From Vermont to South Sudan - vt.Buzz (blog) - 02/10/2012 06:59
- Replay: Journey to South Sudan video chat - Sioux Falls Argus Leader - 01/10/2012 19:39
- South Sudan's application to join regional bloc hits a snag - Daily Nation - 01/10/2012 18:23
- From Vermont to South Sudan - BurlingtonFreePress.com (blog) - 01/10/2012 16:33
Older news items
- Bank of Uganda partners South Sudan - Independent - 30/09/2012 19:12
- South Sudan: Lost Boy's network ingrained in culture - Sioux Falls Argus Leader - 30/09/2012 03:56
- South Sudan's vice president visits refugees in Hurst - Fort Worth Star Telegram - 30/09/2012 00:53
- Sudan, South Sudan agree on metering to avoid disputes - Chicago Tribune - 29/09/2012 12:17
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44
Latest news items (all categories):
- Why did deadly communal clashes erupt in South Sudan, leaving 71 people dead? - 12/10/2026 14:40
- UPDF commissions new medical facilities in South Sudan - 12/10/2026 14:36
- South Sudan starts to construct her logistics hub at Mai Mahiu - 12/10/2026 14:34
- UK: Salisbury event On October 14 will highlight problems in South Sudan - 12/10/2026 14:32
- ‘Stuck between bad choices’ – Girls in Jonglei struggle to safely access education - 12/10/2026 14:29
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan: Famine Looming - 30/07/2014 12:00
- Sudan Price Bulletin, February 2020 - 28/02/2020 23:48
- Illicit US$46m South Sudan arms deal brokered under UK government’s nose - 25/09/2017 04:59
- European Union boosts resilience in Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal states - 18/11/2020 10:30
- Implementation of Addis Ababa Deals: The Litmus Test for Juba Committees - 19/10/2012 10:09
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 150864 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 28211 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 25318 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24547 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22507 times
