U.S. and Botswana Team Up for Southern Accord 2024 Training Exercise

In the days leading to the training exercise known as Southern Accord 2024, U.S. Army’s 7th Army Training Command worked closely with the Botswana Defence Force to prepare a firing range and supporting structures.

The goal of these efforts is to enhance military skills and collaboration between the U.S. and Botswana, running from August 5th to 15th.

Kreg Schnell, a training support specialist from the 7th Army Training Command, explained the importance of their work, saying, «Our job is to meet a unit’s training objectives.» This involved setting up shooting ranges and providing training materials that fit the specific needs of the participating soldiers.

During the preparation, Botswana Defence Force leaders outlined their own training goals, which included improving marksmanship and urban military operations. They collaborated with soldiers from North Carolina, ensuring that their objectives were included in the training schedule.

When the U.S. team arrived in January, they held discussions with BDF to enhance the training range. Suggestions were made, and the BDF implemented several improvements, highlighting their commitment to building capacity for future exercises.

Schnell praised the BDF’s professionalism and their efforts to level the range for better training. Additionally, he pointed out that for the first time, they were able to train a group of scouts to perform tasks that the U.S. team normally handles during such exercises.

The U.S. team trained the scouts in essential skills such as carpentry and tool usage, enhancing their capability to create training structures and environments.

BDF member Lance Cpl. Phemelo Setlhabi shared his excitement about learning new skills that would help their forces even after the U.S. trainers leave.

Another BDF soldier, Lance Cpl. Romang Johane, expressed gratitude towards the U.S. team, noting that the knowledge gained from this exercise would have lasting benefits for their military operations.

Logistics played a significant role in the success of the exercise, as getting supplies to the right locations can be quite challenging. The U.S. team decided to source wood locally in Botswana for building structures, which proved to be a smart move, allowing them to avoid delays from shipping.

Throughout the planning and execution phases, both nations worked hand-in-hand to identify best practices, all aimed at improving readiness for future military operations together.