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Guard Times
South African National Defense College visits New York By Maj. Richard Sloma State Partnership Program Coordinator LATHAM — The New York National Guard hosted fifteen visiting members Nov. 3 – 4 from the South African National Defense College’s Executive National Security Program. The group was part of a larger class of 36 individuals, which arrived in Washington in late October. The Executive National Security Program is the most senior level of professional education available for members of the South African National Defense Forces. It prepares members for top-level defense posts, and its course-work includes a one-week foreign study at one of South Africa’s strategic partners. The larger class visiting the United States consisted of South African military officers, National Defense College staff, one civilian from the South African Department of Defense, three officials from defense related industries, and five military officers from the African nations of Burundi, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia. The class divided into three groups to visit Colorado’s Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Maryland’s Naval Academy at Annapolis and New York’s Military Academy at West Point. Among the fifteen members who arrived in New York were five general officers: Brig. Gen. Erroll Mann, Commandant of the South African National Defense College; Brig. Gen. Vusumuzi R. Masondo; Brig. Gen. Lulu L. Siwisa; Brig. Gen. Tanduxolo R. Mandela, South African Defense Attaché; and Brig. Gen. Cyprien Hakiza, Burundi Defense Force. Three members of the New York Army National Guard served as escorts: Lt. Col. Christian P. Bradley, Acting Director, Government Affairs Office; Maj. Richard J. Sloma, SPP Coordinator; and 1st Lt. Jemal L. Douté. The group visited a number of locations in Manhattan. One of their visits was to New York City Police Department Headquarters. Two NYPD police officers, who are traditional guardsmen, assisted. Police Sergeant Justin Lenz — an operations sergeant major in the 104th Military Police Battalion, Kingston — met the group to discuss his duties as a police supervisor. Chief Tom Sweeney — a retired lieutenant colonel from the 53rd Troop Command, Valhalla — greeted them at One Police Plaza and gave a presentation on how the NYPD selects and trains its officers. Both Sweeney and Lenz explained how traditional guardsmen manage to successfully balance their military and civilian careers. The ENSP members additionally toured the New York Stock Exchange and concluded their day with a visit to Ground Zero. The following day the group had a magnificent view of the Hudson River as they took the train northward to visit the U.S. Military Academy and the 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base.
Visiting ENSP participants and 105th Airlift Wing Guard members stand in front of a C-5 Galaxy at Stewart Air National Guard Base.
Visitors enjoy a tour of the C-5 Galaxy, the military's largest aircraft.
Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey, Commanding General, NYARNG, and Col. Harry McDonough, Joint Forces Headquarters met the group upon their arrival at West Point. As a graduate of the Military Academy, Swezey shared his memories as a cadet there. Brig. Gen. Dana Demand, 105AW Commander, and Col. Charles Faro, 105AW Vice Commander, met the African officers at Stewart ANGB. Also in attendance was Capt. Timothy Coleman, a 105AW Guard member who served as New York’s first Bilateral Affairs Officer, European Command Office of Cooperation, South Africa, from January 2004 to March 2005. After a C-5 Galaxy tour — given by the aircraft’s crew and maintenance personnel — Demand and Swezey exchanged mementos with the Executive National Security Program members. RSA Brigadier General Mann presented the New York National Guard with a plaque on behalf of the South African National Defense College and in appreciation of the hospitality throughout the trip. He commented that the visit had “afforded a better understanding of South Africa’s strategic partner.” ❏
Maj. Michael McDermott, U.S. Military Academy, speaks to the ENSP participants above the Hudson River during a tour of the academy at West Point. Photos by Maj. Rich Sloma.