WEBVTT

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- [Narrator] The Ohio National Guard 164th

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Airlift Squadron is playing an essential role

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at exercise footlock 17.

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- This exercise this year with 20 plus nations has a

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very large footprint.

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We're bridging the gap between those nations.

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Applied force multiplier and force enabler

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to get our forces where they need to be

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to help with training

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and build those partnerships

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and relationships that are critical to help

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protect the civilian population

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and to help cross boarder attacks,

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which is why we're kind of here.

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Also, at the same time, we're going to be able to

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gain a lot of operational experience and

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meet our unit training objectives.

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This austere environment provides

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some realistic opportunities for us

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that we're definitely going to use in the future

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when we help be a part of that total integrative force.

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- [Narrator] Integration calls for a little outside support

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in this unfamiliar territory.

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- [Soldier] This is a great opportunity to work with

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not only our special operations from the US,

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but also with the other partner nations

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throughout this region,

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it starts actually locally here in N'Djamena

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with the French Air Force.

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They've provided us some outstanding support

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that we didn't expect.

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And it's great to have an ally right next door to us

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providing us pretty much anything we've asked of them.

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- [Narrator] Overall, serves to

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further develop relationships, capacity and potential.

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- [Soldier] We're engaged and we're integrated more fully

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with our active duty counterparts,

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we're not just sitting in Garrison at home waiting

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for the next big war,

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we're actually everyday out there engaged,

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in all the different engagements across the world.

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It's taken a lot of extra volunteers,

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and a lot resiliency from our airmen,

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to be able to do that.

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But, we've answered the call and

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we're happy to do so.

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- [Narrator] Staff Sergeant Ashley Corcins,

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in N'Djamena, Chad.