WEBVTT

00:00.000 --> 00:04.871
Upbeat music

00:04.871 --> 00:11.177
Hello, I’m Airman First Class Zoe Wiggins and welcome to the AFN Europe report.

00:11.177 --> 00:14.347
Visits between the U.S. and our partner nations in North Africa help us

00:14.347 --> 00:18.651
better pursue our common goal of global security and the U.S. Air Force

00:18.651 --> 00:21.221
Europe and Africa commander did just that.

00:21.221 --> 00:25.191
From January 4th to January 7th General Jeff Harrigian traveled to Camp

00:25.191 --> 00:29.129
Lemonnier, Djibouti, Tunis, Tunisia, and Algiers, Algeria to meet with

00:29.129 --> 00:32.298
service members and key defense leaders in the region. While there he

00:32.298 --> 00:35.435
recognized the accomplishments of service members at Camp Lemonier.

00:35.435 --> 00:38.938
During the last two legs of his trip in Tunisia and Algeria, he was

00:38.938 --> 00:42.208
joined by the secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett. There he spoke

00:42.208 --> 00:46.646
about key policy initiatives to strengthen our partnership with Tunisia and Algeria

00:46.646 --> 00:49.849
“Our work in Africa is crucial to the success of our greater mission and

00:49.849 --> 00:53.319
the national security of the United States,” “Day in and day out, our

00:53.319 --> 00:56.322
service members and partners are continuing to get after a diverse

00:56.322 --> 01:00.727
mission set despite unique and challenging situations.”

01:00.727 --> 01:04.531
The Alabama National Guard and Romania have a partnership that goes back

01:04.531 --> 01:07.667
decades. However, this partnership isn’t strictly about

01:07.667 --> 01:10.303
business but also improving lives.

01:10.303 --> 01:14.407
Specialist Joshua Smith, of the Alabama National Guard, is the Religious

01:14.407 --> 01:18.411
Affairs non-commissioned officer in charge for Area Support Group “Black Sea”.

01:18.411 --> 01:21.748
With this position he gets the unique opportunity to directly

01:21.748 --> 01:25.752
impact not only soldiers but the local Romanian community as well.

01:25.752 --> 01:29.456
Through his efforts to help soldiers reach out to the local Romanians not

01:29.456 --> 01:32.525
only were partnerships with organizations like the Romanian Salvation

01:32.525 --> 01:37.530
Army formed but over 400 children received clothes and toys for Christmas.

01:37.530 --> 01:40.834
“When we help the community, we're also helping the Soldiers who get to

01:40.834 --> 01:44.571
go out and help those kids. It's a huge morale booster and really helps

01:44.571 --> 01:48.441
them gain perspective. Not only do I get to see it first hand, I am

01:48.441 --> 01:52.312
helping the Soldiers to see the impact we can make.”

01:52.312 --> 01:55.548
That's all for the AFN Europe Report. Thanks for watching.

01:55.548 --> 01:59.519
Upbeat Music