African officers learn Gettysburg lessons

[scone]

African officers learn Gettysburg lessons
By DICK WATSON - Times Staff Writer - Gettysburg Times

Forty military officers from 34 African countries toured the Gettysburg battlefield Friday morning to hear and learn about strategy and leadership.

“They were fascinated by the battle, the ancient weaponry used and the strategies employed,” said Herb Howe, a professor at the Africa Center of the National Defense University in Washington, D. C. ,who accompanied the group.

“They had a lot of questions and proved that one doesn’t have to be American to be interested in the Civil War,” Howe said.

The battlefield tour was conducted by Col. Tom Dempsey, director of African Studies at the Army War College in Carlisle.

“Information about the battle was most interesting,” said Major Tsembeni
Magongo of Swaziland. “It struck me as a most sad, devastating and blood letting conflict.”

A 22-year career soldier, the major entered the army when she was 18 and helped pave the way for other women to enter military service. After basic training, she was sent to nursing school for four years and now has an administrative post in the medical corps headquarters.

She said the tour taught her that leadership is risk-taking. “One has to listen to others, but then make a decision based on the circumstances and goals to be achieved,” she said.

“We have been most fortunate, and have never had a war in Swaziland,” she continued. “I felt that the one who exhibited the most leadership in the battle was the one who looked at the scene and decided they should withdraw.”

Major Joseph Enow of Cameroon, an 18-year veteran who serves an administrative and financial post in his country’s police force, believes the leadership of Col. Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine turned the battle. Had he been a soldier, or major, at Gettysburg, Enow said he, too, would have followed orders.

In Mauritius, Major Chandan Ramkeelawon is in charge of a department that handles explosives.

“The tour was very educational and instructional concerning military strategy and decisions made by both sides,” he said. “I think we future generals have a lot to learn about strategy and using inborn intuition and how to take advantage of a situation.”

Of Union decisions, the major had a definite opinion. “I would not have sacrificed Generals Buford and Reynolds in battle. I think they were not effectively used,” Ramkeelawon said.

The tour was one of many activities included in a month-long course offered by the African Center for Strategic Studies at the War College.
The purpose of the course, explained Dempsey, is to examine the qualities of senior leadership, the dilemmas of combat or peacekeeping operations, and ways officers might advance military interests within democratizing states.

“It’s a way to make a long-term, positive impact in Africa by focusing on mid-level officers who have the potential to become senior leaders as their careers advanced,” he explained.

The visiting officers will spend their last two weeks at the National Defense University in Washington for discussions on military issues, security, peacekeeping, democracy and other topics.