Ladnier, commander of the US 17th Air Force in Ramstein, Germany, will discuss a wide range of issues on the military. The 17th Air Force is the air arm of the US (Africom) Africa Command and supports its operations in Africa. A press release from the US Embassy says that Ladnier will meet with senior officers in the Botswana Defence Force (BDF). He will visit the BDF Defence Command and Staff College, before making a presentation to students on air logistics.
"He will also meet with Major General Paledi, the BDF Air Arm Commander, and Major General Tiroyamodimo, the BDF Deputy Commander. Major General Ladnier, with Major General Paledi, will tour Thebephatswe Air Base, the BDF main air arm facility, which houses air training facilities, F-5 air wing, air lift air wings and helicopter unit," reads the statement from the US Embassy. Ladnier will discuss a number of issues with his BDF counterparts during the visit. These include current and anticipated challenges faced by the BDF Air Arm, and potential joint logistical exercises between the US Air Force and the BDF Air Arm. The major general is an experienced air logistician and pilot of transport and air refueling aircraft. His staff experience includes logistics readiness and programme management in the US Air Force, and interagency planning at the Department of State. He was most recently commander of the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Centre at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. He has served as Commandant of the Air Command and Staff College in Alabama. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering mechanics from the US Air Force Academy and a Masters of Business Administration from Webster University. Recently Africom has been met with heavy criticism from Africa and the rest of the world after attempts by the US government to establish bases on the continent. The plans have since been abandoned.
