Tag: Africans in US military

Nigerian-born Amanda Azubuike now Brigadier General in US Army

By Wale Odunsi | Daily Post

A senior officer in the United States Army, Amanda Azubuike, has been promoted to Brigadier General rank.

Amanda, whose father and mother hail from Nigeria and Zimbabwe, serves at a military base in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

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In Africa, U.S.-Trained Militaries Are Ousting Civilian Governments in Coups

By Michael M. Phillips | Wall Street Journal

A flurry of military coups across Africa has disrupted the U.S. strategy of enlisting local armies to counter Islamist extremists and other security threats. The U.S. has trained thousands of African soldiers, from infantrymen rehearsing counterterrorism raids on the edge of the Sahara to senior commanders attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The programs are a linchpin of U.S. policy on the continent, intended to help African allies professionalize their armed forces to fight armed opponents both foreign and domestic.

But U.S. commanders have watched with dismay over the past year as military leaders in several African allies—including officers with extensive American schooling—have overthrown civilian governments and seized power for themselves, triggering laws that forbid the U.S. government from providing them with weapons or training.

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Why 40 African armies met at a Fort Benning summit — and why some didn’t

By Davis Winkie | Army Times

COLUMBUS, Ga. — It was a rare sight, especially on American soil. Seated around nested U-shaped tables in the heart of the city’s renovated ironworks were senior military officials representing nearly three-quarters of Africa’s 54 UN-recognized countries.

They were there last week for the African Land Forces Summit, a week-long, U.S.-brokered annual conference that brings together army officials from across the continent and other countries that maintain a presence in Africa.

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US Army Celebrates Kenyan Who Became Combat Medic in Just 4 Months

By BRIAN KIMANI | Kenyans.co.ke

Joining the military, especially in the United States, demands more than physical fitness as recruits undergo vigorous tests and screening to ascertain their eligibility. 

Joshua Omwenga’s aspirations of joining the army were but a distant dream until they came to fruition. Omwenga, a Kenyan, is currently serving as a combat medic with the 444th Minimal Care Detachment unit in the US military. 

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Guantanamo Boys: a Tale of Three Nigerian American Military Men

By Henry Okoroafor | Premium Times

A mere mention of the Island of Guantanamo (GITMO) Bay, Cuba evokes a feeling of austere and solitary confinement, strict isolation and perhaps exclusion from normalcy. The United States Naval Base on the Island of Guantanamo is the oldest U.S. military base overseas (122 years) and the only one in a communist nation. It is a very beautiful and blue water Island, enclosed by the Caribbean Ocean.

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Laban Sialo |Kenyan-American talks about his transition from athletics to US Air Force post

By ELIAS MAKORI | NATION

What are the chances of a young man from Baringo County, Kenya turning out to be a lead health expert at the United States Air Force, the world’s greatest air force? One in 50 million, I could say. That’s why Baringo-born American Laban Sialo must be pinching himself as he climbs to the top of a C-17 transport aircraft’s tail to conduct a noise survey during diagnosis and repair.

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Pearl Amoako: The Ghanaian Serving as Food Boss on a US Naval base

by Nathaniel Crabbe | YEN

Ghanaian-born Chief Warrant Officer Two (CWO2), Pearl Amoako, has become a force within the US Navy, currently serving as the Food Service Officer at the U.S. Naval Base in Cuba. As the Food Service Officer, she is responsible for feeding all military personnel and civilians at the base.

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American Soldiers with Nigerian Roots Support Blackjack Forward

The United States Army serves as a beacon of inspiration and hope to not only American citizens, but people all over the world. It is the gold standard for melding various cultures and races, including Africans into effective military teams throughout the ranks. Two Nigerian- born solders, Spc. Davidson Momodebe, of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team and Capt. Daniel Edomwandagbon with the 418th contracting brigade are part of this military heritage.

by Staff Sgt. Gregory Stevens | DVIDS

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Kenyans in US Army miss 2020 Olympics marathon slots

By Hilary Kimuyu | Nairobi News

Five Kenyan-born athletes who took to the field in the United States to try and qualify to represent their new country at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics, have failed to make the cut.

The five, 2LT Elkanah Kibet, SSG Augustus Maiyo, SGT Leonard Korir, SGT Samuel Kosgei and SPC Haron Lagat are all soldiers in the US Army.

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Lake Crystal Resident Serves as Navy Officer in Africa After Emigrating from Nigeria

By Ashley Hanley|Story by Lt. Jennifer K Cunningham

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Lt. Victor Agunbiade, a Lake Crystal, Minnesota resident, is a Navy Reserve supply officer currently serving at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti as the dispersing officer in charge of dispersing and money collection for the entire African region. Located in an austere environment, Camp Lemonnier is a U.S. Navy base located in the Horn of Africa and is the only enduring U.S. military base on the continent of Africa.

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Nigerian Graduates With 4:00 CGPA From Texas A&M, Joins US Army Reserves

By Ngere Ify Davies

A young Nigerian man is being celebrated by his friends on social media after he bagged his masters degree at a prestigious university. The young man had graduated as the overall best student in his school.

Nnanna Edmund graduated with a 4:00 Cumulative Grade Point Average from the Texas A&M University Kingsville in the Uniteds States.

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Kenyans Rank First Among African Immigrants Serving in the US Military

Kenyan immigrants have been ranked first among African immigrants in the United States who are currently serving in the US military.

Latest data from the US Census Bureau shows that 0.4 percent of Kenyans in the US are serving in the army.

Ghanaians in the US come second with 0.3 percent serving in the armed forces.

The data shows that 0.1 percent of Nigerians and South Africans in America serve in the military.

While immigrants with Green Cards are eligible for recruitment to the US military, they cannot be assigned roles that need special security clearance.

These duties include intelligence, nuclear power as well as special operations.

More than 24,000 immigrants, including non-citizens and naturalized citizens, were serving on active duty in the US military in 2012, a report by the Department of Defense showed.

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Lt. Jesse Iwuji, Nigerian-American Navy Officer and NASCAR driver to Make Las Vegas Speedway Debut

Las Vegas is known for their Air Force military presence – but this time there will be a new “wave” coming in town. U.S. Naval Academy graduate and U.S. Navy officer LT Jesse Iwuji will be making his first ever Las Vegas Motor Speedway start in the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series Race.

Iwuji will be the only current military member racing in NASCAR this weekend and will doing so with Reaume Bros Racing.

In all things Iwuji does, there are two constant elements: his love of country and his fighting spirit. He went from a D1A college football player to a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and is now claimed to be the only current driver in national level NASCAR who has ever been in the military.

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