I’m just finishing up my time here in Chad, where I’ve spent the last few days observing the end of Flintlock 2017. This annual exercise is a critical part of US and allied counter extremism efforts in West Africa, as it provides a multinational platform to hone...
Set in the northeast corner of Iraq, 150 miles north of Baghdad, the ancient city of Kirkuk is home to a rich mix of ethnicities, languages and historical claims. While its wealth of culture and diversity is sometimes challenged by ethnic tensions, Kirkuk has proven...
Dear supporters, Nicholette and I just got back from helping US troops in the West African country of Chad, where we supported the first ever International Women’s Day Forum in N’djamena. The event was part of Flintlock 2017, an annual military exercise among African,...
I just returned from N'Djamena, Chad this week, where Nicholette and I traveled to support the first ever Women’s Leadership Forum held in the capitol. The SoA-funded event was hosted by Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) in cooperation with the US Embassy,...
Female peshmerga and I talk about fighting on the front lines in honor of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2017. International Women’s Day is on March 8—a day to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations around the world. It’s a day to...
Dear supporters, I am so happy to report that we hosted a very successful inaugural soccer tournament in Colombia – with nine more to follow in different parts of the country. The tournament, a collaboration with the US military and their Colombian partners, was...
Dear supporters, I just got back from Ukraine with Chris Clary, SoA’s Europe project manager. While tensions are rising in the country as Russian-backed fighters launch a new wave of attacks, I’m also happy to report some good news. Army FM, the radio station we...
Greetings All – I wanted to share an update on a donation in Cauca, Colombia that was recently kicked off to help local youth enjoy a better quality of life. I recently traveled to Cali, Colombia to sync up with the US Special Operations advisors who are working in...
Bonjour from Niger, I’d like to take a moment to update you on a recent effort supported by Spirit of America in southeast Niger. This project was designed to help protect a community from Boko Haram violence, influence, and recruiting through access to information....
