Solidarity and commitment: the DAT “Marfil” collaborates with two children and youth aid centres

•  The “Marfil” Tactical Air Detachment reinforces its social commitment to the local population by donating to childcare and professional training centres in Dakar

As part of its deployment in Senegal, the “Marfil” Tactical Air Detachment recently carried out two solidarity actions that reflect its involvement in improving the living conditions of the local population, especially the most vulnerable sectors. These were donations to the Congregation of the Sisters of the Child Jesus, located in the Sam Sam 3 neighbourhood, and to the ‘Pouponnière de Dakar’, a centre that takes in abandoned minors or those without family support.

The first donation was given to the Sam Sam 3 congregation, one of the most disadvantaged areas on the outskirts of Dakar. There, ‘Las Hermanas del Niño Jesus’ carry out their work focused on the education and training (sewing, catering and carpentry) of children and young people, in a situation of social exclusion and with few possibilities for the future. Thanks to a collective donation managed by Santiago Ruiz, the congregation has been able to incorporate computer equipment into its programmes, which will open up new ways of learning, especially in digital skills, very useful for the future employability and learning of the students.

On the other hand, the personnel of the Air and Space Force Combat Air Command (MACOM), together with the families of the Chesterton School in Meco (Madrid), have made a significant donation to the ‘Pouponnière de Dakar’. An institution that since 1955 offers shelter to orphaned babies, whose mothers have died during childbirth or have been abandoned and lack a family environment that can take care of them. This contribution consisted of infant milk, cereals and nappies, basic necessities that are particularly difficult to obtain in the local context and which form the basis of the daily care of the little ones. The handover took place in an atmosphere of closeness and mutual gratitude, reinforcing the human bond between the donors and those in charge of the centre. In the words of Sister Marie Louise, ‘it is a truly generous donation, which in addition to the material help is a great support and moral reinforcement of the importance of our work with the children’.

These initiatives are part of the constant effort of the “Marfil” Tactical Air Detachment to forge closer ties with Senegalese society, beyond its operational mission. For its members, service abroad also involves a human dimension that translates into concrete actions of civil-military cooperation. As the commander of the “Marfil”, Commander Enrique Moro, says. ‘These actions are not going to change the world, but they certainly help to change lives’.

The projection of these donations from Spain to Senegal has been possible thanks to the coordinated efforts of the MOPS, EMA, MAGEN, as well as numerous members of the Air and Space Army on national territory, whose logistical and human involvement is essential for the success of these initiatives. In this sense, the Air Mobility Headquarters takes advantage of the remaining spaces in the support flights to the detachments abroad to carry out their transfer. On this occasion, the material was transferred from the Getafe Air Base aboard a T-21 aircraft (CASA C-295) from the 35th Wing, which once again demonstrates the efficiency and versatility of our air capabilities at the service of both the mission and social cooperation.

Ivory Detachment

The Tactical Air Detachment “Marfil” is composed of Air and Space Army personnel. Its base of operations is the ‘Escale Aéronautique Commandant LEMAITRE’, located within the facilities of the French Elements in Senegal (EFS), at the Blaise Diagne International Airport, in the town of Thiès.

Since its creation in January 2013, the DAT Ivory has maintained a permanent presence in Senegal, and its main mission is to provide tactical and logistical airlift and in-flight refuelling, whenever capabilities allow. These activities are carried out under the operational direction of the Operations Command (MOPS), and are aimed at reinforcing stability in the strategic environment of the Sahel. In addition, the detachment provides support to transient Spanish aircraft, both Air and Space Army and Guardia Civil, which operate from this base on surveillance missions, control of irregular immigration and the fight against illicit trafficking.

Currently, the DAT is composed of about 15 military personnel from different Air and Space Army units, including the Air Deployment Support Squadron (EADA) and the Alert and Control Group (GRUALERCON).