US ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE International Military Student Preparatory Course Student Autobiography Assignment Your

homework assignment is to write and submit a short autobiography (the story of your life). This will both help to polish your writing skills, and give the members of the faculty a picture of who you are. Write on your laptop and both print your work to turn in to your instructor and email a copy to him/her. You will have two nights to write and must turn your work in to your instructor first thing in the morning on 15 July. Your paper should be no more than two pages long, double spaced. Write about what you consider are the high points of your life, both personal and professional. Do not confine yourself to writing only about your military life. You can find an example autobiography on the MSD web site at the following URL: https://cgsc2.leavenworth.annv.mil/dsa/IOSD/courses/p910/samplebio.asp

BIOGRAPHY OF MAJOR XXXXX XXXXX

I was born on 8 January 1968 in a town called Tepa in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. My mother at that time was a sales person for the Ghana Lotteries Company. My father on the other hand was then an NCO of the Ghana Armed Forces. I had six other siblings. They comprised 3 boys and 3 girls. I had my early child education at New Era Preparatory School in Accra from 1972-1974.1 then continued at St John's Preparatory Primary School at Achimota from 1975-1980. It is interesting to note that, during all these years, I was in the boarding house. This separation from my parents at that early stage of my life toughened me to be able to be on my own for a long time. I had my high school education at Effiduase Secondary School from 1981-1985. It was at this school that I attained my GCE Ordinary Level. I further went to college at Tema Secondary School from 1985-1987 where I obtained my GCE Advance Level Certificate. After my college education, I did my national service duty with the Ghana State House in Accra for 1 year. During this period I worked as an assistant to a Fish Farming Project Team from the University of Ghana. Though I gained some experience and interest in fish farming, it was not enough to make me change the desire to be an Army Officer having lived in the military barracks for the best part of my childhood days. I enlisted into the Ghana Armed Forces on 8 September 1988. My military training was undertaken at Ghana Military Academy at Teshie. It is in the capital town of Ghana, Accra. The training took 22 months and I got commissioned as a 2/Lt on 18 August 1990 as an Infantry Officer. I was posted initially to 1st Infantry Battalion at Michel Camp, Tema. Since commissioning, I have held many appointments in my home country. These include, Platoon Commander, Intelligence Officer, Adjutant and Company Commander. All these appointments were held during my stay with 1st Battalion of Infantry from commissioning to January 1997.1 was then posted to the Ghana Military Academy at Teshie where I held numerous appointments till date. The appointments were Instructor, Course Officer, Course Commander and finally the Chief Training Officer. Indeed I was the Chief Training officer of the School before coming to USACGSC. Instructing at the Military Academy and training Cadets was very demanding but interesting. This was because; I had the opportunity to see the arduous training from the instructor point of view. I have also had a lot of experience as a peacekeeper and combatant. From September 1990 -June 19911 was a platoon commander with the Ghana Battalion in Liberia as part of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group in Liberia (ECOMOG). This was at a time that the rebels had not accepted for ECOMOG to intervene. Our battalion and others from Guinea, Nigeria and Gambia had to go into combat to counter the rebels. This fighting continued until January 1991 when peace-talks were brokered and the ECOMOG troops had to then become peace-keepers instead of peace enforcers. That was a very good experience for me as a young officer then and it is this exposure that has really informed my life and guided the rest of my military life up till date.

Apart from the Liberian experience, I have also had the opportunity to serve on other peace- keeping missions. From March - September 1992, I was a platoon commander who served with United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). This force was in charge of preventing hostilities between Israel and Lebanon along the common border of Lebanon, Israel and Syria. Again between September 1995 and March 2003,1 served with UNIFIL on three more occasions. From September 1995- March 19961 was an intelligence officer of the Ghana Battalion. From March 1998 - March 19991 served as an operations assistant at the UNIFIL Headquarters at Naquora. Finally, from September 2002 - April 2003, I served as the Operations Officer of the Ghana Battalion. One other mission that I participated in was the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR). This was during the period September 1994 - May 1995.1 was this time the Adjutant of the Ghana Battalion. This was at a time when the war was over and the displaced persons were returning to their homes or cantonments. During my military career, I have also attended a number of courses. There courses are as follows: 1991 1993 1994 1997 1999 2002 Motor Transport Officers Course Platoon Officers Course Military Law Basic Course Junior Staff Course Company Commanders Course Senior Staff Course Ghana. Ghana. Ghana. Ghana. Ghana. Ghana.

Currently I am married to Mary Kufor and we have three kids, Meriam, Charles, and Julie. My hobbies include listening to classical music, reading and watching soccer.