Sailors of the Navy Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 hosted Brig. Gen. Kenneth Moore, the U.S. Army Africa deputy commanding general and Army Reserve Engagement Cell chief, Feb. 7, 2017. PHOTO/COURTESY
By SECURITY CORRESPONDENT
newsdesk@reporter.co.ke
The U.S. military, in partnership with AMISOM troop and police contributing countries, allies, the African Union, and other international organizations are scheduled to conduct a joint exercise code named Justified Accord 2017.
The table top exercise Justified Accord 2017, formerly known as Eastern accord, will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between March 20-24.
The Justified Accord 2017 is an AFRICOM-directed and U.S. Army Africa (USARAF)-led combined and joint exercise with approximately 100 military and government personnel participating from 10 nations.
This year’s iteration will bring together African partners and Allied nations in a classroom setting to discuss topics related to peacekeeping operations. This exercise will include structured vignettes and practical applications related to transitioning AMISOM to a Somali-led mission.
Senegalese and American military medical professionals hosted a closing ceremony on the last day of Medical Readiness Training Exercise 17-1 at the Hospital Militaire De Ouakam in Dakar, Senegal, Jan. 25, to highlight the strengthened partnerships. PHOTO/COURTESY
The end goal of JA17 is to increase interoperability, to further relationships with partners in the region, and to build upon the plan for a more robust exercise for JA18.
Once the exercise is complete, all exercise participants will return to their home countries and stations.
U.S. Army Africa, as the Army Service Component Command for U.S. Africa Command is called, strengthens the land force capabilities of African states and regional organizations, supports AFRICOM operations, and conducts decisive action in order to establish a secure environment and protect the national security interests of the United States. USARAF/SETAF remains available for deployment in support of NATO operations.
From October 2011 through January 2012, U.S. Army Africa was called upon to participate in Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn and Odyssey Guard. With a coalition of more than a dozen nations, JTF-Odyssey Dawn assisted to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Gaddafi regime forces.
Malawi Defense Force reconnaissance study land navigation alongside US Army trainers from 101 Bastogne. PHOTO/COURTESY
It also orchestrated the aero medical evacuation of 26 injured Libyan freedom fighters. In January 2012, by Department of Army general order, SETAF was officially re-designated USARAF/SETAF and further designated as an Army Service Component Command, connecting USARAF/SETAF to Ninth U.S. Army’s lineage, fitting USARAF/SETAF fully within the Army’s evolving structure for units above the division level.
In the years since USARAF’s inception, it has made progress through a consistent program of senior leader engagements and regionally focused activities. It has witnessed the restructuring of the African exercise program to address regional concerns, built multilateral relationships and supports a shared vision of 54 stable, secure nations.
U.S. Army Africa, known also as Ninth U.S. Army, continue the path of success and the command remains in close collaboration with and responsive to US’s, African and interagency partners in the years to come.
The U.S. Army Africa team and its dynamic partners continue to partner today for Africa tomorrow. America’s premier Army team dedicated to positive change in Africa.
