US Begins Drone, Tactical Training For Nigerian Troops In Bauchi

AFRICOM highlights US training of Nigerian troops in Bauchi State.
Training covered drones, combat casualty care and other military skills.
US officer says exercises strengthened relationships between both forces.

The United States Africa Command has commended the training of Nigerian troops as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.

The training, conducted at an undisclosed operating location in Bauchi State, covered several military skills, including unmanned aircraft systems, combat casualty care and weapons familiarisation.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that AFRICOM disclosed this in a report released on Monday, saying the exercises were designed to share military expertise, strengthen Nigeria’s operational capacity and improve cooperation between the armed forces of both countries.

According to the Command, the training included Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care instruction, weapons familiarisation, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small unit tactics and unmanned aircraft system operations.

The report stated that the training formed part of a broader US Nigeria security cooperation mission focused on improving military capability, readiness and long term partner capacity.

“U.S. and Nigerian forces are conducting a series of training events at Operating Location Bauchi, Nigeria, aimed at sharing military expertise, strengthening partner capacity and building relationships between service members from both nations,” AFRICOM said.

“Training conducted between U.S. and Nigerian forces at Bauchi has included Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care instruction, weapons familiarisation, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small unit tactics and unmanned aircraft system training.”

Speaking on the exercises, Capt Gabriel Feingold, a logistics officer assigned to the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and the operations officer at Operating Location Bauchi, said US units presented Nigerian military leadership with several training options.

According to Feingold, Nigerian commanders selected the areas considered most relevant to their operational needs.

Unmanned aircraft systems attracted particular interest from the Nigerian forces, with Sgt Mark Murphy, an intelligence analyst assigned to the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, leading about 10 members of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment through the training.

The session began with about 45 minutes of classroom instruction before the Nigerian personnel moved on to practical training involving the operation of the aircraft.

The training was not limited to technical and operational skills, as the exercises also provided an opportunity for American and Nigerian service members to interact and strengthen working relationships.

AFRICOM said the joint activities were intended to improve interoperability between the two forces while allowing personnel from both countries to exchange knowledge and experience.

Feingold said the interaction was particularly important at the lower levels of the military structure, where personnel from both countries could develop closer working relationships.

“It helps build relationships between Soldiers and the partner force, especially at the lower levels,” he said.

The latest training is part of continued military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, with both countries seeking to improve the capacity and readiness of their security forces.