Nigeria, US Strengthen Defence Ties As American Forces Intensify Training In Bauchi

The United States has increased military training for Nigerian troops in Bauchi State, with a focus on unmanned aircraft systems, combat casualty care and other battlefield skills.

The training, at an operating location in Bauchi, is part of broader US-Nigeria security cooperation to improve military capability, operational readiness and long-term capacity of Nigerian forces.

The exercises included Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care, weapons familiarization, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small-unit tactics and unmanned aircraft systems, a United States Africa Command report released Monday said.

“U.S. and Nigerian forces are participating in a series of training events at Operating Location Bauchi, Nigeria, designed to share military expertise, build partner capacity and foster relationships between service members from both countries.

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

Capt Gabriel Feingold, a logistics officer assigned to the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and operations officer at OL Bauchi, said Nigerian personnel were allowed to identify the training areas they found most beneficial.

“We give them a list of several different training topics, and they choose what they think would be most beneficial to them,” Feingold said.

The report said unmanned aircraft systems were of particular interest to the Nigerian forces. Sgt. Mark Murphy, an intelligence analyst with the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, led the training, which included about 10 members of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment.

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The Nigerian personnel were first given about 45 minutes of instruction before participating in hands-on exercises involving the operation of the aircraft and the use of information gathered by the systems in military operations.

“They were really excited to be able to get hands-on time with it,” Murphy said, adding the Nigerian personnel were interested in receiving further training.

The exercises were also designed to strengthen relationships and improve interoperability between U.S. and Nigerian personnel, particularly at lower levels of the two forces, the U.S. Africa Command said.

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

That development follows AFRICOM’s July announcement that the US had pulled most of its troops sent to Nigeria for a specific counterterrorism operation but kept intelligence-sharing and security cooperation with the country.

AFRICOM said additional training opportunities were being developed at the Bauchi operating location as both nations continued to identify areas to share expertise and improve military capabilities.