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The United States has intensified military training for Nigerian troops in Bauchi State, with a focus on unmanned aircraft systems, combat casualty care and other battlefield skills.
The training, conducted at an operating location in Bauchi, forms part of broader US-Nigeria security cooperation aimed at improving military capability, operational readiness and the long-term capacity of Nigerian forces.
According to a report released by the United States Africa Command on Monday, the exercises covered Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care, weapons familiarisation, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small-unit tactics and unmanned aircraft systems.
“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.
“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,” the report 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 considered most beneficial.
“We bring them a list of several different training topics, and they select what they think would be most beneficial for them,” Feingold said.
The report said unmanned aircraft systems attracted particular interest from the Nigerian forces. Sgt Mark Murphy, an intelligence analyst assigned to the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, led about 10 members of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment through the training.
The Nigerian personnel first received about 45 minutes of instruction before taking part 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 with being able to get hands-on time with it,” Murphy said, adding that the Nigerian personnel were interested in receiving further training.
The US Africa Command said the exercises were also designed to strengthen relationships and improve interoperability between American and Nigerian personnel, particularly at lower levels of the two forces.
“It helps build relationships between Soldiers and the partner force, especially at the lower levels,” Feingold said.
The development comes after AFRICOM disclosed in July that the US had withdrawn most of its troops deployed to Nigeria for a specific counterterrorism operation, while retaining intelligence-sharing and security cooperation with the country.
AFRICOM said further training opportunities were being developed at the Bauchi operating location as both countries continued to identify areas for sharing expertise and improving military capabilities.
