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Sgt. First Class Jason Giacomucci, logistics planner for U.S. Army Africa, and Lt. Col. Mamadou Laminet Kouate, logistics officer for the Senegalese Army, discuss plans to support the African Readiness Training 2016 exercise during the initial planning event in Dakar, Senegal, Jan. 12-14. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Capt. Anielka DiFelice)

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Photo by: Capt. Anielka DiFelice 

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U.S. Army Africa Image

Maj. Michael Gacheru, U.S. Army Africa, and Capt. Michael Kearnes, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, are briefed at the Senegalese training facility where the African Readiness Training 2016 exercise will take place. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Capt. Anielka DiFelice)

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Photo by: Capt. Anielka DiFelice 

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U.S. Army Africa Image

Maj. Michael Gacheru, U.S. Army Africa, and Capt. Michael Kearnes, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, are briefed at the Senegalese training facility where the African Readiness Training 2016 exercise will take place. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Capt. Anielka DiFelice)

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Photo by: Capt. Anielka DiFelice 

Planners from U.S. Army Africa, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment and the Senegalese Army met Jan. 12-14 to conduct the initial planning event for the African Readiness Training 2016.

The training is currently scheduled to take place here in July and will include Soldiers from the U.S. and Senegalese armies.

ART16, a combined multilateral training exercise, focuses on enhancing the capacity of African partners while achieving U.S. Army readiness, crisis response proficiency and joint interoperability with partner nations. This is the first exercise of this type to be executed on the continent where U.S. Army, Marine and Senegalese forces will train together in an African training location as part of the readiness effort.

“We are thankful for the partnership and cooperation we have with the United States and for all the military training they have provided and continue to provide to the Senegalese Army,” said Col. Insa Sagna, Senegalese Army deputy chief of staff, during the planning session at the Senegalese Army Headquarters.

“This relationship and partnership between the U.S. and Senegal is appreciated, especially during these days,” said Sagna.

Maj. Michael Gacheru, U.S. Army Africa ART16’s lead planner, thanked the Senegalese for making this event possible.

“Readiness of our forces is our number one priority. With all the threats that we face we can’t do this alone. We need the help of our partners,” said Gacheru.

This is going to be good, we are going to learn, and you are going to learn, said Col. Saifoulaye Sow, Senegalese Army chief of operations and lead planner.

U.S. and Senegalese planners worked together as a combined staff to shape the desire outcomes of the exercise. Additionally, the team had the opportunity to tour the Senegalese training facilities.

Planning for this event started in May with follow on events in the U.S., Senegal and Germany. The concept of this training was validated in Spain during the African Readiness Training 2015 with the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force and the Spanish Legion.

ART16 is supported by the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, which is part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia, the regionally allocated force supporting U.S. Army Africa operations.

“The U.S. can’t be everywhere and this partnership means that we become stronger by mutually sharing our knowledge and experiences,” said Gacheru.

Building strong partnerships with African nations is part of the African Horizons strategy and the U.S. Army’s resolve to build a global land force network to combat shared threats and challenges.