TAHOUA, Niger - Col. Mohamed Toumba, Zone 4 Commander, Forces Armees Nigeriennes, or FAN, gives a speech to the dignitaries who attended the Tahoua opening ceremony for Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 11, 2018. Flintlock 2018, hosted by Niger, with key outstations at Burkina Faso and Senegal, is designed to strengthen the ability of key partner nations in the region to counter violent extremist organizations, protect their borders, and provide security for their people.
TAHOUA, Niger - Col. Mohamed Toumba, Zone 4 Commander, Forces Armees Nigeriennes, or FAN, does a pass and review of the Nigerian detachment participating in Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 11, 2018. Flintlock 2018, hosted by Niger, with key outstations at Burkina Faso and Senegal, is designed to strengthen the ability of key partner nations in the region to counter violent extremist organizations, protect their borders, and provide security for their people. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kulani Lakanaria/RELEASED)
TAHOUA, Niger - Col. Mohamed Toumba, Zone 4 Commander, Forces Armees Nigeriennes, or FAN, does a pass and review of the FAN participating in Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 11, 2018. Flintlock 2018, hosted by Niger, with key outstations at Burkina Faso and Senegal, is designed to strengthen the ability of key partner nations in the region to counter violent extremist organizations, protect their borders, and provide security for their people. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kulani Lakanaria/RELEASED)
TAHOUA, Niger - Col. Mohamed Toumba, Zone 4 Commander, Forces Armees Nigeriennes, or FAN, inspects international service members participating in Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 11, 2018. Flintlock 2018, hosted by Niger, with key outstations at Burkina Faso and Senegal, is designed to strengthen the ability of key partner nations in the region to counter violent extremist organizations, protect their borders, and provide security for their people. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kulani Lakanaria/RELEASED)
TAHOUA, Niger - Governor Elhadj Mahamadou Zéti Maiga, the governor of the Tahoua Region gives a speech to the participants of Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 11, 2018. Flintlock 2018, hosted by Niger, with key outstations at Burkina Faso and Senegal, is designed to strengthen the ability of key partner nations in the region to counter violent extremist organizations, protect their borders, and provide security for their people.
U.S. Africa Command Foreign Policy Advisor Robin Cromer discusses embassy coordination during a tabletop exercise. AFRICOM and Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) co-sponsored a natural disaster response forum in Accra. The event brought together experts in disaster management from multiple organizations in Ghana and the U.S. and was conducted at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, March 12-15, 2018. (U.S. AFRICOM photo)
U.S. Africa Command J5 Civil Affairs NCOIC Sgt. First Class S Rahsann Soumas speaks on civilian-military coordination. AFRICOM and Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) co-sponsored a natural disaster response forum in Accra. The event brought together experts in disaster management from multiple organizations in Ghana and the U.S. and was conducted at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, March 12-15, 2018. (U.S. AFRICOM photo)
U.S. Africa Command personnel meet with Ghana's Minister of the Interior, the Honorable Ambrose Deby. AFRICOM and Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) co-sponsored a natural disaster response forum in Accra. The event brought together experts in disaster management from multiple organizations in Ghana and the U.S. and was conducted at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, March 12-15, 2018. (U.S. AFRICOM photo)
NADMO Deputy Director General Joseph Ankrah discusses disaster preparedness. U.S. Africa Command and Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) co-sponsored a natural disaster response forum in Accra. The event brought together experts in disaster management from multiple organizations in Ghana and the U.S. and was conducted at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, March 12-15, 2018. (U.S. AFRICOM photo)
Animal Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), pack school supplies into backpacks to be given to Somali children in Ali Oune, Djibouti, March 28, 2018. CJTF-HOA service members donated more than $400 of school supplies and sandals to Somali refugees in Djibouti. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore)
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Juan Vela, left, and 1st Lt. Aidan Dietz, right, both with Animal Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), present a portable manual pencil sharpener mounted to a hand-made board engraved with their unit logo to Amin Houssein, a teacher in Ali Oune, Djibouti, March 28, 2018. CJTF-HOA service members donated more than $400 of school supplies and sandals to Somali refugee students in Djibouti. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore)
U.S. Navy Seabee Builder 2nd Class (BU2) Kenneth Carey, with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 (NMCB 11) currently deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, hands out sandals to Somali children in Ali Oune, Djibouti, March 28, 2018. Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa service members donated more than $400 of school supplies and sandals to Somali refugees in Djibouti. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore)
U.S. Navy Seabee Construction Electrician 2nd Class (CE2) Crystal Dominguez, with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 (NMCB 11) currently deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, hand out sandals to Somali children in Ali Oune, Djibouti, March 28, 2018. Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa service members donated more than $400 of school supplies and sandals to Somali refugees in Djibouti. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore)
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Juan Vela, platoon sergeant with Animal Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), selects school supplies to put into backpacks to be given to Somali children in Ali Oune, Djibouti, March 28, 2018. CJTF-HOA service members donated more than $400 of school supplies and sandals to Somali refugees in Djibouti. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore)
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Aidan Dietz, with Animal Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), hands a backpack filled with school supplies a Somali child in Ali Oune, Djibouti, March 28, 2018. CJTF-HOA service members donated more than $400 of school supplies and sandals to Somali refugee students in Djibouti. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore)
U.S. Army Soldiers with Animal Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) put school supplies into backpacks to be given to Somali children in Ali Oune, Djibouti, March 28, 2018. CJTF-HOA service members donated more than $400 of school supplies and sandals to Somali refugees in Djibouti. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore)
U.S. Army Soldiers with Animal Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) put school supplies into backpacks to be given to Somali children in Ali Oune, Djibouti, March 28, 2018. CJTF-HOA service members donated more than $400 of school supplies and sandals to Somali refugees in Djibouti. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore)
“Bring a knife and some dip” No-nonsense Soldiers Train Nigerian Infantry
8:29 AM4/10/2018
Twelve U.S. Army Soldiers share tactics and training with a little over 200 Nigerian Army Soldiers from 26th Infantry Battalion in a remote military compound four hours north of the capital in Jaji. The seven- week training includes reacting to an IED, react to an ambush, securing an objective, operations planning, etc. The training's significance cannot be underestimated. These Nigerian Soldiers may eventually use these tactics when forward-deployed to fight against the violent terrorist organization, Boko Haram.
Nigerian Advanced infantry training has significant implications outside of on-the-ground tactical maneuvers. This bilateral military-to-military training carries diplomatic weight showcasing the U.S.'s commitment to its African partners and Nigeria's commitment to countering violent extremist organizations. (Photo by Capt. James Sheehan)