U.S. Army Sgt. Rob Shelton, Regionally Aligned Forces (RAF) instructor, speaks to members of the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) March 10, 2016, before basic rifle marksman training at Arta range in Djibouti. Pairs of FAD soldiers carried a litter 100 meters before even picking up their weapon to increase their heart rate to simulate combat stress. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
U.S. Army Regionally Aligned Forces (RAF) Soldiers brief safety rules to members of the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) March 10, 2016, during basic rifle marksman training at Arta range in Djibouti. After learning land navigation skills in the first of three training phases, the FAD soldiers accomplished the second phase consisting of ready-up drills and stress shooting to prepare them for combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Soldiers from the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) completed basic rifle marksman training with help from U.S. Army Regionally Aligned Forces (RAF) Soldiers March 10, 2016, at Arta range, Djibouti.
A Ugandan military officer analyzes maps prior to an exercise Feb. 29, 2016, during an African Union Mission in Somalia staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The course included traditional classroom instruction, hands-on application, practical exercises, exposure to high-level military decision-making, and ended with one final exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
U.S. Army Capt. Erik Buendia, 403rd Civil Affair Battalion, mentors Burundi and Kenyan military officers on civil military engagement Feb. 29, 2016, during an African Union Mission in Somalia staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The course covered six main functions necessary for successful military operations: logistics and personnel, intelligence, public information, civil affairs, military operations, and command leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Kenyan, Ugandan and Burundi military officers review information with their mentor Feb. 29, 2016, during an African Union Mission in Somalia staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The course, administered by the U.S. State Department’s Africa Contingency Operations and Training Assistance program, prepared the officers to work at the AMISOM headquarters level. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
A Ugandan military officer enters a classroom Feb. 29, 2016, during an African Union Mission in Somalia staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The U.S. State Department’s Africa Contingency Operations and Training Assistance program sponsors courses like this every quarter and has trained approximately 45,000 African soldiers since 2004. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Course prepares AMISOM partners for headquarters, security operations in Somalia
3/11/2016
Nearly 30 military officers from African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troop contributing countries met in Nairobi, Kenya, for a staff officers course administered by the U.S. State Department’s Africa Contingency Operations and Training Assistance (ACOTA) program.
An officer from the Uganda People’s Defence Force speaks to a media role player at a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete an AMISOM staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The press conference tested the different directorate officers’ ability to answer questions accurately, confidently and without revealing sensitive military information. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda answer questions at a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete an AMISOM staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. Course mentors recorded the practice conference to show the officers their performance and ultimately lead to improvement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
U.S. military and civilian mentors role play as members of the media and ask questions at a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete an AMISOM staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The practice press conference tested the public information officers’ ability to prepare the conference, media and staff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
A camera records a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. Course mentors recorded the practice conference to show the officers their performance and ultimately lead to improvement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
An officer from the Kenya Defence Forces speaks to media at a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The press conference tested the different directorate officers’ ability to answer questions accurately, confidently and without revealing sensitive military information. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda prepare for a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete an AMISOM staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The practice press conference tested the public information officers’ ability to prepare the conference, media and staff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda gather for a brief March 1, 2016, during an exercise to complete an staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. Military officers from African Union Mission in Somalia troop contributing countries put their training to the test during a Command Post Exercise proving they’re ready to serve at the AMISOM headquarters in Somalia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
An officer from the Burundi National Defence Force briefs his staff as acting commander for a simulated scenario March 1, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. At the beginning of the course, the officers were split into six main directorates necessary for successful military operations: logistics and personnel, intelligence, public information, civil affairs, military operations, and command leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda discuss military operations for a simulated scenario March 1, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. At the beginning of the course, the officers were split into six main directorates necessary for successful military operations: logistics and personnel, intelligence, public information, civil affairs, military operations, and command leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda discuss a simulated scenario March 1, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. Simulations originated from previous real-world Al-Shabaab activity and attacks, which gave the leaders the most realistic assessment in a controlled environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda plan military operations for a simulated scenario Feb. 29, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. This exercise culminated their five-week training and proved they’re ready to serve at African Union Mission in Somalia headquarters or any of the six sectors’ command staffs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda work through a simulated scenario Feb. 29, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. This exercise culminated their five-week training and proved they’re ready to serve at African Union Mission in Somalia headquarters or any of the six sectors’ command staffs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
