Western Accord 2016 planning event lays foundation for May exercise

Photo By Capt. victor guzman | U.S. Army Africa in partnership with Burkina Faso Defense Forces, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, and African partner nations came together for Western Accord 2016 initial planning event in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Jan. 25-29. WA 16 IPE enables delegates to share expertise and regional experience to design an exercise that replicates the MINUSMA Sector Headquarters mission command in support of United Nations and African Union mandated peacekeeping operations. Exercise WA 16 is designed to develop the capacity of the stand by force, its member nations and allies rapid deployment capability to plan deploy, employ, sustain and redeploy forces in support of A.U./U.N. mandated peace operations in a regional crisis. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Capt. Victor Guzman)  

OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO

01.29.2016

Story by Capt. victor guzman 

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso – Representatives from the U.S. Army and the Burkina Faso Defense Forces, in conjunction with eight African partner nations, came together here for Western Accord 2016 initial planning event Jan. 25-29.

Exercise WA 16, scheduled later in the year, assist in the development of capacity of the stand-by force, its member nations and allied rapid deployment capability to plan and deploy, employ, sustain and redeploy forces in support of African Union and European Union mandated peace operations in a regional crisis.

“With every planning event we learn from each other,” said Capt. Scott Saunders, an exercise planner assigned to U.S. Army Africa, based in Vicenza, Italy. “If we really want to get all of the training value from an exercise, as leaders and planners, we need to ensure we are inclusive and seek consensus during the early planning stages.”

USARAF is the lead U.S. component for the exercise, with participation from the regionally-allocated 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Under the Regionally Aligned Forces concept, 2nd Brigade supports training exercises and operations in Africa under United States Africa Command.

The WA 16 initial planning event enables delegates to share expertise and regional experience to design an exercise, which replicates the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali Sector Headquarters mission command in support of United Nations and African Union mandated peacekeeping operations.

The BFDF hosted the combined-joint event with attendees from Sierra Leon, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Chad and representatives from MINUSMA.

“Partner nations were extremely engaged during the planning,” said Tim Gray, counter improvised explosive device training integrator, USARAF. “Partners shared firsthand information on tactics, techniques and procedures MINUSMA forces face in countering IEDs while striving to conduct their mandated mission.”

Participants worked together and accomplished essential tasks, which included the constructing of joint manning document, confirmation of exercise location and validation of scenarios for the command post exercise. The main planning event was directed by the many objectives and deliverables required to move to the next stage in planning.

“I’ve seen a lot of good open communication since the start of the event,” said Maj. Justin Sisak, an operations officer assigned to USARAF. “There’s been a lot of good synergy between partners and planners from USARAF and 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.”

During the weeklong planning event, participants toured the proposed training site to identify logistical needs, medical requirements and allow planners to visualize their planning efforts with their host nation partners.

“Burkinabe engineers didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak French however, we both knew what we were talking about,” said Maj. Sean Burnett, Joint Engineer Support Group, 2nd Brigade. “When it came to electricity, plumbing and sanitation we both understood each other.”

“Conducting a multinational planning event provides U.S. planners an appreciation of the operating environment in Africa,” said Bob Krcelic, an exercise planner assigned to USARAF.

Sisak concluded the planning event by taking a moment to connect with participants: “The collection of tasks were challenging in such a short time, but with the partnership and collaboration of all the Western African nations present and European allies, we are making a true impact in the region.”

• Date Taken: 01.29.2016
• Date Posted: 02.03.2016 04:45
• Story ID: 187755
• Location: OUAGADOUGOU, BF