Jordan hosts exercise Eager Lion to build sustainable partnerships, security expertise

Photo By Capt. Olivia Cobiskey-Haftmann | Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) specialists from Jordan, the U.S., Italy, and Belgium called in an air strike from the desert just outside of Amman – as the six 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition, GBU-38s, hit their target, it was a tactile demonstration of the power of cooperation and partnership in securing the region and kicked off this year’s iteration of Eager Lion. Approximately 1,860 U.S. service members, 2,270 Jordanian Armed Forces, and 820 coalition personnel from 28 partner nations participated in this year's multilateral military training exercise Eager Lion 22, one of the largest military exercises in the region, Sept 4-15, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Cpt. Olivia Cobiskey-Haftmann)  

JORDAN

09.04.2022

Story by Capt. Olivia Cobiskey-Haftmann 

U.S. Army Central   

AMMAN, Jordan – Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) specialists from Jordan, the U.S., Italy, and Belgium called in an air strike from the desert just outside of Amman – as the six 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition, GBU-38s, hit their target, it was a tactile demonstration of the power of cooperation and partnership in securing the region and kicked off this year’s iteration of Eager Lion.

Eager Lion, one of the largest military exercises in the region, will include training to advance proficiencies for Maritime and Border Security, disaster response, and humanitarian aid. This exercise affords participants opportunities to improve interagency communications and coordination, using fictitious regular and irregular warfare scenarios, to activate a Combined Joint Task Force.

“The U.S. is honored to continue a long-standing tradition of partnership in the Eager Lion exercise hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,” said Brig. Gen. Matthew S. Reid, commanding general, Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, during the Eager Lion 22 opening ceremony, Sept. 4, 2022, in Amman, Jordan. “This exercise bonds our countries armed forces and highlights the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF), which is one of U.S. Central Command’s strongest and most reliable partners leading the way for security and stability in the region.”

Jordan, the United States, and 28 partner nations gathered in Amman for a two-week multilateral military training exercise, Eager Lion. Sept. 4-15. JAF Brig. Gen. Abdullah Al-Shdeifat, Deputy Commanding General, Training and Operations Command, said the exercise is key to building trust with new partners, while allowing regional partners to sustain mature relationships that highlight their mutual interest to countering terrorism and maintaining regional security.

“There are strategic challenges in the region – politically, socially, and economically – that have led to the development of extremist beliefs. These beliefs directly affect security and stability throughout the world,” said, Al-Shdeifat, while welcoming participants to the exercise. “I would like to thank and acknowledge all our partners for their preparation and planning for this exercise. The participation of 28 nations, friends and allies, assures the importance of the mutual cooperation, highlighted by this exercise, which is the largest in the region.”

This year’s scenario will test interoperability addressing regional challenges across Air, Land, Sea, and Cyber domains. The exercise’s Command Post Exercise and Senior Leader Seminar will facilitate information sharing from the tactical to the strategic levels.

U.S. Ambassador to Jordan, Henry T. Wooster, reiterated how important the U.S. military presence forward is in countering new and continuing threats together.

“Our participation in Eager Lion underscores Jordan’s importance as a regional partner and our commitment to all our Middle East partners,” Wooster said. “Together, we work to counter aggressive actions by malign state and non-state actors in the region and around the world.”

• Date Taken: 09.04.2022
• Date Posted: 09.08.2022 09:29
• Story ID: 428719
• Location: JO