Photo By Maj. Justin Zwick | Special operations leaders from the U.S. Army, Chad, Tunisia and Gabon collaborate...... read more read more
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JACQUEVILLE, Côte d'Ivoire – Exercise Flintlock 26 in Côte d’Ivoire entered a new phase, transitioning from classroom academics and range training to an integrated field exercise intended to bring together and test mission planning and execution.
The exercise scenario will incorporate key skills from the past week’s academic training including checkpoint procedures, close-quarters battle drills, marksmanship training, small Unmanned Aircraft Systems operations and vehicle operations into cohesive mission sets.
“During the range portion, allied and partner nations built the foundation needed to execute a complex scenario,” said U.S. Army Col. Brandon Holmer, commander, Special Operations Detachment – Africa. “Concurrently, academics is where we built a baseline for the command elements supporting the tactical units.”
With the fundamentals down, special operations forces are now applying those lessons in complex scenarios designed to replicate realworld operational environments.
“One of the objectives of the exercise is to incorporate the multinational comprehensive operations planning process at decentralized command and control units, something we practiced in academics to ensure they are ready when we move to the scenario,” said a Flintlock planner. “Developing this shared understanding across the multinational force is a critical aspect that will foster the information sharing needed between simulated cross border command and control entities to deliver desired effects.”
The shift to integrated training enables multinational forces to operate side-by-side while executing complex missions to meet shared security objectives. By combining tactical disciplines, exercise participants are enhancing their ability to coordinate movements, communicate effectively and respond to evolving security threats in a unified manner.
Training events are being conducted in and around designated sites in Côte d’Ivoire, where units are challenged to adapt their individual proficiencies into team-based execution. This phase emphasizes synchronization across partner forces, reinforcing interoperability and strengthening collective readiness.
“It’s been a great way to learn from other nations,” said a Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service operator. “There’s always a debrief after each event. There we receive feedback, and an opportunity to exchange what we know.”
While many of the tactics are familiar to these elite teams, the value of the exercise lies in the shared environment. The Nigerian operator described the training not as a discovery of new skills, but as a vital synchronization of existing ones.
"I believe these are basic skills that are going to be employed in repetition in execution of almost all operations... it’s like a reminder for the tasks ahead," he said.
By treating these drills as a collective "rehearsal," the participants ensure the security of real-world challenges. Their response is instinctive and unified, bridging the gap between individual national tactics and a cohesive regional capability.
| Date Taken: | 04.16.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.20.2026 18:20 |
| Story ID: | 563054 |
| Location: | CI |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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