Exercise Eastern Accord builds readiness with African partners

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Eastern Accord 2016 participants attend the Opening Ceremony to commence the command post exercise at the Tanzanian Peacekeeping Training Centre, July 11, 2016, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. EA16 is an annual, combined, joint military exercise that brings together partner nations to practice and demonstrate proficiency in conducting peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault/Released)

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Senior military leaders from the Tanzanian and U.S. militaries, alongside Hussein Ali Mwinyi, Tanzanian Minister of Defense and National Service, preside over the opening ceremony for exercise Eastern Accord 2016 at the Tanzanian Peacekeeping Training Centre, July 11, 2016, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. EA16 is an annual, combined, joint military exercise that brings together partner nations to practice and demonstrate proficiency in conducting peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault/Released)

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jon Jensen, U.S. Army Africa deputy commanding general and co-exercise director, welcomes participants to the Eastern Accord 2016 command post exercise during the opening ceremony at the Tanzanian Peacekeeping Training Centre on July, 11, 2016, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. EA16 is an annual, combined, joint military exercise that brings together partner nations to practice and demonstrate proficiency in conducting peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault/Released)

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Tanzanian Brig. Gen. Yohana Ocholla Mabongo, Eastern Accord 2016 exercise co-director, welcomes the participants to the Eastern Accord 2016 command post exercise during the Opening Ceremony at the Tanzanian Peacekeeping Training Centre on July, 11, 2016, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. EA16 is an annual, combined, joint military exercise that brings together partner nations to practice and demonstrate proficiency in conducting peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault/Released)

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Eastern Accord 2016 participants attend the command post exercise Opening Ceremony at the Tanzanian Peacekeeping Training Centre on July 11, 2016 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. EA16 is an annual, combined, joint military exercise that brings together partner nations to practice and demonstrate proficiency in conducting peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault/Released)

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Hussein Ali Mwyini, Minister of Defense and National Service, presents the Eastern Accord 2016 flag representing the commencement of the command post exercise the Tanzanian Peacekeeping Training Centre on July 11, 2016, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. EA16 is an annual, combined, joint military exercise that brings together partner nations to practice and demonstrate proficiency in conducting peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault/Released)

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Senior military leaders and Hussein Ali Mwyini, Minister of Defense and National Service, take a group photograph with the U.S. Eastern Accord 2016 participants at the Opening Ceremony at the Tanzanian Peacekeeping Training Centre on July 11, 2016, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. EA16 is an annual, combined, joint military exercise that brings together partner nations to practice and demonstrate proficiency in conducting peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault/Released)

The tenth iteration of Exercise Phoenix Express serves to improve regional cooperation, increase maritime domain awareness information-sharing practices, and operational capabilities to enhance efforts to achieve safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Brandon Ditmire, a combat engineer with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, assists a Uganda People’s Defense Force soldier level the base for a concrete slab during a civil engineering exercise at Camp Singo, Nov. 16, 2015. The exercise helps the partner nations fortify their civil engineering skills while strengthening the bond between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Olivia McDonald/Released)

U.S. Marine Cpl. Brandon Ditmire, a combat engineer with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, gives a thumbs-up to a Uganda People’s Defense Force soldier during a civil engineering exercise at Camp Singo, Nov. 16, 2015. The exercise helps the partner nations fortify their civil engineering skills while strengthening the bond between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Olivia McDonald/Released)

U.S. Marine combat engineers with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, assist Uganda People’s Defense Force soldiers nail in one of the wall frames during a civil engineering exercise at Camp Singo, Nov. 19, 2015. The exercise helps the partner nations fortify their civil engineering skills while strengthening the bond between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Olivia McDonald/Released)

A Uganda People’s Defense Force soldier saws the top of a post in preparation to finish the flooring during a civil engineering exercise at Camp Singo, Nov. 16, 2015. The exercise helps the partner nations fortify their civil engineering skills while strengthening the bond between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Olivia McDonald/Released)

U.S. Marines and sailors teach Togolese and Beninese sailors combat lifesaver medical training, Nov. 3, in Lome, Togo. U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos trained the Togolese and Beninese sailors as part of the Africa Partnership Station, which is a U.S. Naval Forces Africa initiative that aims to increase the maritime safety and security capacity of African partners through collaboration and regional cooperation through engagement exercises that build toward self-sustained African security of the maritime domain.

U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos teach Nigerian sailors weapons handling skills and marksmanship, Oct. 22, in Sekondi, Ghana. U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos trained the Nigerian sailors as part of the Africa Partnership Station, which is a U.S. Naval Forces Africa initiative that aims to increase the maritime safety and security capacity of African partners through collaboration and regional cooperation through engagement exercises that build toward self-sustained African security of the maritime domain.

U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos teach Ghanaian Navy sailors room-clearing techniques, Oct. 22, in Sekondi, Ghana. U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos trained the Ghanaian Navy sailors as part of the Africa Partnership Station, which is a U.S. Naval Forces Africa initiative that aims to increase the maritime safety and security capacity of African partners through collaboration and regional cooperation through engagement exercises that build toward self-sustained African security of the maritime domain.

Angola's Fuzileiros Operaçües Especiais Marines prepare to clear buildings after disembarking a boat during room-clearing training, Oct. 7, in Lobito, Angola. U.S. Marines and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos trained the Fuzileiros Operaçües Especiais Marines as part of the Africa Partnership Station, which is a U.S Naval Forces Africa initiative that aims to increase the maritime safety and security capacity of African partners through collaboration, regional cooperation through engagement exercises that build toward self-sustained African security of the maritime domain.

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Malachi McPherson, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, shows some of the different types of improvised explosive devices to members of the Uganda People’s Defense Force during an IED awareness class at Camp Singo, Uganda, Nov. 2, 2015. Marines and sailors with SPMAGTF-CR-AF are training with the UPDF to increase engineering and logistical capabilities while strengthening the bonds between the partner counties. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Olivia McDonald/Released)

U.S. Marine Sgt. Sean O’Hair, a combat engineer with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, helps a member of the Uganda People’s Defense Force through an improvised explosive device awareness exercise at Camp Singo, Uganda, Nov. 3, 2015. Marines and sailors with SPMAGTF-CR-AF are training with the UPDF to increase engineering and logistical capabilities while strengthening the bonds between the partner counties. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Olivia McDonald/Released)

This year, the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program expanded to include a partnership between the Djiboutian Armed Forces and the Kentucky National Guard, and one between the Massachusetts National Guard and Kenya Defence Forces.