Western Accord 16 is underway in Burkina Faso

U.S. Army Africa and Burkina Faso military planners worked with representatives from 18 different countries to complete the final planning process for Western Accord 2016 March 21-25.

Brig. Gen. Kenneth H. Moore, Jr., U.S. Army Africa deputy commanding general and Col. Maj. Yaya Sere, chief planning officer and chief of operations for the General Staff of the Burkina Faso Armed Forces take a guided tour of the Western Accord 2016 training site at the BFAF Noncommissioned Officer Academy March 22. WA 16 is a two-week long exercise with regional African partners and their Western allies designed to strengthen partnerships and enhance capacity and capabilities to conduct joint multinational peacekeeping operations in West Africa. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chris Bridson)

Military members from 16 nations participated in the 12-day exercise that ended July 31 in The Netherlands.

Western Accord 2015 is officially underway as participants enter the academic phase of the exercise at Winkelman Kazerne in the Netherlands.

Staff members from a number of military organizations participating in Western Accord 15 prepare for the upcoming a command post exercise at Winkelman Kazerne, Harskamp, The Netherlands, July 22. The exercise encourages participants to work together in preparation for multi-national responses to peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Staff Sgt. Killo Gibson)

Staff members participating in Western Accord 2015 prepare for the upcoming command post exercise at Winkelman Kazerne, Harskamp, The Netherlands, July 22. The exercise benefits participating militaries and encourages them to work together in preparation for multi-national responses to peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Staff Sgt. Killo Gibson)

Using a scenario modeled after an existing U.N. mission in Mali, Western Accord is a command post exercise designed to strengthen multinational coordination during military operations.

Dutch Brig. Gen. Gino van der Voet, director of training and operations, Royal Netherlands Army Command, addresses a formation of U.S., African and European servicemembers during the opening ceremony for Western Accord 2015, at Harkscamp, The Netherlands, July 20. Western Accord 2015 is a command post exercise in the Netherlands July 20-31. Western Accord 15 replicates the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, Sector Headquarters mission command in support of United Nation and African Union mandated peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Sgt. Marcus Fichtl)

U.S., African and European servicemembers stand in formation during the opening ceremony for Western Accord 2015, at Harkscamp, The Netherlands, July 20. Western Accord 2015 is a command post exercise in the Netherlands from July 20-31. Western Accord 15 replicates the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, Sector Headquarters mission command in support of United Nation and African Union mandated peacekeeping operations. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Sgt. Marcus Fichtl)

In partnership with Senegal and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), U.S. Army Africa conducted U.S. Africa Command’s Exercise Western Accord 14 to enhance ECOWAS' ability to provide mission command capability to support regional peace operations.

Senegalese soldiers practice live fire maneuvers during a training exercise in support of Exercise Western Accord 14, June 19. Exercise Western Accord 14 is a U.S. Africa Command sponsored annual joint training partnership exercise between the United States, the Economic Community of West African States and partner nations. The exercise, held in Senegal this year, is designed to increase interoperability between military forces and ensure the common ability to conduct peace operations throughout western Africa. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Staff Sgt. Donna Davis)

After joining the U.S. Army two years ago, Spec. Lassana Traore, food service specialist, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division never imagined he would find himself back in his native land of Senegal, Africa, nor in a role of a translator supporting the U.S. Army.

Soldiers from 49th Medical Battalion, 912th Forward Surgical Team from Cranston, Rhode Island and the 335th Area Support Medical Company from Puerto Rico deployed to Senegal, Africa in support of Exercise Western Accord 14, a U.S. Africa Command-sponsored joint annual training event hosted by U.S. Army Africa and a joint training mission between the U.S., the Economic Community of West African States and partner nations.

Soldiers of the 49th Medical Battalion are spending their annual training in Senegal, Africa in support of Exercise Western Accord 2014.

The U.S. Africa Command-sponsored and U.S. Army Africa-hosted exercise was attended by soldiers from Economic Community of West African States, France, Netherlands, U.S. and other partner nations.

Marines with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, spent a week in June training and working with Economic of West African States militaries during Exercise Western Accord 14.

Exercise Western Accord is a key element in a broader series of military-to-military activities to demonstrate the strong partnership between the U.S., United Nations, Netherlands, France and other regional African partners and participating militaries.

Soldiers from Ghana train with U.S. Army Soldiers and Marines during Exercise Western Accord 14.