American Military Increases Training Support For Nigerian Troops In Bauchi

The United States has stepped up military training for Nigerian troops in Bauchi State, with an emphasis on unmanned aircraft systems, combat casualty care and other battlefield skills.

The training, which took place at an operational location in Bauchi, is part of wider US-Nigeria security cooperation aimed at improving military capability, operational readiness and long-term capacity of Nigerian forces.

The drills included Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care, weapons familiarization, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small-unit tactics and unmanned aircraft systems, according to a United States Africa Command report released Monday.

“The U.S. and Nigerian forces are participating in a series of training events at Operating Location Bauchi, Nigeria, to share military expertise, build partner capacity and foster relationships between service members from both countries.

“Training between U.S. and Nigerian forces at Bauchi has included Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care instruction, weapons familiarization, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small unit tactics and unmanned aircraft system training,” it said.

Capt Gabriel Feingold, a logistics officer with the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and operations officer at OL Bauchi, said Nigerian personnel were given the opportunity to identify the training areas they found most beneficial.

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“We provide them with a list of several different training topics, and they select what they feel would be most beneficial for them,” Feingold said.

The report said the unmanned aircraft systems were of particular interest to the Nigerian forces. The training was led by Sgt. Mark Murphy, an intelligence analyst with the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and included about 10 members of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment.

The Nigerian personnel were first given about 45 minutes of instruction before taking part in hands-on exercises involving the operation of the aircraft and the use of information gathered by the systems in military operations.

“They were really excited to get hands-on time with it,” Murphy said, adding that the Nigerian personnel were interested in receiving further training.

The exercises were also meant to bolster relationships and enhance interoperability between U.S. and Nigerian personnel, especially at the lower levels of the two forces, the U.S. Africa Command said.

“It helps build relationships between Soldiers and the partner force, especially down at the lower levels,” Feingold said.

The development comes after AFRICOM announced in July that the United States had withdrawn most of its troops that were sent to Nigeria for a specific counterterrorism operation, but maintained intelligence-sharing and security cooperation with the country.

AFRICOM said both nations were continuing to identify areas to share expertise and improve military capabilities, and additional training opportunities were being developed at the Bauchi operating location.