U.S. forces have begun training Nigerian troops in unmanned aircraft systems, combat casualty care and other military skills as part of efforts to bolster security ties between the two countries. Africans & Diaspora
The training took place at an operating location in Bauchi State and was part of a broader US-Nigeria security cooperation effort to enhance military strength, readiness and long-term partner capacity.
This was seen in a report by the United States Africa Command yesterday.
The training included Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care teaching, weapons familiarisation, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small-unit tactics and unmanned aircraft systems, the report claimed.
U.S. and Nigerian soldiers are participating in a series of training exercises at Operating Location Bauchi, Nigeria, designed to share military experience, enhance partner capability and foster connections between service members from both countries. Africans & Diaspora »
“Training between U.S. and Nigerian forces at Bauchi has included Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care instruction, weapons familiarisation, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small-unit tactics and unmanned aircraft system training,” the report stated.
It claimed training opportunities had been devised based on expertise available within the US forces and areas highlighted by their Nigerian counterparts as advantageous.
US troops offered Nigerian leadership with a list of training possibilities and they chose areas of interest, said Capt Gabriel Feingold, logistics officer attached to the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and operations officer at OL Bauchi.
“We provide them a list of many different topics for training, and they get to choose what they feel would be most helpful to them,” Feingold added.
The Nigerian forces were particularly interested in unmanned aircraft systems, and the training was led by Sgt Mark Murphy, an intelligence analyst with the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, with about 10 members of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment, the report said.
The session began with around 45 minutes of education, and then the Nigerian soldiers underwent hands-on training to operate the aircraft.
Murphy also taught the trainees how to operate UAS and use the data collected by the systems into military operations.
“They were very excited to get hands-on time with it,” Murphy said, adding that the Nigerians wanted more training on the technology.
The U.S. study stated the combined exercises extended beyond technical and operational skills, offering opportunities for American and Nigerian service men to form connections and increase interoperability.
Feingold said the engagement was particularly useful at the junior levels of both services.
“It helps build relationships between the Soldiers and the partner force, especially at the lower levels,” he said.
The study also said that US and Nigerian personnel participate in basketball and volleyball when operational requirements and weather permit, giving further opportunities to build on their connection.
OL Bauchi says it is developing other training possibilities as the two sides continue to find ways to share military expertise and enhance their capabilities.
“Additional training opportunities are being developed at OL Bauchi as U.S. and Nigerian forces continue identifying areas where their personnel can share expertise and train together,” it stated.
This comes after AFRICOM revealed in July that the US had withdrawn the bulk of the troops it sent to Nigeria for a specific counterterrorism operation, but had maintained an intelligence-sharing and security collaboration with Nigeria.
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