US-Jordan partnership exercise builds for future operations

By Maj. Janet HerrickMarch 13, 2015

U.S.-Jordan Army friends
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army friends from the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade staff listen to the Jordanian Armed Forces 12th "Al- Yarmuk" Brigade as they prepare for training exercise Eager Light from March 8-12 in Zarqa, Jordan. U.S. Army Central's Eager Light high... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S.-JAF leaders review sand table
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Jeffrey Dickerson, 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade Commander from the Georgia Army National Guard, listens as the Jordanian Armed Forces 12th "Al- Yarmuk" Brigade leaders rehearse their operations order to prepare for training exercise Ea... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S.-JAF logistics and personnel coordination
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Ashraf Aldwiry (third from right), Jordanian Armed Forces 12th Brigade logistics and personnel officer, coordinates with 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade staff officers from the Georgia Army National Guard, as they prepare for operations d... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
JAF Chief of Training thanks the 560th BfSB staff
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Mohammed Jaradat (second from the left), Jordanian Armed Forces Chairmen Chief of Staff Joint Training, thanks the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade staff officers from the Georgia Army National Guard for their participation in advisi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
560th CSM visits U.S.-Jordan troops
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Marchert (left) of the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard, receives brief from the Jordanian Armed Forces 12th "Al- Yarmuk" Brigade staff on headquarters operations during exercise Eager Light fr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ZARQA, Jordan - U.S. and Jordanian forces conducted Exercise Eager Light 15 at the Jordanian Simulations Center, here, March 8-12.

Eager Light is an annual bilateral command post exercise led by U.S. Army Central personnel and the Jordanian Armed Forces.

Conducted annually since 1998, Exercise Eager Light is designed to increase interoperability and responsiveness between the U.S. and Jordanian Armed Forces, and demonstrates the robust partnership between the two countries.

Jordanian Armed Forces of the 12th "Al- Yarmuk" Brigade worked alongside 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers with reserve linguists to reinforce their partnered commitment to security and stability in the region.

"The exercising of the military decision making process is integral for combined training with our JAF partners," said Lt. Col. Derek Mixon, U.S. Army Central Exercise Director. "It is important to maintain a high level of proficiency on key tasks while exercising different scenarios. Exercising with our JAF partners is an important component of readiness and is fundamental to sustaining and strengthening military relationships."

JAF and U.S. forces met the week prior for academic and simulation training to standardize and refine command and control operations, logistics, communications and administration using the Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulations System (JCATS).

The exchange of knowledge and experience of JAF and U.S. leaders fostered an understanding of each other's forces, said Brig. Gen. Mohammed Jaradat, Jordanian Armed Forces Chairmen Chief of Staff Joint Training. He added that practicing operations processes enabled commands to decentralize missions and provided opportunities for junior leaders to take initiative to become more prepared to respond to the threats being faced in the regions.

Training exercises such as Eager Light highlight the longstanding partnership and enduring friendship between Jordan and U.S. forces, promote cooperation and interoperability, build functional capacity, practice crisis management and enhance readiness.