FORT STEWART, Ga. - Leaders from 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division traveled to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Jan. 25-29 to conduct a pre-deployment site survey, or PDSS.
The PDSS allowed 9th BEB to gain knowledge necessary to support training exercise Western Accord 2016, or WA 16, scheduled later this year.
WA 16 is an annual exercise designed to increase African, European and United States military forces capabilities to plan deployments and redeployments as allied partners. This increases readiness for future United Nations required peacekeeping operations in regional crises.
The PDSS was conducted in conjunction with the initial planning event for the exercise, where 9 BEB leaders met up with Col. Thomas Gukeisen, the 2nd IBCT commander, Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Cahill, the 2nd IBCT senior enlisted leader, and leaders from eight Africa partner nations attended to further discuss the regional accord.
Maj. Sean Burnett, battalion executive officer and officer in charge of the PDSS, was tasked to oversee and gain operational understanding for the upcoming partnered training. He collaborated with Burkina Faso defense forces and identified 9th BEB's responsibilities.
"We have a lot of work to do," Burnett said. "The battalion has a large responsibility to the success of this exercise and we need to keep our heads in the game so we execute the mission as intended."
The battalion's responsibilities will be primarily logistical, providing power sources and communication systems, among other fundamental recourses needed. They will also provide operational oversight.
"The Burkina Army wants to be closely involved," Burnett said. "They will be providing us with security and transportation. It will be an intertwined relationship as far as the mechanics."
Leaders toured the future training site to identify logistical needs and medical requirements. Additionally, having a first-hand look at the area will be useful during further planning.
Approximately 50 Soldiers will travel to Burkina Faso to support the 9th BEB mission.
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