South Carolina National Guard strengthens partnerships during Eager Lion

By 1st Lt. Jessica DonnellyJune 7, 2016

Bilateral partnerships crucial to Eager Lion 2016 success
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Maj. Susan Hughes works with her Jordanian Armed Forces counterpart, Maj. Malek Harasees, in the Higher Control (HICON), in support of Eager Lion 16, May 10, 2016. Eager Lion is a bilateral, scenario-based exercise with the Hashemite Kingd... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bilateral partnerships crucial to Eager Lion 2016 success
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kenneth Snow works with his Jordanian Armed Forces counterpart, Lt. Col. Saed Alabady, in the Higher Control (HICON), in support of Eager Lion 16, May 12, 2016. Eager Lion is a bilateral, scenario-based exercise with the Hashemite... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
S.C. Guard Chaplain inspires service members during Eager Lion 16
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Shown is the Higher Control (HICON) staff who work in support of Eager Lion 2016. The HICON is the headquarters element that monitors situations and provides direction for the overall exercise. Eager Lion is a bilateral, scenario-based exercise with... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bilateral partnerships crucial to Eager Lion 2016 success
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Jordanian Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Amjad Alzuobi provides opening remarks during the recognition ceremony for participants of Eager Lion 16. Eager Lion is a bilateral, scenario-based exercise with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, designed to exchange ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bilateral partnerships crucial to Eager Lion 2016 success
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Brad Owens, Director of Joint Staff for the South Carolina National Guard, provides closing remarks during the recognition ceremony for participants of Eager Lion 16. Eager Lion is a bilateral, scenario-based exercise with the Ha... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Hashemite Kingdom, Jordan - Members of the South Carolina National Guard participated in Exercise Eager Lion 16, May 15-24, 2016 in Jordan, which integrated U.S. and Jordanian service members working together to build partnerships.

Eager Lion is an annual training event put on by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) as one of their largest exercises. It is scenario-based training designed to exchange military expertise and improve interoperability among partner nations. The SCNG members worked as the Higher Control (HICON) staff, which served as the headquarters element for the overall exercise, monitoring scenarios and providing direction for the exercise participants. In addition to the SCNG members, the HICON included Jordanian Armed Forces, U.S. Army and Air Force Reserve, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and civilian personnel, providing a joint service environment.

"Our mission was to meet the training objectives of the exercise," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Brad Owens, SCNG director of Joint Staff. "In order to do that we pulled together a room full of professionals from every service, in every branch, from every component...one team, one fight. We came from all over the world to form this coalition. We're all in this together."

Eager Lion consisted of scenarios that were disseminated from the HICON to the exercise participants who would respond as they would in a real-world situation. Scenarios included border security, command and control, cyber defense and battlespace management.

Owens explained that in addition to conducting a successful exercise, which provided realistic training objectives for the participants, another goal of the exercise was to strengthen partnerships between the U.S. and Jordanian forces. This was measured by the ability of the two nations to work together and overcome language and cultural barriers in order to meet the training intentions of Eager Lion.

"We are proud of our relationship between Jordan and the U.S.," said Jordanian Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Amjad Alzuobi, who served as the HICON and combined forces headquarters commander during the exercise. "It was really great for us to learn from each other."

Alzuobi added, the Jordanian and U.S. partnership helps promote security and stability in the region and they are proud to host the U.S. in their country as a show of solidarity between the countries.

Eager Lion 16 was the sixth iteration of the exercise, but was the SCNG's first time participating. Lt. Col. Jamie Fowler, SCNG 122nd Engineer Battalion commander, explained that Owens and himself visited last year's exercise to observe the training and decided it was an opportunity for the SCNG that shouldn't be missed. So, when U.S. Army Central requested a unit to serve in the HICON, the SCNG answered the call.

"The goal was to expose South Carolina National Guard Soldiers to experiences they wouldn't get working at the state level. Here they're working at the strategic level," said Fowler. "It's not your typical annual training you'd do in the state...It prepared our staff to work at higher levels...It provided broadening opportunities for South Carolina Soldiers to work in a joint and multinational environment."

Owens added that these partnerships are increasingly important in the current operational environment for service members and he was pleased with the success of the personal relationships formed with the Jordanian counterparts.

"I hand selected every one of you...and the reason I did was because I wanted to stand in front of you and congratulate you when you succeeded," said Owens. "I couldn't have asked for anything better than I observed here...You met every one of the expectations of the exercise and met the expectations of our partners."

As one of CENTCOM's premier exercises, much work and planning goes into each iteration of Eager Lion. It is a joint effort between all services and each partnering nation, and an effort that the South Carolina National Guard was a part of.

"We started planning Eager Lion 16 almost a year ago. Two weeks ago we started the execution phase and today we come to the end...so on this occasion, the closing ceremony, I would like to thank you all. All you've done has been highly appreciated," concluded Alzuobi.

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