An official website of the United States government Here's how you know
Official websites use .mil
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
Secure .mil websites use HTTPS
A lock (
)
or https:// means you've safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
1 / 9Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Senior leaders in attendance at the senior leader seminar during the 11th iteration of Eager Lion pose for a group photo in Amman, Jordan, May 22, 2024. Eager Lion 2024 is a multilateral exercise, with 33 participating nations, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, designed to exchange military expertise, and improve interoperability among partner nations, and considered the capstone of a broader U.S. military relationship with the Jordanian Armed Forces. Jordan is one of U.S. Central Command’s strongest and most reliable partners in the Levant sub-region. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyler Becker)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Tyler Becker)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 9Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jason Benson, Assistant Division Commander – Maneuver, 34th Infantry Division and U.S. Central Command’s Eager Lion 2024 Exercise Director, gives remarks during the discussion portion of cyber security in military operations of modern warfare at the senior leader seminar during the 11th iteration of Eager Lion in Amman, Jordan, May 22, 2024. Eager Lion 2024 is a multilateral exercise, with 33 participating nations, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, designed to exchange military expertise, and improve interoperability among partner nations, and considered the capstone of a broader U.S. military relationship with the Jordanian Armed Forces. Jordan is one of U.S. Central Command’s strongest and most reliable partners in the Levant sub-region. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyler Becker)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Tyler Becker)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 9Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Dr. Basimah Rowe, the moderator of the senior leader seminar, gives the opening speech at the event during the 11th iteration of Eager Lion in Amman, Jordan, May 22, 2024. Eager Lion 2024 is a multilateral exercise, with 33 participating nations, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, designed to exchange military expertise, and improve interoperability among partner nations, and considered the capstone of a broader U.S. military relationship with the Jordanian Armed Forces. Jordan is one of U.S. Central Command’s strongest and most reliable partners in the Levant sub-region. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyler Becker)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Tyler Becker)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 9Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Dr. Basimah Rowe, the moderator of the senior leader seminar, gives the opening speech at the event during the 11th iteration of Eager Lion in Amman, Jordan, May 22, 2024. Eager Lion 2024 is a multilateral exercise, with 33 participating nations, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, designed to exchange military expertise, and improve interoperability among partner nations, and considered the capstone of a broader U.S. military relationship with the Jordanian Armed Forces. Jordan is one of U.S. Central Command’s strongest and most reliable partners in the Levant sub-region. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyler Becker)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Tyler Becker)VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 9Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Senior enlisted service members in attendance at the senior enlisted seminar during the 11th iteration of Eager Lion pose for a group photo in Amman, Jordan, May 22, 2024. Eager Lion 2024 is a multilateral exercise, with 33 participating nations, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, designed to exchange military expertise, and improve interoperability among partner nations, and considered the capstone of a broader U.S. military relationship with the Jordanian Armed Forces. Jordan is one of U.S. Central Command’s strongest and most reliable partners in the Levant sub-region. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyler Becker)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Tyler Becker)VIEW ORIGINAL6 / 9Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Senior enlisted service members in attendance at the senior enlisted seminar during the 11th iteration of Eager Lion pose for a group photo in solidarity to emphasis woman empowerment in the armed forces, Amman, Jordan, May 22, 2024. Eager Lion 2024 is a multilateral exercise, with 33 participating nations, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, designed to exchange military expertise, and improve interoperability among partner nations, and considered the capstone of a broader U.S. military relationship with the Jordanian Armed Forces. Jordan is one of U.S. Central Command’s strongest and most reliable partners in the Levant sub-region. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyler Becker)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Tyler Becker)VIEW ORIGINAL7 / 9Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Command Sgt. Maj. Jacinto Garza, senior enlisted advisor for U.S. Army Central, gives a closing speech at the senior enlisted seminar during the 11th iteration of Eager Lion in Amman, Jordan, May 22, 2024. Eager Lion 2024 is a multilateral exercise, with 33 participating nations, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, designed to exchange military expertise, and improve interoperability among partner nations, and considered the capstone of a broader U.S. military relationship with the Jordanian Armed Forces. Jordan is one of U.S. Central Command’s strongest and most reliable partners in the Levant sub-region. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyler Becker)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Tyler Becker)VIEW ORIGINAL8 / 9Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Maj. Gen. David A. Mineau, Deputy Commander, Ninth Air Force (Air Force Central) and Deputy, Combined Forces Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia, gives a speech about the threat, proliferation, and defense against unmanned aerial vehicles at the senior leader seminar during the 11th iteration of Eager Lion in Amman, Jordan, May 22, 2024. Eager Lion 2024 is a multilateral exercise, with 33 participating nations, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, designed to exchange military expertise, and improve interoperability among partner nations, and considered the capstone of a broader U.S. military relationship with the Jordanian Armed Forces. Jordan is one of U.S. Central Command’s strongest and most reliable partners in the Levant sub-region. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyler Becker)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Tyler Becker)VIEW ORIGINAL9 / 9Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Jordanian Armed Forces Col. Abdullah Al Amayrah, Military Intelligence, gives a speech about the war against drugs and how to confront it at the senior leader seminar during the 11th iteration of Eager Lion in Amman, Jordan, May 22, 2024. Eager Lion 2024 is a multilateral exercise, with 33 participating nations, hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, designed to exchange military expertise, and improve interoperability among partner nations, and considered the capstone of a broader U.S. military relationship with the Jordanian Armed Forces. Jordan is one of U.S. Central Command’s strongest and most reliable partners in the Levant sub-region. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyler Becker)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Tyler Becker)VIEW ORIGINAL
AMMAN, Jordan - Leaders from 32 U.S. Central Command partner nations and other invited guests, participated in a senior leader seminar hosted by the Jordanian Armed Forces and U.S. CENTCOM, May 22, 2024, as part of the Eager Lion 2024 exercise.
A common theme throughout the event was the need for partner nations to work together to combat common threats. U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. David Mineau Deputy Commander, Ninth Air Force, Air Forces Central, spoke on that importance.
“This 11th iteration of Eager Lion underscores the United States’ commitment to cooperation and interoperability with our regional partners and delivers a clear message - relationships matter,” said Mineau. “Under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, the Jordanian Armed Forces continue to serve as a reliable, strategic partner and a bulwark for regional peace and stability. One of the most significant roles that Jordan plays: its ability to bring world leaders together as we gather here in this senior leaders seminar.”
The event allowed senior leaders from across the CENTCOM area to discuss numerous security issues. Discussion was primarily centered on shared concerns like unmanned aerial vehicles, drone protection, the war on drugs, and cyber security.
The primary goals of the seminar were to build new partnerships from different partner militaries, develop already existing relationships, and learn how these relationships can be strengthened and leveraged in the future.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jason Benson, assistant division commander for maneuver of the Minnesota National Guard's 34th Red Bull Infantry Division who served as CENTCOM’s Eager Lion 2024 exercise director, highlighted the importance of cyber security and how it would be beneficial to plan to incorporate cyber security even more in future iterations of the exercise.
“It was exciting to see the discussion and interest in cyber security. What some people here may not realize is that Eager Lion has a cyber component that we incorporated into this year's exercise,” said Benson. “And so, as our partner militaries are looking for what to do in 2026 for Eager Lion, I'd encourage them to start their planning in how they can incorporate the cyber component of the exercise to grow and build that cyber part of Eager Lion.”
During the event, senior leaders offered insights on the different array of topics within their respective militaries, while taking questions from their counterparts during the post presentation discussions.
CENTCOM regularly conducts military-to-military engagements and security cooperation activities like Eager Lion with regional partners to enhance regional cooperation, improve partner capacity, and increase interoperability between military forces.
More than 550 of the Minnesota National Guard's Red Bulls are currently deployed to the Middle East, leading Operation Spartan Shield as Task Force Spartan maintaining a U.S. military posture in Southwest Asia, strengthening defense relationships and partner capacity.
Social Sharing