US, Nigerian forces hold joint training exercises in Bauchi

United States and Nigerian military personnel are conducting a series of joint training exercises at the US military’s Operating Location in Bauchi, aimed at strengthening military capabilities, sharing expertise and deepening cooperation between the two countries.

The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the training forms part of a broader US-Nigeria security cooperation mission designed to improve readiness, enhance military capabilities and build long-term capacity among Nigerian forces.

The training has covered several areas, including combat lifesaving and tactical combat casualty care, weapons familiarisation, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small-unit tactics and unmanned aircraft systems.

AFRICOM said the training programme is not based on a fixed curriculum but is developed according to the expertise available from US forces and areas identified by Nigerian counterparts as most beneficial.

Captain Gabriel Feingold, a logistics officer with the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, said Nigerian forces are given options and allowed to select the areas where they require additional training.

“We bring them a list of several different training topics, and they select what they think would be most beneficial for them,” Feingold said.

One of the areas that attracted particular interest was unmanned aircraft systems, with US personnel providing practical training to members of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment.

Sergeant Mark Murphy, an intelligence analyst assigned to the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, led about 10 Nigerian personnel through the training.

The session began with classroom instruction before moving to practical exercises, where the Nigerian personnel were introduced to the aircraft, its controls and techniques for using information gathered by the system during military operations.

Murphy said the Nigerian personnel were enthusiastic about the practical training.

“They were thrilled about being able to get hands-on time with it. They were excited about doing more training with it in the future,” he said.

“I love training soldiers. I think it’s one of the main jobs of the NCO Corps within the Army, to train Soldiers and make them ready,” Murphy added.

Beyond technical and operational skills, US officials said the exercises are also helping to strengthen relationships between American and Nigerian service members.

Feingold said the interaction was particularly important at the lower levels of the military.

“It helps build relationships between soldiers and the partner force, especially at the lower levels,” he said.

According to AFRICOM, the relationship-building efforts extend beyond formal military activities, with American and Nigerian personnel also participating in basketball and volleyball when operational duties and weather permit.

The United States said additional training opportunities are being developed at the Bauchi operating location as both countries continue to identify areas where their forces can exchange expertise and train together.

The activities are part of wider US-Nigeria security cooperation efforts aimed at addressing shared security challenges and improving interoperability between the two militaries.