ZARQA, Jordan - Jordanian Armed Forces of the 12th "Al- Yarmuk" Brigade worked alongside Guard members of the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard, to reinforce their partnered commitment to security and stability in the region during Exercise "Eager Light" 15 at the Jordanian Simulations Center March 8-12.
"Our mission supports an overall U.S. goal of enhancing partnership capacity with the Jordanian Army," said Lt. Col. Christopher Corley, executive officer for the 560th BFSB.
"Eager Light" is an annual bilateral command post exercise led by U.S. Army Central personnel and the Jordanian Armed Forces.
"The basic scenario was preparing the 12th to respond to insurgents conducting cross-border operations into Jordan," said Corley.
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.
"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 processes 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, officials said.