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Ammon News - by Hani Hazaimeh

AQABA (The Jordan Times) — The commander of the USS Stockdale battleship on Monday commended the professionalism and dedication of Jordanian naval troops taking part in the Eager Lion military exercise.

“We are here to take part in the military drill, which presents an opportunity to train with our Jordanian counterparts and exchange naval expertise in different forms of battle skills,” Lt. Col. Bo Johns said.

The commander stressed that the destroyer and its crew will leave Jordanian waters after the Eager Lion exercise concludes on June 20.

This is the second time the military exercise has been held in the Kingdom, with participants from the military forces of 19 countries.

The training aims at strengthening military cooperation and coordination between participating countries, army officials have said, adding that around 8,000 army personnel are taking part in the drill.

Johns said the battle crew, which comprises 270 non-commissioned officers in addition to 30 commanding officers, is engaging in training activities with the personnel of the Royal Jordanian Navy, adding that on Monday the training covered anti-piracy activities, seizure and search and rescue missions.

The USS Stockdale was named after Vice Admiral Stockdale for his leadership and courage as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, Johns noted as he was briefing a media delegation on the combat capabilities of the destroyer onboard the ship.

Earlier this month, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel approved the deployment of Patriot missiles and F-16 fighter jets to Jordan as part of the Eager Lion drill.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said the government has asked the US administration to keep Patriot missile-defence batteries and F-16 warplanes in the Kingdom after the execution of the military drill, but requested that no troops remain.

“We reached an agreement with the Americans last week that after the exercises, the Patriots and F-16s would remain in Jordan to improve our national defence,” Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications and Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani told The Jordan Times earlier this week.

“What will be left behind after the drill will be donated by the US government to the Jordan Armed Forces as part of the previously agreed US military assistance to the Kingdom,” Ensour said, adding that the US troops taking part in the drill will depart as soon as the exercise is over.