Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Soldiers from U.S. Army Central partnered with the Jordanian 60th Brigade, 3rd Armored Division, during Eager Light 2016 at the Jordanian Training Center, Jordan, Feb. 27 through March 2, 2016.

Eager Light is a bilateral exercise that trains USARCENT and Jordanian Armed Forces on brigade-level battle staff task. The exercise combined the two staff elements to form a single brigade.
Conducted annually since 1998, Eager Light is designed to increase interoperability and responsiveness between the two militaries.

“Partnership exercises like this one helps build a better relationship between our two countries,” said Jordanian Brig. Gen. Jumah Al-Hrout, commander of 3rd Armored Division. “During this exercise we all gain knowledge and integrate that knowledge into battle procedures for future use.”

During the exercise the combined brigade conducted urban warfare operations, quick reaction force training and practiced coordinating with civilian authorities, said Brig. Gen. Mohammed Al-Samor, director of the Jordanian Training Center. “If this exercise shows anything, it shows the deep relationship between the two armed forces.”

“Coming together as an organized element is something that has not been done before during this exercise,” said Col. David Wilson, USARCENT international military affairs chief. “It showed the difficulty in combining the two different units, with different procedures and planning processes, and the success that this exercise brings with it in the end.”
During the exercise the brigade’s subordinate units and opposing forces were simulated on a virtual battlefield using the Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation program.

According to Al-Hrout, the JCATS program provided a realistic approach to the simulated exercise. This allowed the younger officers to react to situations they have not experienced before.

“All of the participants worked hard to make this a successful exercise,” said Wilson. “In the end, the coordination between various organizations and nations was excellent. This only happens through continued joint exercises like this.”

He added that training exercises, such as Eager Light, highlight the longstanding partnership and friendship between USARCENT and Jordan, promote cooperation, build functional capacity and enhances readiness in the region.

*Dvids