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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Sam Iverson, Africa Contingency Operations and Training Assistance senior staff trainer, directs officers of the Uganda People’s Defence Force to begin an exercise Feb. 29, 2016, during a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. Throughout the five-week course, the students slowly progressed to working with each other as one staff and demonstrated their enhanced communication skills in this final test. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 2 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda work through a simulated scenario Feb. 29, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. This exercise culminated their five-week training and proved they’re ready to serve at African Union Mission in Somalia headquarters or any of the six sectors’ command staffs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 3 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda plan military operations for a simulated scenario Feb. 29, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. This exercise culminated their five-week training and proved they’re ready to serve at African Union Mission in Somalia headquarters or any of the six sectors’ command staffs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 4 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda discuss a simulated scenario March 1, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. Simulations originated from previous real-world Al-Shabaab activity and attacks, which gave the leaders the most realistic assessment in a controlled environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 5 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda discuss military operations for a simulated scenario March 1, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. At the beginning of the course, the officers were split into six main directorates necessary for successful military operations: logistics and personnel, intelligence, public information, civil affairs, military operations, and command leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 6 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
An officer from the Burundi National Defence Force briefs his staff as acting commander for a simulated scenario March 1, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. At the beginning of the course, the officers were split into six main directorates necessary for successful military operations: logistics and personnel, intelligence, public information, civil affairs, military operations, and command leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 7 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda gather for a brief March 1, 2016, during an exercise to complete an staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. Military officers from African Union Mission in Somalia troop contributing countries put their training to the test during a Command Post Exercise proving they’re ready to serve at the AMISOM headquarters in Somalia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 8 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda prepare for a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete an AMISOM staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The practice press conference tested the public information officers’ ability to prepare the conference, media and staff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 9 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
An officer from the Kenya Defence Forces speaks to media at a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The press conference tested the different directorate officers’ ability to answer questions accurately, confidently and without revealing sensitive military information. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 10 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
A camera records a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete a staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. Course mentors recorded the practice conference to show the officers their performance and ultimately lead to improvement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 11 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
U.S. military and civilian mentors role play as members of the media and ask questions at a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete an AMISOM staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The practice press conference tested the public information officers’ ability to prepare the conference, media and staff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 12 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda answer questions at a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete an AMISOM staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. Course mentors recorded the practice conference to show the officers their performance and ultimately lead to improvement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Photo 13 of 13
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
An officer from the Uganda People’s Defence Force speaks to a media role player at a simulated press conference March 3, 2016, during an exercise to complete an AMISOM staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya. The press conference tested the different directorate officers’ ability to answer questions accurately, confidently and without revealing sensitive military information. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Kate Thornton
Military officers from African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troop contributing countries put their training to the test during a Command Post Exercise (CPX) Feb. 29 through March 3, as the last step of an AMISOM staff officers course in Nairobi, Kenya.
For the 29 officers from Kenya, Burundi and Uganda, this exercise culminated their five-week training and proved they’re ready to serve at AMISOM headquarters in Somalia or any of the six sectors’ command staffs.
“(The CPX) exercises the whole battle-staff,” said Jon Dahms, U. S. Africa Command deputy chief for Public Affairs and course mentor. “They have to respond as they would on the battlefield.”
At the beginning of the course, the officers were split into six main directorates necessary for successful military operations: logistics and personnel, intelligence, public information, civil affairs, military operations, and command leadership.
“Before the exercise, (students) had to come up with a course of action,” said U.S. Army Capt. Erik Buendia, 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion CA team chief and course mentor. “They’ve done mission analysis and come up with courses of action, and they’ve created and developed operational orders.”
Throughout the five weeks, they slowly progressed to working with each other as one staff and demonstrated their enhanced communication skills in this final test.
“Now they’re seeing how their operations order is evolving,” Buendia said. “With the stressful scenarios and situations occurring, (they’re) seeing how the battlefield is changing, and they’re reacting to the change.”
Exercise scenarios became increasingly difficult as the week progressed, but all of the simulations originated from previous real-world Al-Shabaab activity and attacks, which gave the leaders the most realistic assessment in a controlled environment.
“We observe the way they handle stress, the way they work together, the way they adapt, and see if, as a staff, they can overcome the obstacles that are thrown at them,” Buendia said.
One testament of their hard work was a practice press conference, testing the public information officers’ ability to prepare the conference, media and staff.
“If we can give them the best training possible, they’ll be prepared for what they face,” Dahms said.
In addition, it tested the other directorate officers’ ability to answer questions accurately, confidently and without revealing sensitive military information. After just one day, the officers accomplished the task.
“(The CPX is) a way to put them through scenarios in a controlled environment, so they get exposure to it,” Buendia said. “There’s no right answer to the test. It’s more to enhance their confidence, and it has.”
By the fourth day, the team operated like a well-oiled machine. Students worked together to virtually neutralize threats and attacks, and ultimately met their goal, proving they’re ready to successfully lead operations at AMISOM headquarters.
“(They received) real reports based on situations that have actually occurred in Somalia,” said Dahms. “So whatever they face here, they could potentially face there, and they’ll be prepared.”
