Its not everyday we come across news of US Army soldiers being trained by an African country but that is exactly the case at the just concluded Unity Accord 2017 bilateral exercise in Ghana last May.
Official photos release by the US Army Media team shows that Ghanaian Army soldiers took a lead role in the exercise teaching and instructing their American counterparts on the art of Jungle Warfare an area where the Ghanaian soldiers are particularly proficient in. The exercise took place at the Jungle Warfare school located the Achiase military base, Akim Oda, Ghana. The training exercise was aimed at assessing the participating members in Jungle Warfare, counter-insurgency and internal security operations.
The whole exercise consisted of three various parts which the service members must complete, it includes:
Command Post Exercise (CPX).
Field Training Exercise (FTX).
Jungle Warfare School (JWS) Training.
Command Post Exercise (CPX).
The Command Post Exercise (CPX) comprises of soldiers from 15 African countries and 7 western countries working through real-world scenario peace-keeping missions from the United Nations Multi-dimensional Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). The exercise also saw the use of computer-based scenario which was monitored by observer controllers. The African countries that participated in the CPX exercise includes Representatives from the ECOWAS, Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Chad, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo. While the western countries who sent representatives includes Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the U.K.
Field Training Exercise (FTX).
At the Bundase Training Camp two hours drive from Accra the countries capital, soldiers from the Ghana Army 5th Infantry Battalion and the U.S. Army 1st Battalion 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne division trained side-by-side with live rounds and explosives. The FTX featured soldiers engaging in diverse war-fighting tactics such as Door-blasting demolitions, Sniper fire marksmanship, Frontal assault against fixed targets, IED defense, Command and Control and Combined Arms training including mortal fire training.
Ghana Armed Forces Maj. Jacob Codjoe, course commander of the Jungle Warfare School, explains how to perform an ambush during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
Jungle Warfare School (JWS) Training.
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At the Jungle Warfare School (JWS) northwest of Accra, 62 soldiers from the U.S D Company, 1-506th Infantry Regiment received Jungle Warfare training from their Ghanaian counterpart.
(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
This marks the first time an African nation trained U.S. Army forces. The Ghanaian taught the U.S. how to survive and fight in the jungle. The training includes river crossing, day and night jungle navigation, survival techniques, obstacle crossing, emergency and medical procedures, wildlife hunting and identification of edible crops.
A Ghanaian Army Major, The course commander of the school even went further to prepare and present a python snake dish. AU.S Army Soldier and a recent graduate of the GAF Jungle Warfare School said concerning the snake dish —
“The craziest thing I’ve done since I’ve been here is, I ate a snake; Python is extremely spicy, I got to watch them (GAF) prepare it and cook it for us it was pretty cool,” he said. “I’ve never eaten snake before,”.
Ghana Armed Forces Maj. Jacob Codjoe, course commander of the Jungle Warfare School, presents Python meat during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
All 62 foreign soldiers graduated from the school despite all the grueling drills and unfamiliar illness.
After the major exercises and drills, the participant went on a tour of the military facility guided by Lt. Col. Ct Broni who is the commander of the Jungle Warfare School. Before all the participant left for their various countries.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Kenneth H. Moore, Jr., deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Africa, receives a tour from Lt. Col. Ct Broni, commander of the Jungle Warfare School. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
The exercise was coordinated by Ghana and the United States, It is sponsored by the U.S. African Command (AFRICOM).
What do you guys think? I say Kudos to the Ghana Armed Forces for making Africa proud. Please share your views with us.
Gallery
A Ghanaian Armed Forces soldier teaches a Tactical Casualty Evacuation class during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
Ghanaian Armed Forces Soldiers demostrate a Tactical Casualty Evacuation (Tac CASEVAC) during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base, Akim Oda. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
A Ghanaian Armed Forces soldier instructs a Tactical Casualty Evacuation course to U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airbone Division during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
U.S. Army Sgt. Caleb H. Adkins assigned to 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division takes a piece of Python meat during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base, Akim Oda, Ghana, May 20, 2017. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
Ghana Armed Forces Sgt. M Agyemang instructs U.S. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division on jungle warfare tactics. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
A U.S. Soldier assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division falls into a pond. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
Ghana Armed Forces Sgt. M Agyemang discusses training with U.S. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
U.S. Army Spc. Dominique Singletary assigned to 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division performs a low crawilng course during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
A Ghana Armed Forces soldier gives intructons to his squad while conducting an ambush demostration during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base, Akim Oda, Ghana, May 20, 2017. The Jungle Warfare School is a series of situational training exercises designed to train participants in counter-insurgency and internal security operations. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
Ghana Armed Forces Maj. Jacob Codjoe, course commander of the Jungle Warfare School, explains how to perform an ambush during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
A Ghana Armed Forces soldier provides security in an ambush demostration during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base, Akim Oda, Ghana, May 20, 2017. The Jungle Warfare School is a series of situational training exercises designed to train participants in counter-insurgency and internal security operations. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
A Ghana Armed Forces soldier gives instructions to his squad before an ambush demostration during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
Ghanian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer 2 Anim Kwame prepares to instruct U.S. Soldiers 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
Ghanaian Armed Forces Sgt. Ibrahim Abubakari observes a U.S. Soldier from 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airbone Division crawl through an obstacle during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base, Akim Oda. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
Ghanaian Armed Forces Maj. Jacob Codjoe, course commander of the Jungle Warfare School, supervises U.S. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, conducting an ambush course during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
A Ghanaian Armed Forces soldier discusses training with U.S. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
U.S. Army Spc. Ian McCaw assigned to 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division discusses training with a Ghana Armed Forces soldier during United Accord 2017 at the Jungle Warfare School in Achiase military base, Akim Oda. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Victor Perez Vargas)
