By Ayo Kehinde
The United States army has commenced specialised military training for their Nigerian counterparts in drone operations, combat casualty care, explosive ordnance disposal and other critical battlefield skills as Washington and Abuja deepen their security partnership.
The ongoing training at an Operating Location, in Bauchi State, is designed to strengthen the capability, readiness and long-term operational capacity of Nigerian forces amid continuing security challenges across the country.
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), in a report released on Monday, said the exercises were part of a broader security cooperation mission focused on sharing military expertise and improving interoperability between American and Nigerian forces.
According to AFRICOM, the training covered Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care, weapons familiarisation, camouflage techniques, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small-unit tactics and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The Command said the training programme was developed around the expertise available within US forces and specific areas identified by Nigerian military personnel as being most beneficial to their operations.
Capt. Gabriel Feingold, a logistics officer assigned to the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, and the operations officer at OL Bauchi, said American forces presented Nigerian military leadership with a range of training options from which they selected areas of priority.
“We bring them a list of several different training topics, and they select what they think would be most beneficial for them”, Feingold said.
Of particular interest to the Nigerian forces was training in unmanned aircraft systems, which are increasingly being used by militaries for surveillance, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and battlefield situational awareness.
AFRICOM said Sgt. Mark Murphy, an intelligence analyst assigned to the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, led about 10 personnel from the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment through the UAS training.
The session began with approximately 45 minutes of classroom instruction, after which the Nigerian personnel were given hands-on training in operating the aircraft.
Murphy also instructed the Nigerian troops on techniques for employing unmanned aircraft systems and integrating intelligence collected through the platforms into military operations.
“They were really excited with being able to get hands-on time with it”, Murphy said, adding that the Nigerian personnel expressed interest in receiving additional training on the system.
The emphasis on unmanned systems reflects the growing importance of technology-driven intelligence and surveillance capabilities in modern military operations, particularly in counterterrorism and operations against armed groups operating across difficult terrain.
Beyond the acquisition of technical battlefield skills, AFRICOM said the exercises were also intended to strengthen relationships between American and Nigerian service members and improve their ability to operate effectively alongside one another.
Feingold said interactions between personnel were particularly valuable at the lower levels of both militaries.
“It helps build relationships between Soldiers and the partner force, especially at the lower levels”, he said.
The US report said informal engagements, including basketball and volleyball games when operational commitments and weather permitted, also provided opportunities for personnel from both countries to build relationships outside formal training sessions.
AFRICOM said additional training programmes were already being developed at the Bauchi operating location as American and Nigerian forces continue to identify areas where their personnel can exchange expertise and train together.
The Command said the ongoing cooperation was aimed at building partner capacity and ensuring that both countries could continue to strengthen their military relationship through practical training and shared expertise.
The development comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to enhance the technological and operational capacity of its armed forces to confront increasingly sophisticated security threats, while the United States continues to position Nigeria as a key security partner in Africa.
AFRICOM disclosed in July that the United States had withdrawn most of its personnel deployed to Nigeria for a specific counterterrorism operation. The withdrawal, however, did not mark an end to the security relationship between the two countries.
Instead, the US said it would maintain an intelligence-sharing arrangement and broader security partnership with Nigeria.
The Bauchi training therefore represents part of the continuing shift towards strengthening Nigerian military capabilities through training, intelligence cooperation and technical support rather than relying primarily on the deployment of American personnel for specific operations.
