TAHOUA, Niger -- Exercise Flintlock 2018 opened yesterday with a ceremony here.
Niger is hosting this year’s Flintlock exercise, an annual regional event among African, allied and U.S. counterterrorism forces. There are key outstations at Burkina Faso and Senegal.
Exercises like Flintlock enhance regional coordination and address common security challenges.
Supporting Regional Cooperation, Security
“This ceremony marks the beginning of Exercise Flintlock 2018. It’s a fantastic opportunity for all African and all western partner nations to support regional cooperation, security and interoperability,” said Capt. Neal an Army Special Forces “A” team commander in 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
During the next two weeks, he said, Flintlock exercise participants “will work tirelessly, to conduct rigorous training, to build capacities and capabilities with one common goal: to promote peace, prosperity and security on the African continent.”
Shared tactics and regional cooperation learned during the exercise can be effectively put into use in the multinational fight against violent extremist organizations such as Boko Haram, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.
“This is an honor for me to host Exercise Flintlock here. The exercise takes place in three different zones within Niger: Agadez, Tahoua and Oaullam,” said Col. Mohamed Toumba, Niger Armed Forces Zone 4 commander.
Special Operations Forces Partnership
Special operations forces from the U.S., Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom make up the western partner force in Tahoua for Flintlock 2018. During the exercise the partner nations will work together and exchange tactical movement techniques, advanced marksmanship skills and medical training.
"Medical training is important, because it increases the capabilities of the partner force. This year, we are working with the Senegalese army and they can build that cohesion and depend on each other to get them home if the worst happens in battle," said Staff Sgt. Spencer, an Army Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha medical sergeant who is also in 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) stationed at Fort Bragg.
Exercises like Flintlock help strengthen the defense capabilities of African states and regional organizations enabling them to address security threats more effectively -- ultimately reducing threats to U.S. citizens and interests abroad and at home.
(Editor’s Note: U.S. service members’ full names don’t appear in the article due to security policy.)
Air Force Maj. Gen. Marcus Hicks, commander of Special Operations Command Africa, applauds during the opening ceremony of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 11, 2018. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 African and western partner nations are participating in Flintlock 2018 at multiple locations in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Senegal. Army Photo by Sgt. Heather Doppke