More than 20 countries from three continents are meeting in Isiolo for two weeks for the East African military exercise.
The Justified Accord 23 kicked off in Isiolo, Kenya from February 9 to February 24, 2023, and is aimed at increasing partner readiness for peacekeeping missions, crisis response, and humanitarian assistance.
This is the first such exercise to take place in the country and is organized by the US Africa Command.
Led by US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), this multi-national exercise brings together more than 20 countries from three continents to increase partner readiness for peacekeeping missions, crisis response and humanitarian assistance, officials said.
Planners say they expect up to 1,000 service members from the 20 partner nations, cyber academics, civil affairs humanitarian assistance, multinational live-fire field training exercise and various visits.
“A mid-planning event is a crucial event that refines exercise activities and support requirements while providing an opportunity for direct coordination with our U.S. and multinational partners,” said F. Austin Blessard, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) lead exercise planner for JA23.
It also provides critical information relating to personnel, equipment and other logistics movements that ensure a successful exercise, he added.
Kenya will host activities primarily in Nairobi and Isiolo, while Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana and Djibouti will provide venues for additional exercise events. Including European partners, the exercise should feature approximately 1000 participants from 20 partner nations.
Exercise planners took feedback from previous JA participants and integrated emerging technologies into this year’s exercise.
In particular, cyber awareness, as well as cyber security and assessment will be featured. For instance, Uganda and Kenya will host multinational cyber training events in preparation for the exercise.
Once the exercise begins, both defense forces will be responsible for defending the network against simulated cyber attacks.
Assisting with infrastructure repair, medical triage and exercise support, two U.S. Army National Guard units will also take part in the exercise scenario.
The Nebraska National Guard has been partnered with Rwanda since 2019 under the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program (SPP).
Their part of JA23 features several engineering projects as well as a medical exchange culminating with a simulated casualty evacuation.
SETAF-AF is responsible for coordinating all US Army activities in Africa in support of US Africa Command and US Army Europe and Africa.
These activities strengthen partner networks in Africa, build partner capacity against regional and global security threats, and provide strategic access for US forces in contingency operations.
