NAIROBI, Kenya — More than 20 nations from around the world gathered in Kenya to exchange information and focus on peacekeeping operations during Exercise Justified Accord 22 from February 28 to March 18. More than 800 U.S., Interagency, African Union, and NATO Joint Force personnel participated in the exercise. Justified Accord 22 is a multi-component, multinational exercise with the goal of increasing readiness and supporting lasting peace among participants.

“Teams, everything is a team, the ultimate team sport is either responding to a crisis, to people in need or going into battle, and those are the relationships you build here; you build teams outside of your army, your navy, your air force, outside of your nation’s armed forces,” said Maj. Gen. Gregory K. Anderson, the Command’s director of operations and cyber. American for Africa at the closing ceremonies on March 18. “These relationships will matter because you, my friends, will become teammates again on other courts and on other days here.”

The exercise focused on a multinational field training exercise, command post exercise and medical training to strengthen peacekeeping operations in the region. Through long-lasting cooperation and teamwork, the participating countries successfully completed an exercise; learning and information exchange for future best practices.

“Exercise Justified Accord is a key part of the broader U.S. approach to partnering with our African partners and strengthening our collective readiness,” said Brig. Gen. Ronald A. Cupples, US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa Deputy Commanding General. “Conducting this (exercise) with our allies and partners demonstrates our strong commitment to building regional security capabilities across Africa.

Justified Accord was first staged in Kenya at both the International Peace Support Training Center in Nairobi and the Kenya Defense Force Infantry School in Isiolo.

“Our role is to partner, advise and assist the 21 nations participating in Exercise Justified Accord, but we are also building relationships,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ron Sturgeon, commander of the exercise. 5th Battalion, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, Fort Bragg, NC “We worked closely with the Joint Chiefs of Staff from other countries; they know the operations and the planning process very well. They have been complex in the coaching and mentoring process throughout Justified Accord. Using multiple formation evolutions, the goal is to support lasting peace and stability in the region. Some examples of how we achieve this are through annual events like the African Land Forces Summit and exercises, including Justified Accord, Theater Security Cooperation and Direct Engagement .

Cupples SETAF-AF coordinated the exercise with the Kenya Defense Force.

“It is important that Task Force Europe South Africa continues to train with our partners here in Africa to understand our capabilities, strengths and weaknesses,” Cupples said. “Understanding these things gives us the opportunity to overcome our weaknesses and improve our relationships in the future. Improving our interoperability is essential. When we are faced with a crisis, it is not the time for presentations. We already want to have good relationships built, good partnerships developed, so that we can jump right into the fight and help in times of crisis.

SETAF-AF is the USAFRICOM Joint Task Force Headquarters located in Vicenza, Italy. SETAF-AF coordinates all US military activities in Africa. The 2nd SFAB is regionally aligned to Africa and works alongside SETAF-AF to conduct security cooperation with African partners.