Early entry command post conducts communication capability exercise



By Maj. Jeremy Passut Feb 02, 2018
View Gallery
fallback
Gallery contains 3 images

VICENZA, Italy -- Approximately 20 U.S. Army Africa Soldiers participated in an early entry command post exercise (EECP) Jan. 22-Feb. 2 as part of the U.S. Africa Command directive requiring USARAF to maintain a certified joint task force headquarters capability.

The two-week exercise combined a command post and field training exercise and was led by EECP commander Lt. Col. Matthew Brown. The exercise also included Soldiers from the 207th Military Intelligence Brigade as well as medical and Air Force meteorology personnel.

USARAF Soldiers set up the EECP at Caserma Ederle to exercise the communication capabilities of the EECP in response to a natural disaster. When called upon, the command post must be capable to deploy within 96 hours.

“We form the backbone of the joint task force headquarters that could grow upwards of 300 personnel, depending on the mission,” Brown said. “This training event is (a milestone) on the road for U.S. Army Africa’s certification as a joint task force headquarters.”

Capt. Michael Martinez, the EECP communications chief, said that the exercise was a good opportunity to give his Soldiers experience working and establishing communications with logistical, medical and intelligence personnel who are a part of the EECP but utilize different communication equipment.

“At the end of the day, I want to see where our shortfalls are in this process and then work on a way forward to close those gaps in the end,” Martinez said.

The culminating event for USARAF joint task force validation will occur later this year during exercise Judicious Response. Judicious Response is a U.S. Africa Command exercise executed by USARAF and designed to test and build the capacity for contingency response in the AFRICOM area of operations. Once validated, USARAF will have the ability to quickly deploy a small element in support of foreign humanitarian and disaster relief missions.
 

More in Readiness
New Hampshire National Guard teams with Morocco for sling load training at African Lion 2025
TAN TAN, Morocco – Soldiers assigned to the 744th Forward Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard partnered with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), for a sling load exercise, May 17, 2025, at Tan Tan, Morocco, during African Lion 25.
Read more
Veterinary professionals work with local animals in Ghana during MEDREXAfrica during African Lion 2025
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Hope Cruse, an animal care specialist, and U.S. Army Capt. Kylie Smith, a veterinarian, both assigned to Public Health Command Europe, joined medical and dental specialists from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the 48th Medical Group, 48th Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa in Ghana to conduct a medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) as part of African Lion 2025 (AL25).
Read more
Army Reserve medical logistics NCO ensures critical blood supply at African Lion 2025
AGADIR, Morocco — In the sweltering heat of North Africa, with lives potentially hanging in the balance, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christa Glass faced a critical challenge—a compromised blood shipment that threatened the medical readiness of U.S. forces.
Read more
More in Readiness
New Hampshire National Guard teams with Morocco for sling load training at African Lion 2025
TAN TAN, Morocco – Soldiers assigned to the 744th Forward Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard partnered with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), for a sling load exercise, May 17, 2025, at Tan Tan, Morocco, during African Lion 25.
Read more
Veterinary professionals work with local animals in Ghana during MEDREXAfrica during African Lion 2025
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Hope Cruse, an animal care specialist, and U.S. Army Capt. Kylie Smith, a veterinarian, both assigned to Public Health Command Europe, joined medical and dental specialists from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the 48th Medical Group, 48th Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa in Ghana to conduct a medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) as part of African Lion 2025 (AL25).
Read more
Army Reserve medical logistics NCO ensures critical blood supply at African Lion 2025
AGADIR, Morocco — In the sweltering heat of North Africa, with lives potentially hanging in the balance, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christa Glass faced a critical challenge—a compromised blood shipment that threatened the medical readiness of U.S. forces.
Read more
More in Readiness
New Hampshire National Guard teams with Morocco for sling load training at African Lion 2025
TAN TAN, Morocco – Soldiers assigned to the 744th Forward Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard partnered with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), for a sling load exercise, May 17, 2025, at Tan Tan, Morocco, during African Lion 25.
Read more
Veterinary professionals work with local animals in Ghana during MEDREXAfrica during African Lion 2025
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Hope Cruse, an animal care specialist, and U.S. Army Capt. Kylie Smith, a veterinarian, both assigned to Public Health Command Europe, joined medical and dental specialists from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the 48th Medical Group, 48th Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa in Ghana to conduct a medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) as part of African Lion 2025 (AL25).
Read more
Army Reserve medical logistics NCO ensures critical blood supply at African Lion 2025
AGADIR, Morocco — In the sweltering heat of North Africa, with lives potentially hanging in the balance, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christa Glass faced a critical challenge—a compromised blood shipment that threatened the medical readiness of U.S. forces.
Read more