Niger Basic Training Enhancement Project

Army Maj. Mamadou Sylla talks to Niger army basic training instructors as recruits disassemble and reassemble weapons Dec. 7, 2021. Sylla led a small team from U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa on a visit to Niger to discuss projects and plans to enhance the Forces Armées Nigériennes basic training in coordination with the U.S. Embassy Niamey, Office of Security Cooperation and the Regional Training Institute of the Indiana Army National Guard. The FAN basic training capability enhancement project, part of the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Program, is scheduled to be completed before April. Instructions from the Indiana ANG Regional Training Institute are set to train and certify the FAN basic training instructors. The project aims to standardize FAN basic training in order to provide continuity for a professional security force to counter regional threats and violent extremist organizations. The Indiana Army National Guard and Niger are matched in the National Guard and U.S. Africa Command State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army photo by Carmen Daugherty.)