8,000 soldiers from 29 countries are in Jordan on Exercise Eager Lion 19 and this includes Gurkhas from The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles. The exercise will help countries respond to unstable security circumstances and that it helps to improve training and strategic and local operational needs. The Joint exercise with the US Airforce and the Jordanian 61st Mohamed Bin Zayed Quick Reaction Force has seen them practising night operations.
Over the years, this exercise has proven to be important to strengthening the Jordanian and British partnership. Away from the exercise, especially with the Arabic speakers amongst the Gurkhas, they have shared each other’s culture and developed friendships for life.
US Major General Brad Swanson, who is US Central Command’s director for exercises and training, said; “The exercise was in its ninth year and would address threats to regional security”. He said this year the nations participating would look at combined air and land drills. This included drills to outsmart and out manoeuvre our adversaries.