Eager Lion 18 Launched in Jordan - protecting the desert kingdom and US national security

From 15-26 April 2018,some 3600 US Marines and Sailors will join the Jordanian Armed Forces in Exercise Eager Lion 18,one of US CENTCOM's premier drills.The annual,countrywide exercise involves scenarios ranging from strategic bombing missions to maritime security operations,and even a ground forces attack by a fictional adversary.*
The drills seek to improve the troops' collective ability to plan and project presence in a coalition environment.They will increase US-Jordanian security and warfighting skills,allowing them to better address common threats to regional security.For example,in one scenario,Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will stage an embassy reinforcement and noncombatant evacuation,conducting bilateral sustainment training in a variety of combat skillsets.
According to 26th MEU commanding officer COL Farrell J. Sullivan:
Eager Lion allows us to practice key mission essential tasks that span the range of military operations to resolve conflict and conduct combat operations against an enemy in remote,austere environments that would otherwise be inaccessible.This exercise will allow us to demonstrate how we can project combat power across great distances and sustain those forces from amphibious shipping.When it comes to crisis response,the amphibious ready group/MEU team is the force of choice.When called upon,we will be ready.*
US Navy ships participating include the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51),carrying components of the 26th MEU.The ships and personnel constitute the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group.*
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,led by His Majesty King Abdullah II,is 75% desert,with one small stretch of seacoast in the west of the country.It has long been one of America's closest allies in the Middle East.