Missouri Army National Guard supports anti-terror training in Tanzania

By Capt. Michelle Matthews

Missouri National Guard

ARUSHA, Tanzania - The 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade  of the Missouri Army National Guard is conducting operations in Arusha, Tanzania, supporting Eastern Accord 2012.

Eastern Accord is a U.S. Army Africa training exercise to help the U.S. and East African participants improve their capability to respond to regional security threats.

Col. William Ward, commander, 110th MEB of Oklahoma City, and Command Sgt. Maj. John Sportsman of Maitland, Mo., are directing U.S. participation during Eastern Accord 2012.

“Our mission here is to conduct an academic program and table top exercise to improve understanding of violent extremism and share best practices to deter violent extremism in Africa,” Ward said. “MOARNG is partnering with Tanzania Peoples Defence Force counterparts to provide command and control for the exercise and help execute and facilitate the table top exercise.”

The 110th MEB coordinated planning for its part in Eastern Accord 2012 for more than a year. By partnering with the Tanzania Peoples Defence Force and other U.S. Army Africa units, Soldiers of the 110th MEB are gaining valuable experience working in a multi-national environment.

“This is a very important exercise for Soldiers of the 110th MEB. We are learning a great deal of information about countering violent extremism and continue to sharpen our skills as facilitators. The culminating table top exercise will allow for our Soldiers to showcase their expertise,” Sportsman said.

Members from the 110th are performing multiple missions during the exercise. Some of their key tasks include Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, Integration, known as RSOI. The group is responsible for coordinating travel to and from the United States and inter-country travel from the seven East African countries represented.

Several 110th MEB Soldiers will remain in Tanzania until Sept.15 to ensure all personnel return safely to their homelands.

The Missouri National Guard has about 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen deployed in supporting various operations throughout the United States and the world.