HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN – Army Maj. Gen. Robert Catalanotti, U.S. Central Command director of Exercises and Training Directorate, and Brig. Gen. Fahad Al-Damin, director of Joint Training from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, held a press conference today regarding Exercise Eager Lion 2014.
Eager Lion, which has been recurring annually since 2011, includes more than 12,500 military and civilian participants from five continents. The exercise focuses on strengthening the military-to-military relationships and further demonstrates the U.S. commitment to regional security and stability. Catalanotti said Eager Lion has been the premier USCENTCOM exercise with our Jordanian partners since its inception.
“The exercise provides us with the opportunity to develop relationships and capabilities. Those relationships we build here during the exercise will be enduring ones that ensure our success in future joint endeavors,” said Catalanotti. “All of this combined training, led by the Jordanian Armed Forces, will come together over the next two weeks, strengthening the partnership between more than 20 countries and increasing our ability to operate together during any contingency.”
Brig. Gen Fahad Al-Damin commented on the participation in Eager Lion 2014, and noted that the exercise provides an opportunity to increase interoperability between the participating countries.
“The growing number in the participating countries this year emphasizes the fact that this exercise is considered as a chance for elite military leadership to meet on various and different levels: strategic, operational and tactical,” said Fahad. “Eager Lion ‘14 is considered one of the main outcomes of the relationships that we hope will solidify cooperation and coordination in all military domains among the participating countries.”
Both leaders answered questions from media outlets during a questions and answer session following their opening remarks. Planning for Eager Lion 2015 will begin sometime this summer.