State Partnership Program

Video by Jessica Vargas

Amani Training Village Inauguration W/ Titles

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

Aug. 15, 2012 | 1:54

TITLE: Amani Training Village Inauguration DATE: 10 August 2012 PRODUCER: MC2 Jessica Vargas LOCATION: Nairobi, Kenya FONTS Petty Officer Jessica Vargas, Reporting Maj. Gen. Rob Baker, Commander, CJTF-HOA Major Johnson Kiplagat Chelelgo , Project Officer, phase four LEAD An international audience celebrates the completion of the fourth phase of the Amani Peace Support Operations Training Village with a ceremony. The village construction is a result of the cooperative spirit of international partners committed to enhancing Africa’s capacity for regional peace and security. Petty Officer Jessica Vargas has more. REPORTER Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa and African Defense Force leadership came together for the inauguration ceremony of the Amani Training Village located at the International Peace Support Training Center in Nairobi, Kenya. The Amani Village allows military, civilian, and police personnel to train for various peace support operations in a simulated deployed environment. The village is an international project constructed with the cooperation of the United States, Canada, and Britain. REPORTER: Major General Rob Baker, Commander, Combined Joint Task force – Horn of Africa and guest speaker for the ceremony, stressed the importance of the East African nation partnership. SB Maj. Gen. Rob Baker, Commander, CJTF-HOA “we are all here today because our governments appreciate the essential role that peace keeping plays in supporting our shared peace security objectives. By promoting security and stability our military partnerships in areas like peace keeping, maritime security , and encountering violent extremism play an essential role for creating growth and prosperity. Organizations like IPSTC have a very important role to play in advancing regional peace and security objectives. REPORTER The fourth phase, completed by the U.S., includes the addition of a rebel camp, African rural village, a chief’s camp, police station and a multipurpose skills house. SB Major Johnson Kiplagat Chelelgo - Project Officer, Phase Four “There was need for structures that would duplicate a rural setup in an African situation so phase four is very important. It will assist us to create more scenarios that are more relevant with African situations.” REPORTER The ceremony included a plaque unveiling and a live demonstration of a rebel leader arrest scenario. The training center is the only one of its kind in Africa. It began operating in 2001 as part of the defense staff college, originally training only Kenyan military. Today the center educates and trains participants from several east African Nations and other countries. Also available in high definition.