US Special Operations Command Central

Jordan Hosts U.S. forces and partner nations for premiere Exercise Eager Lion 24 Exercise Eager Lion 24 officially began today with an opening ceremony held at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC), Amman, Jordan. This is the 11th iteration of the exercise, which is held every other year in Jordan and is a testament to 75 years of U.S.-Jordan relations which we commemorate this year. In addition to Jordan and the United States, 32 other partner nations will participate or observe in the exercise, which concludes May 23, 2024.   Eager Lion is one of the largest military exercises in the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility, hosted by one of the command’s strongest and most reliable partners. The exercise is designed to exchange military expertise and improve interoperability among partner nations.   “Eager Lion demonstrates the value of working together to maintain a ready and responsive force that truly demonstrates we are prepared to respond together in times of crisis,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jason Benson, USCENTCOM’s director for Eager Lion 2024. “Participating in Eager Lion demonstrates our shared commitment to improving interoperability with our partners. It also demonstrates that our coalition force can maintain a sufficient and sustainable presence in the region. It delivers a clear message that relationships matter.”    Exercise Eager Lion is the most important exercise between the U.S. military and the Jordanian Armed Forces. The exercise underscores the United States’ commitment to partners in the Middle East in our joint defense against hybrid threats by state and non-state actors.    Eager Lion 24 will focus on training participating partners on cooperation and interoperability between military and interagency organizations. This year’s scenario will address regional challenges across air, land, sea and cyber domains, as well as support of multinational disaster response operations and humanitarian aid assistance. Participants will work with civil authorities responsible for critical national infrastructure protection, train on cyber defense and maritime security, practice operations in a chemically contaminated environment, and rehearse integrated logistics maneuvers. The exercise will train participants to prepare against cyber threats from fictitious adversaries, advance development of partnered counterterrorism skills, expand Integrated Air and Missile Defense synchronization, and sharpen proficiencies inmaritime and border security.   The exercise will also include a field training exercise with a combined-arms live-fire exercise, command post exercise, and a senior leader seminar to facilitate information sharing attactical and strategic levels.    The U.S. military participates in more than 80 exercises with partner nations in the USCENTCOM area of responsibility each year. Exercises in the region are designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships, promote regional security, and improve interoperability with partner nations.