AUGUST 24, 2026 – U.S. and Nigerian forces are conducting a series of training events at Operating Location Bauchi, Nigeria, aimed at sharing military expertise, strengthening partner capacity and building relationships between service members from both nations.
Across Bauchi, U.S. forces support a broader U.S.-Nigeria security cooperation mission designed to strengthen shared readiness, enhance military capability and build long-term partner capacity. Through combined training, advising, intelligence sharing and professional exchanges, U.S. and Nigerian forces work together to address shared security challenges and improve interoperability. Even though individual U.S. teams perform different functions, each contributes to the broader partnership between the United States and Nigeria.
Training conducted between U.S. and Nigerian forces at Bauchi has included Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care instruction, weapons familiarization, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small-unit tactics and unmanned aircraft system training.
Rather than following a predetermined curriculum, training opportunities are developed based on available U.S. expertise and areas Nigerian partners identify as beneficial.
Capt. Gabriel Feingold, a logistics officer assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and the operations officer at OL Bauchi, said U.S. units identify training they are capable of providing and coordinate those opportunities with Nigerian leadership.
“We bring them a list of several different training topics, and they select what they think would be most beneficial for them,” Feingold said.
Feingold said the approach allows training to draw on the capabilities of the U.S. units at Bauchi while responding to areas of interest identified by Nigerian forces.
One area that generated particular interest was unmanned aircraft systems.
Sgt. Mark Murphy, an intelligence analyst assigned to the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, led approximately 10 members of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment through UAS training at OL Bauchi.
The event began with approximately 45 minutes of instruction before transitioning to hands-on training. Murphy introduced the Nigerian service members to the system, explained its operation and discussed techniques U.S. personnel have used while employing UAS at OL Bauchi.
Murphy said the system was relatively easy to learn. After receiving instruction on the basic controls, participants were able to begin operating the aircraft themselves.
“They were really excited with being able to get hands-on time with it,” Murphy said. “They were excited about doing more training with it in the future.”
The training went beyond learning how to operate the aircraft. Murphy also discussed techniques for employing UAS and how information collected by the system can be incorporated into operations.
For Murphy, leading the training also provided an opportunity to exercise a responsibility he considers fundamental to being a noncommissioned officer.
“I love training Soldiers,” Murphy said. “I think it’s one of the main jobs of the NCO Corps within the Army, to train Soldiers and make them ready.”
Murphy said the fundamentals of teaching remain the same regardless of the subject or who is receiving the instruction.
“It just goes back to the importance of teaching Soldiers fundamentals that can be applied to any kind of discipline,” Murphy said.
Beyond developing technical skills, the training has also created opportunities for U.S. and Nigerian service members to interact more directly. Feingold said those interactions are particularly valuable for personnel who may not otherwise routinely work with their Nigerian counterparts.
“It helps build relationships between Soldiers and the partner force, especially at the lower levels,” Feingold said.
Murphy said he noticed that change after the UAS training. Many of the Nigerian personnel who attended the class already worked around U.S. service members at OL Bauchi, but the training gave them another point of connection.
“Now it’s a lot easier to interact with them,” Murphy said. “They come up, they say hi to me, they talk about the training that we did.”
Those relationships have also developed outside formal training. U.S. and Nigerian service members regularly participate in basketball and volleyball together when weather and operations allow, providing another opportunity for interaction and friendly competition.
Feingold said those engagements, combined with military training, help build relationships between U.S. and Nigerian personnel beyond their immediate duties.
Additional training opportunities are being developed at OL Bauchi as U.S. and Nigerian forces continue identifying areas where their personnel can share expertise and train together.
By Capt. Katherine Sibilla