Ghana Armed Forces Public Relations Directorate Ghana believes that apart from building and modernising her armed forces there is also the need to establish defence and security ties with neighbouring states as well as other friendly countries.

Over the years, the Ghana Armed Forces have established close military relations with some Western countries to enable them to train with each other as a means of vital confidence building.

The operational training of the forces is designed to meet the requirements of its assigned tasks of among others preparing for combat. This training is usually done as realistically as possible using simulated combat conditions and situations in all aspects of combat.

Operational training can be further categorised into single service function and joint or combined training. The single service function is designed to train and equip a particular group of Army, Airforce or Naval personnel for the conduct of prompt and sustained combat operations in accordance with established doctrines.

The joint and/or combined operational training on the other hand is designed to enable the forces personnel to operate as a force and with other friendly nations either on a bilateral or multilateral level and this primes them to act in concert with other friendly nations.

The Ghana Armed Forces has not only engaged bilaterally with most of her neighbours from the sub region at different levels of military cooperation but has also engaged in military ties with other Western nations like the USA, Britain, France and Belgium.

These ties have covered a wide range of contacts such as reciprocal visits, exchange of personnel, military courses and periodic meetings and seminars culminating in the conduct of regular combined exercises.

In the case of the United States of America, a number of land, sea, and air exercises are undertaken annually to enhance bilateral military cooperation between the two nations. With the successful completion of these exercises the Ghana Armed Forces is given the opportunity to undertake cross-training with her neighbours and share operational and doctrinal experiences.

Combined training sessions are magnificent forms of training that allow the militaries of participating nations to work together in a field environment. They are the best method to gauge the level of interoperability of the various forces. Lessons derived from well-planned exercises ensure that the military forces from participating countries will be better able to execute 'real-world' operations together when the need arises.

Perhaps the most 'traditional' form of military cooperation between nations is in the area of combined training. There is no better way for militaries to operate than to undertake periodic joint training.

The US has sent teams to Ghana to train Ghana Armed Forces personnel in various disciplines under the Joint Combined Exchanges and Training (JCET) Program. As the name of the program implies, the US trainers learn as much about the Ghana Armed Forces methods of operations as they teach US practices.

The first such programs took place in 1993 and involved a broad group of soldiers from the two countries who were out in the field implementing practical, hands-on-training and mutual familiarisation. This year's combined training was codenamed 'JCET 2001', and it was another opportunity for the exchange of ideas and skills and the sixth in the training schedule.

The two phases included the Mission Essential Skills and Disaster Management Seminar and ended last Friday. The objective of this year's program which involved the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion of the US Army is focused on the disaster preparedness that would improve and enhance the Armed Forces capacity building effort as well as sharpen the skills, knowledge and experience in disaster management during humanitarian crisis among others.

The Mission Essential Skills training was held at the Jungle Warfare School at Achiase from 16th April to 12th May 2001 during which personnel were taken through Air Assault Operations, Demolitions, Basic Marksmanship, Advance Land Navigation, Advance Trauma Management and Mission Planning among others.

The Disaster Management Seminar which ended last Friday focused on Emergency Management, Emergency Operations Centre, civil-Military Operations Centre, Hazard Analysis and Disaster Assessment and Emergency Public Information.

A number of senior military officers and men attended the course. JCET 2001 is cost effective with minimal host nation expenditure that would occasionally be conducted in a classroom environment and will engage many crucial emergency response civil agencies who would assist in disaster relief in conjunction with the Ghana Armed Forces.