PRESS RELEASE | April 27, 2009
Eagle Resolve begins with command post exercise
By Sr. Airman Michael Longoria , U.S. Central Command

DOHA, Qatar (April 26, 2009) — Eagle Resolve 2009 began a week-long command post exercise here Sunday with senior military and government officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council nations and the United States.

“We want to use this experience as a learning opportunity,” said Eagle Resolve Exercise Co-Director Air Force Maj. Gen. Tim Rush, Air National Guard assistant to commander, United States Central Command Air Forces. “We will practice coordinating, communicating and executing decisions that we would make in a real world situation.”

The day started with an intelligence briefing on the current exercise situation.

“This morning’s briefing was setting the stage for the week’s events and as practice for a real world intelligence briefing,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Orlando Acosta, U.S. Central Command.

The command post exercise will focus on three specific areas throughout the week.

“The objective for today is to work out communications and chain-of-command issues,” said Acosta, the command post lead for Eagle Resolve. “The rest of the week will be exercising crisis management, air and missile defense, and regional cooperation. We are putting our paper plan into action.”

Eagle Resolve is an annual, multi-national exercise designed to enhance regional cooperative defense efforts of the GCC and U.S. Central Command.

“It is a great opportunity for Qatar to serve as the host country for exercise Eagle Resolve,” said Staff Brigadier (Pilot) Abdullah Juman Al Hamad, head of Qatari National Defense and Crisis Management.

“By working together with the United States and the other GCC nations, we are helping to improve the region’s defense capabilities. This exercise demonstrates the spirit of collaboration between GCC countries and the United States,” added Abdulla, who also serves as Eagle Resolve co-director.

This year’s Eagle Resolve from late April to early May will focus on promoting a common understanding of defense concepts and procedures, as well as exercising consequence management efforts. In addition to the command post exercise, Eagle Resolve participants will also conduct a field training exercise.