The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and United States Armed Forces (US AF) will jointly conduct a multi-national peace support operation and humanitarian relief exercise, Exercise SHARED ACCORD 2013. The exercise will take place in the Eastern Cape from 24 July to 5 August 2013.
Elements of the SANDF will move into the various areas from 8 July 2013 in a staggered approach to prepare for the start of the exercise. United States Armed Forces will start moving into the exercise areas from 14 July 2013.
The aim of Ex SHARED ACCORD 13 is to provide collective training for the SANDF and US AF, building interoperability and mutual understanding between the two forces. All services of SANDF, SA Army, SA Air Force (SAAF), SA Navy (SAN) and SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) are involved in this exercise.
The 43 South African Brigade (43 SA Bde) will coordinate the exercise utilising various combat and support units from the SA Army. The SAAF participation will be mostly virtual with some real-time helicopter support. SA Navy components will be involved in exercises at sea along the southern coast of South Africa before entering the harbour of East London. Naval Forces will include a frigate, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, a Mine Counter Measure Vessel and Maritime Reaction Force elements.
The SAMHS support concept will entail world-class real time Military Health support to own forces deployed at sea and on land for Exercise SHARED ACCORD 13. The medical contingent will consist of multi-disciplinary professionals who will join the United States Forces for the duration of the exercise.
This will also be a measure to test the operational capability of both the SAMHS and USA AF in terms of real time Military Health Support. In this way, the SAMHS will operationalise Civil and Military Cooperation in Humanitarian Support to Post Conflict Health Reconstruction by conducting Dental, Primary Health Care and Veterinary services to community livestock. The USA AF will provide Optometry evaluations and dispense 10 000 spectacles.
The SAMHS will also ensure effective networking with the Department of Health, Local Government and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) during the Humanitarian Civil Activity. The Department of Health will participate by providing TB testing services. The Humanitarian Civil Activity will also enhance co-operation between USA AF medical personnel and the SAMHS.
This is the second time that the SANDF will participate in this type of exercise; the first time was in 2011. The SANDF is proud to be involved in Exercise SHARED ACCORD 2013, and the associated partnership with colleagues from the USA, the provincial and local government authorities, as well as relevant NGOs in this area.
Enquiries:
Jaco Theunissen
Captain (SA Navy)
Cell: 083 633 3179
