Approximately 400 U.S. military personnel have begun arriving in Bembereke, Benin, to take part in Exercise SHARED ACCORD June 3, 2009.

Exercise SHARED ACCORD is a scheduled U.S.-Benin exercise focusing on the conduct of small unit infantry and staff training with the Beninese military and is designed to improve interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation's tactics, techniques, and procedures.

Infantry Marines from New Orleans-based 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division will work with their Beninese counterparts to focus on individual and crew-served weapons proficiency and small unit training tactics, techniques and procedures, as well as company- and battalion- level staff training in order to build Benin's capacity to conduct peacekeeping operations.

Medical and dental personnel from 4th Marine Logistics Group and U.S. Air Force Reserve Command's 459th Aerospace Medical Squadron will provide various medical related humanitarian assistance efforts for the local population in the towns of Sinende, Guessou-Sud, and Gamia.

During the exercise, Marine engineers from 6th Engineer Support Battalion will participate in a humanitarian and civic assistance project at a school in the village of Konarou.

In addition to the infantry training, medical and dental assistance, and school construction project, SHARED ACCORD will include veterinary assistance to several villages in the vicinity of Bembereke carried out by soldiers from the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion.

Exercise SHARED ACCORD is a U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)-sponsored, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa-planned exercise that supports U.S. Africa Command's Theater Strategic Objectives. The exercise is scheduled to conclude on June 25. All U.S. forces will return to their home bases at the end of the exercise.