More than 400 U.S. and Benin service members gathered in Bembereke, Benin for the opening ceremony of Exercise SHARED ACCORD 2009. Reserve units from throughout the U.S. Marine Corps, along with medical contingents from the Navy, Air Force and Army National Guard, gathered at Center of Military Information for the 15-day exercise.

"This exercise will allow us to test our value and show the African Union and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) authorities that our Stand-by Force is ready, well trained and credible to be deployed anywhere in Africa or in any kind of peacekeeping situation," said Colonel Dominique Ahoundjinou, Beninese Army Chief of Staff.

Exercise SHARED ACCORD is a scheduled, bilateral field training exercise aimed at conducting small unit infantry and staff training with the Beninese military.

"Our goal is to learn about the culture, their training practices and how we're the same in many ways," said U.S. Marine Lieutenant Colonel Michael Miller, Joint Task Force Commander. "We will also improve our own skills by training with them in a different environment. We hope to foster a spirit of cooperation and teamwork with Benin [Armed Forces]."

The exercise, said Miller, will include working with the Benin military, training in peacekeeping operations, and joining with sister services to conduct humanitarian aid in the form of local medical, dental and veterinary clinics. Navy Seabees will also build a local school.

"We put a lot of effort into training," said Ahoundjinou. "We know that you [U.S. forces] will do your best to support us during our training. The will of both nations to work toward peacekeeping operations is evidenced by the exercise that brings us together today."