As a member of a Civil Affairs team, you understand relationships are a fundamental piece to the mission. One of the best ways to enhance relationships is to participate in group physical training. Maintaining physical health is understood by all, no matter what part of the world you are from, as an essential part of our daily lives.

This holds true here in Comoros as well. When Joint Civil Affairs Team 101 with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, invited the Comorian Coast Guard and commando unit to participate in our physical training sessions, they gladly accepted.

Being trained as command fitness leader, I was able to apply what I have learned in the states to our exercise sessions here. In return, I have learned a few new techniques I look forward to sharing with my shipmates back home.

Not only have these sessions enabled us to maintain our physical readiness while deployed, but they helped build espirit de corps, leaving the door open for future engagements.