File:Atlas Drop opening ceremony, April 2011 (5657091617).jpg

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Dickerson, exercise deputy director and commander of Task Force Atlas, answer media questions following the Atlas Drop 11 opening ceremony at the Soroti Airfield April 13.

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brock Jones, 128th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Utah Army National Guard

Atlas Drop 2011 officially began with a morning ceremony at the Soroti Airfield in Eastern Uganda, April 13.

Atlas Drop 11, an annual joint aerial-delivery exercise sponsored by U.S. Army Africa (USARAF), brings together U.S. service members with counterparts from the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), and is designed to enhance the readiness of both countries’ resupply and logistical capabilities.

The two-week training will consist of classroom instruction and a field training exercise. Atlas Drop 11 will increase the capability of both UPDF and U.S. forces to resupply Soldiers operating in remote areas.

Local civic leaders and dignitaries, UPDF leadership, and the Ugandan and U.S. forces involved in the exercise gathered on the airfield tarmac to commemorate the exercise's official start. Maj. Gen. Andrew Gutti, commandant of the UPDF’s Senior Command and Staff College, was the ceremony’s guest of honor.

UPDF Brig. Gen. Silver Kayemba, exercise director and chief of training and operations, and Lt. Col. Jeffrey Dickerson, exercise deputy director and commander of Task Force Atlas, both expressed gratitude for the opportunity for Ugandan and U.S. forces to work together.

“I welcome you all to exercise Atlas Drop 11,” said Kayemba. “This is one of a series of exercises in which we jointly train together. Atlas Drop 11 is going to be an aerial resupply exercise that is directed to giving services to isolated platoons that are working in unfriendly environments.”

“Training is a continuous operation. If you fail to prepare, you have prepared to fail,” he said.

Kayemba then invited Dickerson to speak.

“I first would like to say to you all, eyalama noi noi (thank you very much) for inviting all of us to come to Uganda — to come to the Teso area — to partner with the UPDF,” said Dickerson. “It’s and honor, and it’s a privilege.

“Our coming together here represents not just the partnership between our militaries but the partnership and the bonds between our nations, our governments, and most importantly, our people,” he said. “We are so fortunate and very excited to be partnered with our UPDF brothers here in the Teso area.”

Gutti then spoke and declared the exercise officially open.

“I would like, on behalf of the UPDF, to sincerely thank the U.S. government and her Army in particular for availing us the opportunity to train and practice together these very important operations,” he said. “With these remarks I would like, on behalf of the Chief of Defense Forces, to flag off this exercise and wish you all a very successful exercise.”

Following the ceremony, Ugandan and U.S. Soldiers began training together on rigging aerial-delivery resupply systems, establishing drop zones in remote locations, and various military staff leadership skills such as decision-making processes.

Atlas Drop 11 will end April 20 following three days of live, aerial resupply practice missions to various drop zones established north of Soroti. Distinguished Ugandan and U.S. visitors will attend the final air drops and the closing ceremony at one of the drop zones to marking the exercise's official end.

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