Exercise Edged Mallet

Kenya has hosted bilateral maneuvers, like the "Natural Fire" and "Noble Piper" series, as well as multi-national exercises such as "Golden Spear" and African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI) training.

Sailors and Marines of the US Fifth Fleet conducted a bilateral, combined arms training exercise with the armed forces of Kenya in 1999. The exercise, known as Edged Mallet 99, was conducted from Jan. 29 to Feb. 12, 1999. The exercise was designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships, increase interoperability, familiarize US personnel with the environmental and operational characteristics of Kenya, demonstrate amphibious capabilities, refine and maintain operational readiness of participating forces and promote rapport and understanding between Kenyan and U.S. personnel.

The Sailors and Marines of the 13th MEU(SOC) and USS Harpers Ferry participated in Exercise Edged Mallet 99 featuring a Humanitarian Assistance Operations and bilateral training with Kenyan Forces. While the Navy/nMarine Corps team trained, volunteers were sent on a mission of goodwill to different locations around the city. The people of Mombasa, Kenya were the recipients of gifts and goodwill 02 Feb. 1999 where Marines and Sailors of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) donated more than 7,000 pounds of Project Handclasp materials to various institutions. Project Handclasp is a program that provides humanitarian, educational and goodwill materials donated by U.S. citizens and businesses which are delivered by U.S. Navy Ships participating in community relations projects overseas.

More than 1,300 Kenyans were treated during a five-day Humanitarian Assistance Operation (HAO) by Marines and Sailors of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). The HAO was conducted during Exercise Edged Mallet 99 which featured a number of humanitarian civic projects and bilateral training with Kenyan Forces. The focus of the operation centered around the Port Reitz Chest and Infectious Disease Hospital where HAO team provided free medical treatment for the local population. In addition, 13th MEU(SOC) engineers renovated wards and set up a temporary tent clinic on the hospital grounds. Upon arrival to Mombasa Jan. 26, medical personnel from the 13th MEU(SOC) and Harpers Ferry surveyed the area of the HAO.

Edged Mallet 2002 involves more than 2,100 US Marines operating off the coast of Kenya. The exercise involved the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the amphibious assault ships Bonhomme Richard and Pearl Harbor. The British marine survey ship HMS Scott and the French transport vessel FNS Bougainville arrived in Mombasa a few days earlier. Kenya is one of the 30 countries participating in multi-national training held in Indian Ocean from February 8 to 25. US officials stated that the three-week exercise with Kenyan forces had been planned for about a year, and did not foreshadow military action in neighboring Somalia.

The military forces of the United States and the Republic of Kenya conducted joint military exercises in Kenya's coastal region beginning on 3 February 2002. The exercise, known as "Edged Mallet," is considerably larger than many recent bilateral military exercises. Three U.S. Navy vessels took part. The "Bonhomme Richard," an amphibious assault ship (which looks like a smaller version of an aircraft carrier) was accompanied by two support ships.

The three vessels anchored in deep water off Kenya's coast. A total of 3000 U.S. military personnel from the Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy were on board. Of these nearly 1000 Marines deployed ashore for a series of bilateral training maneuvers and to carry out several humanitarian projects at sites near the exercise areas. Joined by about 250 Kenyan soldiers, including elements of the 15th Kenyan Rifles plus engineering support, the troops conducted intensive ground and air maneuvers, designed to improve the ability of the two countries' armed forces to work together.

As has long been U.S. practice in Kenya, the exercise is limited to small arms fire - no "explosive ordinance" will be used, which eliminates the threat of accidental civilian injuries from unexploded "duds" following the exercises.

As part of the overall exercise, U.S. Marines also undertook several humanitarian projects for the benefit of the local Kenyan population. Marines constructed two classrooms and repaired a bridge in one coastal village, while drilling a public well and restoring a medical clinic at another site. US medical personnel offered free medical services to people living near the exercise areas. Planned since early 2001, "Edged Mallet" is part of an ongoing series of US-Kenya military activities.