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Noble Piper

NOBLE PIPER 2001 was an ACRI (African Crisis Response Initiative) 2001 Exercise. Noble Piper was a Joint Chief's of Staff Exercise conducted from April-May 2001 in Kenya, Africa. The mission was threefold, train Kenyan infantry soldiers, provide medical/dental/veterinary assistance to the local populace and livestock, and provide engineer assistance to improve several public schools. A Co, 3/5 U.S. Army Special Forces Group (SFG) led the mission, with attached medical personnel from various stateside units and from a U.S. Navy Seabee Detachment.

Training was conducted in Nanyuki, Kenya, before NOBLE PIPER 2001 and ENCAP 2001 deployed to the field in Isiolo, Kenya, East Afric. The exercise provided an opportunity to improve U.S./Kenyan combat readiness while enhancing relations. ENCAP 2001 demonstrated U.S. support for implied humanitarian interests in the region.

The Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion ONE (NMCB-1) "The First and The Finest" helped build the NOBLE PIPER tent camp at the Kenyan Army School of Infantry in Isiolo. Having completed that, the Seabees directed two other projects for the Isiolo school district in a joint exercise with 65 members of the Kenyan Army 10th Engineering Platoon. With the skills of the Platoon and funding by the U.S. State Department, they had 30 days to build nine restroom facilities at Uhuru Primary School and to renovate four classrooms at Waso Primary School. A local Isiolo vender helped the Seabees, Hillard said, by ensuring timely support from various material suppliers located throughout Kenya.

Planning for the DFT began in December 2000 with an initial planning conference in Nairobi. After many hours of planning and estimating the projects, the Seabee team coordinated the support and funding required for travel, equipment, and supplies. Support for the NOBLE PIPER team came from the Kenyan United States Liaison Office (KUSLO) at American Embassy Nairobi.

English is the second language, and most speak it fluently. When outside of the capital, cellular phone coverage is spotty, though improving every day. Land line telephones in the outlying regions are poor. Email connectivity is adequate within Nairobi, but fluctuates between non-existent to marginal outside the capital. The road system deteriorates outside of the capital. Expect pot holes every few feet and a zig zag driving style to dodge them.

The Paying Agent conducted market research for the major contracts. A contracting officer went on a pre-deployment site survey to coordinate with vendors and U.S. Embassy personnel. The "Hakuna mutatta" no problems mentality of the people does make contracting more challenging. The wood on many hand tools (hammers, pick axes, axes, etc.) was generally of very low quality and broke in a day. Request name brand or equivalent (we found Stanley tools) if you want them to last.