Operation BRIGHT STAR

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Operation BRIGHT STAR is an annual or biennial international military training exercise conducted by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), in the Middle East, centered in Egypt. It is the largest field exercise in the world, and has involved 35 countries and 65,000 troops. [1] It began in 1980 as a bilateral U.S.-Egyptian exercise

It trains in coalition warfare, but has also been used both operationally, as in signaling to Saddam Hussein in 1999,[2]and as a cover for deployment, as before the Gulf War. It was, however, cancelled while the Gulf War was in progress. [3] It has been used for testing, as with the new deployable CENTCOM command post in 1999.[4]

U.S. generals Tommy Franks and Mike "Rifle" DeLong both described it as a test in their careers; successful direction of the exercise caused senior commanders to give them immensely more trust. [5]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Michael DeLong with Noah Lukeman (2009), Inside CENTCOM: the Unvarnished Truth about the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Regnery, ISBN 0895260204, pp. 32-34
2. ↑ Jim Garamone (October 26, 1999), "Bright Star Shines in Egypt", American Forces Press Service
3. ↑ Jim Hauser (August 11, 2003), "Bright Star Exercise Cancelled", Talon News
4. ↑ Franks, Tommy & Malcolm McConnell (2004), American Soldier, Regan, pp. 184-186
5. ↑ DeLong, pp. 42-43