His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan inaugurated the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) outside Amman, Jordan, on May 19. The special operations training center is a state-of-the-art training center for special operations and security forces from Jordan, the United States and regional allies. The training center provides the best practices in counterterrorism training.
The Corps’ Transatlantic Programs Center managed the design and construction work in conjunction with the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau, an agency of the Jordanian Ministry of Defense.
The joint Jordanian/U.S. project uses the expertise of several organizations including the Special Operations Command Central, the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, and private design and construction contractors including Stanley Consultants and American International Contractors Inc./Syska/Archirodon.
The many features of the special operations training facility include:
- Urban and village settings that simulate realistic neighborhoods with residential, commercial, industrial and government facilities.
- Aircraft training facilities including an aircraft control tower and a full-size A-300 Airbus.
- Assault and demolition facilities to include a close quarters battle house for room-to-room combat practice training with live fire, and a method-of-entry building that provides entry techniques training.
- Pistol and rifle ranges, multi-use tower, grenade range, obstacle course, ordnance storage.
- Supporting facilities such as housing, administrative areas, mosque, clinic, warehouse and carpentry shop.
The Special Operations Training Center facilities are equipped with the latest technologies in targets, range equipment, automation and simulation of battle scenarios, all in a safe environment where trainers can monitor every training event.
Release no. 13-051