Gendarmerie, US company to implement "Urban Shield"

The Gendarmerie Department and U.S.-based Cytel company have signed on Wednesday a cooperation agreement to execute the "Urban Shield" exercise in Jordan next October. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Special Operations Forces Exhibition & Conference (SOFEX) 2012 by Director General of the Gendarmerie Major General Tawfiq Tawalbeh and General Manager of the U.S. company James Baker. Tawalbeh told reporters that the exercise will be carried out for the first time outside the United States. Jordan, he added, was chosen thanks for the security and stability it enjoys as well as the expertise of its security apparatuses, which would contribute to the success of the exercise. He stressed that the "Urban Shield" is a valuable opportunity to exchange expertise among the agencies involved, especially that it will focus on strengthening the knowledge, skills and abilities of