The first-ever joint field training exercise by five East African Community (EAC) member states defense forces opened on Sunday in the northeastern Tanzanian region of Arusha. Codenamed Ex-Mlima (Mountain) Kilimanjaro 2009, the first-ever field training exercise to be conducted by the EAC Armed Forces from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, aims to practice a Combined Joint Task Force of 1,556 personnel in three themes of peace support operations, counter terrorism and disaster management in order to enhance mutual understanding on how to handle such problems in a typical East African situation. It will also involve provision of medical and veterinary services as well as some humanitarian activities at the villages and districts in the area, according to the EAC statement. 