Exercice African Lion 2010

Citation :

Commander’s meet to prepare for exercise in Morocco

New Orleans Feburary 06th,2010, - Representatives from 4th Marine Division, 4th Tank Battalion, Marine Forces Africa and the Moroccan military officials met at the 4th Marine Division headquarters Feb. 5-8, to begin preparations for African Lion 2010.

African Lion is a month long combined exercise with the Moroccan military. Marines from the major subordinate commands under Marine Forces Reserve participate in the exercise annually.

Since the first exercise in 2004, African Lion has progressively grown to become the largest combined exercise in Africa, according to Maj. Nebyou Yonas, operations officer, Marine Forces Africa.

This year’s exercise will be unique, because it is the first year that MFR and the Moroccan military held a Master Scenario Event List (MSEL) conference prior to the event. The MSEL conference sets the scenario that will be executed during the exercise.

Everything from the mission statement, to obstacles and challenges the Marines must overcome was planned during the conference.

African Lion 2010 will be conducted from May 10 until June 15, in the country of Morocco.

تنسيق مكثّف بين المارينز والقوات المسلحة على مستويات متعدّدة



بدأت قوات المارينز الأميركيّة تتقاطر على المغرب، حيث تجري الاستعدادات لإنطلاق المناورات العسكرية المشتركة التي ستجريها مع القوات المسلّحة الملكية المغربيّة.



الدار البيضاء: ذكرت مصادر أن وفدًا عسكريًا أميركيًا ينتظر أن يزور، في الأيام القليلة المقبلة، المواقع المحتضنة لهذه المناورات، التي ستمتد من 28 أبريل الجاري حتى 4 يونيو المقبل، في منطقة رأس درعة، بالقرب من مدينة طانطان (جنوب المملكة)، وبنواحي مدينة القنيطرة ، ومدينة تارودانت .



وحسب سفارة الولايات المتحدة الأميركية بالرباط فإن هذه المناورات العسكرية المشتركة بين القوات المسلحة الملكية والقوات الأميركية، التي تحمل اسم "الأسد الأفريقي 2010"، تجري بطريقة منتظمة، وتهدف إلى تعزيز التنسيق والتعاون بين القوات للبلدين والتفاهم المشترك على التقنيات العسكرية والإجراءات المتبعة من طرف كل بلد على حدة.



وتضم هذه المناورات العسكرية أشكالاً متعدّدة للتكوين العسكري، بما فيها زعامة القيادة العسكرية، والتدريبات الخاصة باستعمال الأسلحة النارية وعمليات حفظ السلام، والتزود بالوقود جوًّا والتدريب على التحليق بالطائرات بعلو منخفض.



ومن المقرر أن تقوم وحدات عسكرية متعدّدة من الفيلق 23 لقوات المارينز الأميركية بإدارة المناورات الخاصة بمركز القيادة، والتكوين الثنائي على مستوى الوحدات العسكرية، والتكوين الخاص بمؤهلات استعمال الأسلحة، وعمليات الحفاظ على السلام مع وحدات القوات المسلحة الملكية.



وستشارك وحدات من المارينز والطائرات من "المجموعة 234" للنقل الجوي العسكري المتخصص بالتزود بالوقود أثناء الطيران مع "مجموعة 41" للمارينز والقوات الجوية بالإشراف على تكوين حول التزود بالوقود أثناء الطيران، والطيران على مستوى منخفض لفائدة القوات الجوية الملكية.



وأثناء هذه المناورات العسكرية، سيقوم الضباط من الحرس الوطني الجوي الأميركي لولاية يوتاه بتقديم مساعدات طبية في طب الأسنان، والطب البيطري لفائدة السكان المحليين، وكذا لفائدة السكان بضواحي تارودانت.



وقررت الولايات المتحدة الأميركية، أخيرًا، زيادة المساعدات العسكرية إلى المغرب بثلاثة أضعاف، مقارنة مع السنة الماضية، وتوقع أن تصل قيمة هذه المساعدات إلى تسعة ملايين دولار، مقابل 3.6 ملايين دولار تلقاها المغرب العام الماضي.



ويأتي هذا بناء على طلب الإدارة الأميركية، وذلك في مشروع الميزانية الفدرالية لعام 2011، الذي قدمه البيت الأبيض إلى الكونغرس.



وكانت إشاعات أثيرت، أخيرًا، تتحدث عن عزم واشنطن على بناء قاعدة عسكرية لها جنوبي المغرب وتحديدًا في منطقة طانطان، حيث تعدّ المدينة ذات موقع إستراتيجي متميز لقربها من القيادة الأوروبية الأطلسية ووجودها في منطقة أكثر إستقرارًا من القرن الأفريقي (الصومال)، حيث توجد بؤر ساخنة متعددة وقابلة للإنفجار، كما أنّها قريبة من المياه العميقة للمحيط الأطلسي وهو ما يسهل عمل الغواصات الأميركية الحاملة للصواريخ الإستراتيجية.



غير أن حكومة الرباط نفت وجود أي إتفاق مع الولايات المتحدة على إقامة القيادة العسكرية الأميركية الجديدة في قارة إفريقيا (أفريكوم)، التي كان الرئيس السابق جورج بوش قد أعلن عنها.



يشار إلى أن الحكومة المغربية وضعت تحت تصرّف قيادة القوات المسلحة، برسم مشروع ميزانية 2010، غلافًا ماليًا قدر بـ 7مليار و955 مليون درهم، في إطار ما يسمى إعتمادات الإلتزام لسنتي 2010 و2011.



وأحدث صندوقان برسم مشروع قانون 2010 لفائدة القوات المسلحة الملكية، الأول أطلق عليه اسم "صندوق شراء وإصلاح معدات الجيش"، ورصد له غلاف مالي قدره 10 مليار و200 مليون درهم، والثاني إسم "صندوق مشاركة القوات المسلحة الملكية في مأموريات السلام" وميزانيته 10 مليون درهم، ما يعني أن الميزانية المرصودة لشراء الأسلحة في أفق 2011 تقدر بـ 22 مليار و935 مليون درهم، جزءٌ مهم منها سيخصص لسد نفقات شراء 24 طائرة من طراز (إف 16)، إقتنتها الرباط من واشنطن، و300 دبابة أميركية من طراز (تي 90)، وأجهزة دفاع و مراقبة عسكرية.http://www.hespress.com/?browser=view&EgyxpID=20410
Partager10

Citation :

Manœuvres militaires maroco-américaines : GI’s et FAR, la main dans la main

Dans le cadre des exercices militaires conjoints entre les Etats-Unis et les Forces Armées Royales, 850 militaires américains sont au Maroc pour participer aux exercices conjoints de «African Lion 2010», et ce jusqu’au 18 juin 2010.

Ces manœuvres ne sont, certes, pas les premières que l’armée américaine organise conjointement avec les Forces Armées Royales et sont prévues de longue date, néanmoins elles coïncident avec celles qui auront lieu du 2 au 23 mai dans la région sub-saharienne réunissant six armées d’Afrique et du personnel militaire d’Europe et des Etats-Unis. Il s’agit des armées africaines du Burkina Faso, du Mali, de la Mauritanie, du Sénégal, du Nigeria et du Tchad.

Ces exercices maroco-américains de « African Lion » et ceux du Sahel, baptisés « Flintlock 10 » ont une caractéristique commune et s’inscrivent dans le cadre de la stratégie américaine de lutte contre le terrorisme et pour le renforcement de la stabilité et de la sécurité en Afrique. Un objectif que l’Algérie semble partager. En effet, les dernières visites en Algérie du Commandant en chef d’AFRICOM, le général William Ward, et d'autres hauts responsables américains ont porté sur la lutte contre les groupes terroristes dans le Sahel et le partage d'informations par le biais de la formation.

Selon un communiqué de l’ambassade des Etats-Unis au Maroc, ces exercices conjoints entre les deux pays sont conçus pour accroître l’interopérabilité et la compréhension mutuelle des tactiques, techniques et procédures de chaque pays. Ils consistent à fournir diverses méthodes de formation militaire, dont le poste de commandement, la formation sur l’utilisation des armes, les opérations de maintien de la paix, la formation pour intervention en cas de catastrophes, le réapprovisionnement aérien en carburant, la formation concernant les vols à basse altitude ainsi que des projets et exercices d’assistance médicale, dentaire, vétérinaire et d’aménagement des champs de manœuvres.

Durant toute cette période qui ne prendra fin qu’en juin prochain, des unités des Forces Armées Royales bénéficieront des exercices bilatéraux, d’une formation de qualification des armes, et d’une formation sur les opérations de maintien de la paix conduites par plusieurs unités des Marines, de la Garde nationale de l'Armée de Terre de Tennessee, et des Forces Navales des Etats-Unis.

Les Marines et les avions de l'Escadre 234 de transport et de Réapprovisionnement en carburants et du 11ème Commandement de l'Aviation Tactique, poursuit le communiqué, conduiront la formation sur les opérations terrestres aussi bien que le réapprovisionnement aérien et la formation de vol en basse altitude avec leurs homologues des Forces Royales Air.

Par ailleurs, le même communiqué indique qu’au cours de ces exercices conjoints, les professionnels militaires des Etats-Unis de la Garde nationale de l'Armée de Terre et l'Armée de l’Air de l'Utah et du 4ème Bataillon médical du 4ème Groupe logistique des Marines, fourniront une assistance médicale, dentaire et vétérinaire aux habitants locaux ainsi qu’à ceux des environs de Taroudant. Pour leur part, les Marines de l'Escadre-273 aérien de soutien et les Marins du 22ème Régiment de construction naval participeront également à la construction liée aux exercices au champ de manœuvres de Cap Draa.

Rappelons que les derniers exercices maroco-américains de « African Lion » ont eu lieu en mai 2009, auxquels ont participé environ 1.400 militaires marocains et américains.

Mercredi 21 Avril 2010

Libération

Cette année la Force Aérienne sera la plus sollicité pour African Lion...

Aprés quelque recherche il se trouve que ce 11th Theater Aviation Commands utilise depuis peu des....C-27 Spartan !

La Garde National du Tennessee est spécialisé dans les opérations de rétablissement de l'ordre

Citation :

Equipment Offload Kicks Off Exercise African Lion '10

AGADIR, Morocco – Under a blazing North African sun, U.S. Marines and Soldiers worked to offload 276 vehicles and pieces of equipment from the USS Arc in preparation for AFRICAN LION 2010 here.

AFRICAN LION, a U.S. Africa Command-sponsored exercise which commences May 15, will include various types of military training to include a command post exercise, intelligence capacity building, a field training exercise with live-fire, peace operations training, aviation training, medical exchange training, as well as humanitarian civic assistance programs.

"We've got a little bit of every [type of gear]," said Warrant Officer One Richard Charest, a mobility officer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273.

Heavy construction equipment, Humvees and eight M-1A1 tanks were among the gear included in the offload. The bulk of the gear will be used for exercise-related construction, Charest said, while the rest will be used for transportation and military-to-military exchanges.

"Our Marines are looking forward to the chance to operate in their military occupational specialties," he added. "They'll be working to set up a field mess, field showers and GP medium tents."

Because the exercise, coordinated by U.S. Marine Forces Africa, is sourced mainly by personnel from U.S. Marine Forces Reserve and U.S. Army and Air National Guard units, it offers valuable real-life experience to reserve personnel, according to Charest.

"My main goal here is to offload the ship in an organized manner and to act as a safety officer," said Lance Cpl. Ryan Moszcienski, a landing support specialist with 2nd Landing Support Platoon, 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group. "We're working to track the gear as it comes off [the ship], stage it, and ensure it is accessible to each unit."

Experience and prioritization are the keys to a safe, swift offload, according to Gunnery Sgt. Steven Gagnon, logistics chief with 2nd LSP, 4th LSB, 4th MLG.

"We have 10 Marines who have been here before, and some Marines who are coming straight from school," Gagnon said of his team of 33 Marines. "The senior Marines have been looking forward to the chance to teach; the junior Marines have a large learning curve."

In addition to the offload, Gagnon's team is responsible for staging the gear and providing security for it until the main body arrives to claim it, he said.

The offload did not occur without its challenges. A runaway forklift, flat tires on offloading vehicles belonging to the port, and empty fuel tanks on the Marine's gear were just some of the snags, Gagnon said. Shipping requirements call for vehicles to be run with low fuel; a faulty gauge can result in a vehicle arriving in port without enough fuel to drive it off the ship.

"You can plan all you want," he said, "and have the plan incorporated into your mission, but you're always going to have change. You just have to work around it to get the mission accomplished."

Elements of the 1175th Transportation Company from the Tennessee Army National Guard were also on hand to assist with the offload.

Marines from 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division will conduct a command post exercise, and various service members from the 4th Marine Division will conduct bi-lateral training at the unit level, weapons qualification training and peace operations training with units from the Royal Moroccan armed forces. Marines from the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, Marine Aircraft Group 41, and instructors from the Army 11th Tactical Air Command will conduct aerial refueling, low-level flight training and provide classes on helicopter operations with their counterparts in the Royal Moroccan air force.

Concurrent with the exercise, U.S. military professionals from the Utah Air National Guard will provide medical, dental and veterinarian humanitarian assistance to local residents in and around the community of Taroudant.

To obtain photographs and news stories from the exercise, visit U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa's website at http://www.marines.mil/unit/marforaf/Pages/Main.aspx or Marine Forces Reserve's Web site at www.mfr.usmc.mil. All Marine Corps imagery and stories are in the public domain and can therefore be republished by any civilian news agency.

AFRICAN LION 2010 is an annually scheduled, joint, combined U.S.-Moroccan exercise. It brings together nearly 1,000 U.S. service members from 16 locations throughout Europe and North America with more than 1,000 members of the Moroccan military. It is the largest exercise within the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility, and is designed to promote interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation's military tactics, techniques and procedures. The exercise is scheduled to end on or around June 9. All U.S. forces will return to their home bases in the United States and Europe at the conclusion of the exercise.

http://www.marines.mil/unit/marforaf/Pages/EquipmentoffloadkicksoffExerciseAfricanLion%E2%80%9810.aspx

Citation :

Main Body of Joint Task Force Arrives to Launch AFRICAN LION '10


AGADIR, Morocco — More than 150 members of the joint task force conducting Exercise AFRICAN LION '10 arrived here, May 14, to mark the beginning of the exercise. The Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen will be participating in the largest exercise in U.S. Africa Command's area of activity.

"I know I have the best [service members] of what each unit can offer," said Col. Anthony Fernandez III, Combined Joint Task Force Commander for AL'10, while addressing the members of the task force. "This is a complicated exercise, and it is a large exercise; I know we're going to be successful."

Exercise AFRICAN LION, a U.S. Africa Command-sponsored exercise, will include various types of military training including command post, live-fire training, peacekeeping operations, disaster response training, intelligence capacity building seminar, aerial refueling / low level flight training as well as a medical, dental, and veterinarian assistance projects and exercise related construction to run concurrent with the training.

Various units from the Marine Corps Forces Africa and Marine Corps Forces Reserve along with the Tennessee Army National Guard and Naval Forces Africa will conduct bi-lateral training, weapons qualification training and peacekeeping operations training with units from the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.

Marines and aircraft from the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and 11th Tactical Aviation Command will conduct various ground courses as well as aerial refueling and low-level flight training with their counterparts in the Royal Moroccan Air Force.

Concurrent with the exercise, U.S. military professionals from the Utah Army and Air National Guards along with 4th Medical Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, will provide medical, dental and veterinarian assistance to the local residents in and around the community of Taroudant. There will also be Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron-273 and Sailors from 22nd Naval Construction Regiment conducting exercise related construction at the Cap Draa training range.

The exercise is an annually scheduled, joint, combined U.S.-Moroccan exercise. It brings together nearly 1,000 U.S. service members from 16 locations throughout Europe and North America with more than 1,000 members of the Moroccan military. AFRICAN LION is designed to promote interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation's military tactics, techniques and procedures.

The exercise is scheduled to end on or around June 9. All U.S. forces will return to their home bases in the United States and Europe at the conclusion of the exercise.

The last AFRICA LION exercise occurred in May 2009 and involved about 1,400 Moroccan and U.S. military personnel

un briefing :

Spoiler:

autres :

Spoiler:

gigg00 a écrit:

Citation :

Tennessee National Guardsmen Provide Heavy Equipment Transport System Familiarization Course to Royal Moroccan Army Soldiers During AFRICAN LION 10.


AGADIR, Morocco –U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William Rose, a heavy equipment operator with the Tennessee National Guard's 1175th Transportation Company, demystifies the gauges on a dashboard that seems to stretch on for miles. Rose, along with six other U.S. soldiers, recently conducted a Heavy Equipment Transport System familiarization course for a class of 22 Royal Moroccan Army motor transportation drivers and mechanics during Exercise AFRICAN LION '10.

Currently, the Moroccan military has a slightly older version of the HETS, which can transport payloads up to 70 tons. However, with new vehicles on the way, the Moroccan military requested a brief course from U.S. forces.

"We already have a general knowledge of the vehicles, and are familiar with the technology," said RMA Lt. Mohammed El Moutaouakkil, transportation officer with the RMA 3rd Transportation Group. "However, this is a good opportunity for us to stay current in our knowledge."

The seven-day course provided a comprehensive look at vehicle maintenance, driving techniques and loading and operating procedures, according to Rose.

"We are reviewing all the functions of the trucks," Rose said. "From cab controls to winches, to the coupling and uncoupling of the trailers as well as basic maintenance, we're reviewing it."

The students and instructors spent about 40 percent of their time in the classroom, and 60 percent involved in practical application of the new material.

"So far, our main challenge has been the language barrier," Rose noted. "However, several of the Moroccan officers speak English, and we have a Moroccan-born U.S. Soldier translating to French for the students, so it's not too much of an issue."

The students praised the enthusiasm of the instructors.

"Interested teachers make for interested students," said one Moroccan soldier. "This experience is of great benefit to our forces."

The HETS, although primarily designed to carry M-1A1 tanks , is valuable because of its versatility, according to Rose.

"We've used them to transport Humvees, shipping containers, and bulldozers," Rose said. "If it'll fit on the [trailer] bed, we'll haul it."

AFRICAN LION '10 is a U.S. Africa Command-sponsored exercise that includes various types of military training to include a command post exercise, intelligence capacity building, a field training exercise with live-fire, peace operations training, aviation training, medical exchange training, as well as humanitarian civic assistance progress.

The exercise is an annually scheduled, joint, combined U.S.-Moroccan event. It brings together nearly 1,000 U.S. service members from 16 locations throughout Europe and North America with more than 1,000 members of the Moroccan military. It is the largest exercise within the U.S. Africa Command area of activity, and is designed to promote interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation's military tactics, techniques and procedures. The exercise is scheduled to end on or around June 9. All U.S. forces will return to their home bases in the United States and Europe at the conclusion of the exercise.

Spoiler:

Nous avons pris ou bien nous avons l'intention de prendre des new porte-chars on dirait ( une formation en cours ) ? nos soldats de la section des transports semble perplexe vis a vis de l'usage des miles ( u.s ) au lieu des km..ils ne le doivent pas vu qu'ils sont abituè a nos M911 Oskhosha ! a moins qu'ils s'agit des M1070 HET avec tableau de bord divers justement .

Interresent les FAR auraient recue ou devrait recevoir des HETS...
le contrats des M1 Abrams se pointe-t-il à l'horizon ?

les gars des HET on en a deja,il y´a des versions anciennes et autres new des HET

Citation :

Marines, Moroccans grapple toward closer ties during African Lion 2010

5/17/2010 By Maj. Paul Greenberg, Marine Forces Reserve

TIFNIT, Morocco — Marines and their Moroccan Army counterparts conducted Marine Corps Martial Arts training together at Tifnit training area here May 16 as part of Exercise AFRICAN LION, a combined and joint exercise designed to enhance interoperability of the two nations’ armed forces and forge camaraderie between the troops.

“This gives the Moroccans the chance to work together with us, test themselves against us, and work through all the different MCMAP techniques, such as ground fighting. It really builds trust between the nations from the ground up,” said Capt. Cole Clements, 29, of Douglassville, Texas. “Anytime you can come to a foreign country, especially one with an excellent climate and interesting culture like Morocco, it’s a great experience for the Marines.”

Clements is the commanding officer of Company F, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, a Marine Forces Reserve unit based in Lafayette, La. He arrived here May 14 with a team of about 20 active duty and enlisted Marines and sailors from his unit.

Clements’ Marines are putting the Moroccan troops through a grueling two-week MCMAP gauntlet, at the end of which most of the soldiers would qualify for the equivalent of a gray or green belt.

The troops spent the morning May 16 grappling in the dirt, practicing the MCMAP techniques under the supervision of Staff Sgt. Jason Oudit, a green-belt instructor.

“The Moroccans really surprised, me,” said Oudit, an 11-year veteran reserve Marine from Baton Rouge, La., who works as an industrial consultant in his civilian career. “They’re doing everything the Marines are and taking the training head-on. We have a lot of junior Marines out here, and this is really broadening their horizons. The Marines are training hard and having a great time, and this kind of thing is great for retention.”

In addition to MCMAP and other non-lethal training, the Marines of AT Battalion are playing soccer and rugby with the Moroccans and sharing tea in the evenings. Moroccan interpreters enable the troops to communicate between French, Arabic and English.

Staying in tents and battling the flies, sun and dust in the Spartan Tifnit training area further helped to forge the bond between the troops.

Oudit explained that during down time, the Americans and Moroccans talked about their families, the kind of music they listened to, sports and other common interests.

“Besides the OC (pepper) spray, it’s been pretty cool,” joked Pfc. Christopher Cosby, a 19-year-old infantryman from Leesville, La., referring to the portion of the non-lethal training where some of the Marines were hit with pepper spray to familiarize them with the experience in case it were to happen during a real-world contingency situation, such as quelling a riot.

“The Moroccans are good people,” said Cosby. “They’ve really accepted us. We’ve developed some solid friendships here.”

http://www.marines.mil/unit/marforaf/Pages/Marines,MoroccansgrappletowardclosertiesduringAfricanLion2010.aspx

Citation :

151st EMG Conducts Chemical Training With Moroccan Counterparts During African Lion 2010


AGADIR, Morocco – Utah Air National Guard's 151st Expeditionary Medical Group kicked off two weeks of mutual medical training with their Moroccan counterparts as part of Exercise AFRICAN LION 2010 by discussing chemical awareness and response at the Moroccan military's South Command Headquarters, May 16.

The purpose of this training was to discuss various chemicals, their effects, and decontamination techniques, as well as introduce and familiarize the two parties with each other before conducting real-world training later in the week.

"This training is to bring us together," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Mike La Giglia of Springville, Utah, who serves with the 151st EMG. "It's to gel as a team before going out into the field working elbow to elbow with them," he added.

Coupled with fraternal intent, the Utah-based Airmen gave presentations centered on medical assistance after exposure to harmful chemicals to increase understanding on how to best react to such situations.

"We discussed with our Moroccan counterparts hazardous materials," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Micah Smith, of Rexburg, Idaho, an emergency physician who serves with the 151st EMG. "We covered everything from what they are, and how to respond to them by using very specific situations surrounding industrial and household products. So if they (Moroccan emergency responders) are called to respond to them, they will better adapt to that specific situation" Smith stated.

This particular training also amplified the understanding of Utah's Airmen and leaders as they exchanged ideas with the Moroccan military.

"The reason why we did this type of training was so we could work directly with the Moroccans in training, and to share ideas and abilities," Smith said.

"We had a very lively discussion about the differences in performing emergency practices and how they differ, and it's been an eye opener to see a different perspective and understand why they do what they do," he added.

Training experiences like those conducted by Smith and his counterparts are important to establishing a good working relationship between U.S. and Moroccan medical personnel as they continue working together to provide medical, dental and veterinarian assistance in remote villages in central Morocco as part of AFRICAN LION 2010.

"It is good that we're doing this training together with the same people who we'll be working with for the next six days as we conduct the humanitarian civil assistance missions," said U.S. Air Force Colonel Paul Byrd of American Fork, Utah, commander of the 151st EMG.

Exercise AFRICAN LION 2010 not only diversifies one's repertoire of experience, it also gives crucial opportunities to the less experienced service members, American and Moroccan alike, Byrd explained.

The experience of working with a foreign military also gives Airmen and leaders of the 151st EMG an opportunity to immerse in a new culture while serving American allies during peacetime exercises.

"It gives us an opportunity to know the Moroccan culture and connect with their leadership as Morocco is a joint partner in peace," Byrd said. "In the case of the medical personnel, we're able to interface with Moroccan medical providers at a very personal level."

Exercise AFRICAN LION 2010 is an annually scheduled, joint, combined U.S.-Moroccan exercise. It brings together nearly 1,000 U.S. service members from 16 locations throughout Europe and North America with more than 1,000 members of the Moroccan military. AFRICAN LION is designed to promote interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation's military tactics, techniques and procedures

Spoiler:

Citation :

l'Adjudent en premier plan , on a du le prendre pour un Brigadier GENERAL

GENERAL une étoile lol

Citation :

Reserve Marine Brings Wealth of Experience to African Lion

AGADIR, Morocco - Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mick Flynn, the African Lion 2010 advance party logistics and anti-terrorism force protection officer, speaks with a Moroccan Army officer at the Moroccan Southern Command Headquarters in Agadir, Morocco, May 15, 2010. African Lion is a theater security cooperation exercise conducted annually between Morocco and the U.S. military to further develop joint and combined capabilities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Major Paul Greenberg)


AGADIR, Morocco, May 20, 2010 — For nearly 30 years, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mick Flynn has dedicated his life to the Marine Corps.

He is currently in Agadir, Morocco at African Lion 2010, serving as the Marine Forces Reserve advanced party logistics officer, anti-terrorism force protection officer and command translator.
An ordnance officer in the Marine Corps Reserve by trade, Flynn's fluency in French has enabled him to facilitate clear communication between Marine Corps leaders and their Moroccan hosts.
In addition, he has worked with various Marine Corps commands and U.S. Embassy staff to ensure the smooth offload and transport of troops, equipment and supplies.
Essentially, Flynn has been one of the Marine Corps' main "go-to guys" since arriving here in April.
More than 700 active duty and reserve Marines and sailors from Marine Forces Reserve are scheduled to deploy to Agadir between mid-May and late June for this bilateral exercise between the Moroccan Army and the U.S. military.
African Lion, a key theater security cooperation exercise led by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa, is conducted annually to further develop joint and combined capabilities in the northern Africa region.
"This exercise is important for two reasons," said Flynn. "First, it solidifies the friendship between the United States and Morocco. This is a long-standing relationship, and the Moroccans are very proud of the fact that they were the first country in the world to recognize the United States' independence from Great Britain. Second, the interoperability of our forces is crucial for security in the Trans-Saharan region, where many terrorist threats exist. What the Moroccans do and how effectively they operate directly affects the security of the United States and its other allies."
Flynn explained that one of the reasons this exercise has been so successful is the level of maturity and diversity of experience which reserve Marines bring to the table.
This is Flynn's second time here, as he served as the command translator in 2007, when the exercise was conducted at the battalion level.
This time, however, African Lion is much more robust, with a brigade-sized element and the integration of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force National Guardsmen, in addition to active duty sailors and Marine Corps units.
Different elements of the exercise are being conducted in various locations over more than a thousand square miles.
With so many moving parts in the exercise, it is vital that U.S. Forces have French language translators who understand both Moroccan culture and large logistical muscle movements to identify potential issues before they arise and interrupt training.
Flynn learned to speak fluent French as a result of his father's duty assignment in France when he was young. Flynn's mother, who was French, ensured that her son was raised bilingual, and Flynn remained in France for ten years, attending middle and high school. He then returned to the United States after graduation to fulfill a life-long dream.
"I always loved the Marine Corps, ever since I was knee-high to a grasshopper," said Flynn, whose father was an Air Force military policeman for 28 years. "I always told myself, 'when it quits being fun, I'll get out.' Well, I'm still enjoying it, especially here in Morocco."
Flynn's career started at Parris Island, South Carolina in 1981, when he enlisted as an armorer and infantryman, serving seven years on active duty before earning a reserve warrant in 1990.
As a warrant officer in the reserves, Flynn has seen duty as the officer in charge of a 4th Force Service Support Group truck platoon in Augusta, Ga., from 1992 to 1995 and tank platoon commander from 1997 to 2001 at Company D, 8th Tank Battalion in Eastover, S.C.
He went on to serve as maintenance officer of 4th Maintenance Battalion in Charlotte, S.C. before coming to the Headquarters Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group (now 4th Marine Logistics Group) in New Orleans in 2003 to work in the S-2 intelligence office and perform anti-terrorism force protection duties.

Hungry for an overseas deployment, Flynn volunteered to go with 4th FSSG to Djibouti, Africa from 2003 to 2004 to run security for the Marines at Camp Lemonnier and at the military airport there. He then deployed to Iraq with 4th Civil Affairs Group to conduct training and logistical support for the fledgling Iraqi Polic In 2007, Flynn reported to Marine Forces Europe to teach the Marine Corps Planning Process, run command post exercises, mentor host-nation officers and translate for theater security cooperation operations in various Francophone countries in the Trans-Sahara region.
This diversity of experience has made Flynn the right man for a pivotal job in a region of the world where U.S. cooperation with allied partners is vital to the security of Americans back home.
"His knowledge and personality have been key in paving the way to ensuring a smooth transition of the task force into Morocco," said Colonel Anthony Fernandez, the African Lion 2010 task force commander, who has spent 24 of his 28 years in the Corps as a reserve Marine.
"He's got a way with the Moroccans," said Fernandez. "They like him. They listen to him. They know to go to him if there are any potential problems. The relationships he's developed with Moroccan leadership in the Southern Zone have been instrumental in our success here."

africom

Citation :

Sgt. James Forbord a non-lethal weapons instructor serving with the Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 4th Marine Division performs a Mechanical Advantage Control (MAC) move on his colleague Lance Cpl. Cullen Crochet, who serves with Company F, Anti Terrorism Battalion, out of Lafayette, La., as a demonstration of non-lethal techniques presented to the Moroccan Army on Tifnit military base, Morocco May 17. (USMC photo by Army Sgt. Whitney Houston)

Citation :

Lance Cpl. Cullen Crochet, of Lafayette, La., and Lance Cpl. Warren Vandever, of Lake Charles La., both serving with Company F, Anti Terrorism Battalion, out of Lafayette, mentor Moroccan soldiers during a non-lethal training application at Tifnit military base, Morocco May 17. (USMC photo by Army Sgt. Whitney Houston)

Citation :

Cpl. Mark Stickney of Blaine, Minn., a field military policeman and martial arts instructor serving with the Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 4th Marine Division assists Moroccan Army personnel to correctly apply Mechanical Advantage Control (MAC) moves during a period of instruction on non-lethal techniques presented on Tifnit military base, Morocco May 17. (USMC photo by Army Sgt. Whitney Houston)

Citation :

TIFNIT, Morocco - Cpl. Mark Stickney of Blaine, Minn., a field military policeman and martial arts instructor serving with the Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 4th Marine Division assists Moroccan Army personnel to correctly apply riot control baton techniques during a period of instruction on non-lethal weapon techniques presented on Tifnit military base, Morocco May 17. (USMC photo by Army Sgt. Whitney Houston)

Source: U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa

Citation :

Marines test out alternative energy system at African Lion

TAN TAN, Morocco — Marines here at exercise African Lion are currently testing a new environmentally-friendly energy system which will enable deployed troops to purify water, light their tents and power their equipment through solar energy and leverage technology.

"Basically, you can take water from any source, even waste water, put in it in the SLMCO (water purifier), shoot it through the reverse osmosis process and put it right in your Camelback and drink it," said Capt. Adorjan Ferenczy, the engineer analyst for the Expeditionary Forward Operating Base program, or ExFOB.

Ferenczy explained that the system can also provide LED lights for a medium-sized general purpose tent and power outlets for small electrical items.

A mechanical engineer by trade, Ferenczy, 31, came into the Marine Corps in 2005 after working for a major vehicle manufacturer in his home town of Detroit for several years.

According to Ferenczy, the Commandant of the Marine Corps directed the Marine Corps Energy Assessment Team to go to Afghanistan in September 2009 to conduct an assessment of the energy used by deployed Marine units and report back with findings.

"The Commandant has said, 'Let's not only lighten the load, but let's reduce risk to Marines downrange by reducing our reliance," said Brig. Gen. Robert Hedelund, the commanding general of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab and vice chief of Naval Research in a March 2010 interview.

If implemented, the ExFOB concept will significantly reduce troops' reliance on drinking water and generator fuel, which are transported from larger bases in Afghanistan to troops operating at remote sites by truck convoy.

These convoys are frequent targets for insurgents, so the premise is simple: reducing the number of convoys through the use of alternate energy sources for troops' daily sustenance will directly reduce the number of U.S. casualties in overseas contingency operations.

This need to find sustainable energy solutions has been echoed by leaders throughout the U.S. Department of Defense, and all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces are currently evaluating alternate energy capabilities.

"The Marine Corps has taken the lead on exploring the use of these energy sources for tactical, small-unit use," said Maj. Sean M. Sadlier, a logistics analyst with the U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office.

Sadlier, a logistics officer with 15 years in the Corps, came here with his team in mid-May to test the ExFOB equipment in the harsh climate of southern Morocco.

The ExFOB team here is comprised of Marine Corps officers, staff non-commissioned officers, government service employees and contractors from Marine Corps Systems Command, the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, Marine Corps Installations and Logistics office, Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office and the Marine Corps Power Surety Task Force.

Here in southern Morocco, the ExFOB team of experts is conducting a week-long assessment of their prospective piece of gear.

The test is being done in conjunction with about a thousand troops participating in African Lion 2010, a month-long theater security cooperation exercise led by Marine Forces Africa, with the preponderance of troops coming from Marine Forces Reserve units across the United States.

When the ExFOB team returns to their respective offices in Northern Virginia later this month, they will make their recommendations to the Executive Integrated Processing Team, which consists of high-ranking Marine Corps general officers and senior U.S. government service employees.

"If they determine that the juice is worth the squeeze, they approve the project and the concept becomes a reality," said Ferenczy.

The ExFOB is currently in the extended user-evaluation phase. At this year's African Lion, troops from Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, based out of Beaufort, S.C., assisted the ExFOB team in assembling and evaluating their system on a Spartan logistics support area.

It took 16 Marines three hours to assemble the unit, which the ExFOB team is actually using for billeting during their stay here.

"They did a fine job considering they hadn't seen the ExFOB before they took it out of the box," said Gunnery Sgt. Michael Polson, the MWSS-273 Utilities Platoon staff non-commissioned officer-in-charge.

The LSA where the Marines erected the ExFOB resembles a large, unpaved parking lot, and is about 800 meters by 400 meters.

The Marines and U.S. civilians living there are covered daily in the ubiquitous dirt and grit which the wind blows up from the surface that the Marines graded, leveled and compacted with heavy equipment shipped over from the States.

The Marines of MWSS-273 and their Navy SEABEE counterparts have lived, worked and sweated together for several weeks now, developing the logistics support area.

In this unique landscape, the Cap Draa Desert runs straight into the Atlantic Ocean. The climate is therefore ideal for testing the ExFOB, as the system is subject to the sand, dust and wide flux of temperatures that are found in the desert, as well as the strong winds that blow in from the Atlantic.

Additionally, the severe overcast weather May 18 to 20 challenged the solar-powered generation system, which is the main power source for the system.

"I think it's doing really well," said Sadlier. "Our plan is to start out small and increase the power load to see how it performs. So far, it's holding up pretty well and producing more energy than is being used."

The product will go through a second phase of testing this summer at Enhanced Mojave Viper in Twentynine Palms, Calif., with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.

Sadlier said that the entire end-user evaluation, decision-making, and procurement process is expected to take about a year from this point.

If the ExFOB system is procured and fielded in 2011, small units in Afghanistan can mount the SLMCO water purifier unit to their vehicles, drive out to a water source such as a river or stream on a security patrol, purify a hundred gallons of water and bring it back to base.

They can also use the system on their remote positions to have a well-lit, medium-sized, weatherproof tent with electric outlets to power their computers, tactical radios, electric razors, IPODs and other small electronics items.

Sadlier added that the ExFOB will also be more tactically sound than traditional generators, as the solar panels silently transform sunlight to electricity, whereas traditional generators are noisy and can give away the position of a command operations center on an expeditionary base.

So in the end, the ExFOB is intended to not only cut down on consumption of fossil fuels and help protect the environment, it will also make overseas contingency operations safer for Marines; and a little more comfortable.

"This stuff isn't new; it's already being used by humanitarian relief agencies in austere environments. It's just new to the Marine Corps," said Sadlier. "The Commandant wants to focus on [Marine Corps] companies and platoons using this equipment at combat outposts and forward operating bases. We need to make sure that it works; and that it works in the kind of environment where our Marines are going to operate."

SLMCO water purifier

Citation :

Moroccans, U.S. forces work to hone planning process during AFRICAN LION 2010

AGADIR, Morocco — U.S. and Moroccan troops joined together to plan and respond to a series of simulated scenarios during a week-long command post exercise (CPX) here as part of AFRICAN LION 2010, May 19.

“The main purpose of the CPX is to work the Marine Corps planning process and actually get the Moroccan officers involved in all six steps,” said Lt. Col. Nelson Cardella, battalion commanding officer of 4th Tanks, 4th Marine Division. “That’s what we’ve been doing for the past few days – walking the Moroccans through the planning, and we’re now in the briefing section, preparing subordinate commands for the execution.”

The overall goal of such exercises is to afford U.S. and Moroccan troops the chance to work together and develop a joint product, according to Cardella.

The goal is achieved by using the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Tactical Warfare Simulation (MTWS) system, a computerized training tool specific to the Marine Corps.

“We develop a scenario and give them an area to work with, an enemy situation and the forces they are going to be playing with,” said Scott Raiger, simulation liaison officer with U.S. Marine Forces Europe. “We are their higher headquarters. They take the forces that are allotted them, and work together over the course of the two-phase event – a staff exercise for planning, and the computer simulation for execution.”

During the exercise, educational value is found especially in the planning stages, according to Cardella.

“We have found that having more time on the planning side of the house is actually better,” Cardella said. “I think there is actually more learning occurring during that phase of the exercise. The execution of the CPX is really not that complicated; we make our money during the planning as Moroccan and American officers pair up together in their respective specialties, working together to develop products and provide briefs in two languages.”

Although the two forces plan differently, their methodology is similar enough to be conducive to a challenge-free event, according to Cardella. The greatest challenge, he said, has been that, “Everything takes twice as long, because we have to translate it into both languages. It’s actually taking longer than we expected because of the language barrier.”

However, French translators, provided by the U.S. Army, assisted tremendously, according to Cardella.

“Having them here has been a great benefit,” said Cardella. “They’re very capable and talented, and certainly made translation and working together much easier. It would be very difficult to get around without them.”

The value of such events is immense, according to Raiger.

“Bilateral engagement is the focus of exercises like this,” Raiger said. “We’re able to develop interoperability for future operations we may actually conduct. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to do combat together, but could mean something as simple as delivering relief supplies. Cooperative engagement is the goal, and this is very good engagement. The U.S. and Moroccan counterparts are attacking this challenge as equals.”

Cardella agrees.

“I think the opportunity to observe each other and learn from each other is invaluable,” he said. “The Moroccan’s have lots of questions. They grab me all the time to discuss concepts. For the Marines, this is a great opportunity for the reserve battalions because we don’t often have the opportunity to sit down and actually develop and plan in an environment where you can learn so much from each other. The real-world experience of working through these things, with a language barrier, has been great. I think it’s been rewarding for everyone involved.”

The performance of the Moroccan troops has impressed the Marines during the exercise, according to Cardella.

“The officers are great,” said Cardella. “It’s interesting because they speak at least three languages: Arabic, French, and then either English, Spanish or German. We’ve received tremendous support from the Moroccan forces in logistics and administration. Their attitudes are professional, and we’re very impressed with them.

AFRICAN LION 2010 is an annually scheduled, joint, combined U.S.-Moroccan exercise. It brings together nearly 1,000 U.S. service members from 16 locations throughout Europe and North America with more than 1,000 members of the Moroccan military. It is designed to promote interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation’s military tactics, techniques and procedures. The exercise is scheduled to end on or around June 9. All U.S. forces will return to their home bases in the United States and Europe at the conclusion of the exercise.

merci rmaf pour les photos

Citation :

Dental Team Provides Villagers Reason to Smile During African Lion '10

AGADIR, Morocco – The sounds and smells of a dentist's office can be off-putting to some, but for those who suffer from tooth pain, the sound of a high-speed dental drill is often music to their ears.

The dental team of the 151st Expeditionary Medical Group, Utah Air National Guard, provided just such music to hundreds of men, women and children in the villages of Manizla and Tafingult, two of the five towns in the Taroudant region of Morocco that the 151st EMG is scheduled to visit during the humanitarian and civil assistance (HCA) portion of Exercise African Lion 2010.

"With the help of the Moroccan dentists, we're seeing anybody who comes through and trying to do everything we can to help them out," said Lt. Col. Shannon Lawson of Erda, Utah, dentist and officer in charge of the 151st EMG's dental clinic. "We have the capability of restoring teeth so if they're not damaged in the nerve of the tooth, we can fix them up."

In addition to fixing cavities, Moroccan and U.S. dentists also had to remove dozens of teeth that were beyond the point of repair in the name of alleviating pain and discomfort.

"Our first edict is to not make (the patient) worse by what we do," said Lawson. "If it doesn't look like the tooth is going to get better, we don't want the patient to be in long-term pain so we have to take it out."

In order to provide the best care possible, the 151st EMG dental team requires both well-trained personnel and equipment specialized to allow dentists to work in austere conditions.

In addition to Lawson, the 151st EMG's dental team during African Lion '10 consists of Maj. Matthew Ghiz, dentist, Master Sgt. Roger Wervin, clinic noncommissioned officer in charge, Staff Sgt. Scott Peltier, biomedical equipment technician, Tech. Sgt. Christina Jaramillo, laboratory technician, and Senior Airman Brianne Wilkins, medic.

Jaramillo and Wilkes normally work in other medical sections but volunteered to help as dental assistants for African Lion 2010 in order that the dental section of the HCA be able to help more people during their short stay in Morocco.

"So we can help as many people as possible in the short amount of time we're here, they're bringing in medics (and others) to help with the dental side so that the dental hygienist can sterilize and get all the equipment prepared and keep everything flowing a little quicker so that we can do the most good," said Jaramillo. "It's always fun to learn something new. I'm happy to be here helping out."

Wervin was glad to have the extra help with the non-stop hustle of the dental clinic.
"Jaramillo and Wilkins volunteered to help us," said Wervin, who normally spends his time assisting one of the dentists. "They're doing a great job; their being here makes it possible for me to attend to other important things."

Those "other important things" included, among others, patient flow, dental tool sterilization, and ensuring equipment is working the way it should.

The dentistry equipment necessary to provide dental work in areas like Manizla and Tafingult requires a significant amount of time to set up, more than most other medical specialties that the 151st EMG provides.

With the help of Wervin and others, Peltier, a biomedical equipment technician with the 151st EMG, as well as a jack of all trades, was in charge of making sure the generator, air compressors and other equipment was set up properly and performed as needed during the long days.

Peltier said that the majority of his work comes both before and after the day's patients have come and gone, and that he helps in every way he can in between.

"I guess you could say that I'm willing to assist any and all with whatever they need," he said while taking newly-sterilized dental tools out of a steam autoclave.

With everything taken care of by both regular and volunteer dental staff, the Moroccan and American dentists were able to concentrate on alleviating mouth pain, which they were able to do effectively despite the difficulties that are always a part of working in out-of-the-way areas.

"The biggest difficulty is always going to be the language barrier, but we have our interpreters and the Moroccan staff we're working with to help with that," said Wervin, who has been to Morocco three times. He added that he enjoys the challenges associated with providing dental care to those who don't normally have access to it.

"I enjoy coming to Morocco for HCAs. Every time it's something new and exciting," he said.

When the dental team of the 151st EMG returns to Utah following African Lion 2010, they will have provided the sweet music of relief to many hundreds of Moroccans who came to them in pain and left their makeshift clinic with more of a reason to smile.

Citation :

First intelligence staff training course provided during AFRICAN LION builds partner nation capacity.


AGADIR, Morocco — A class of 22 students graduated from the first intelligence staff training course taught by personnel from U.S. Marine Forces Africa during the work-up to a command post exercise (CPX) here, May 13. The course took place during the early days of AFRICAN LION 2010, a combined U.S.-Moroccan exercise designed to promote interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation’s military tactics, techniques and procedures.

“The curriculum was created specifically to support a request coming from the Moroccans, and it played well into the intelligence requirements built into the CPX,” said Maj. Shannon C. Greene, intelligence plans officer with MarForAf. “During the comprehensive four-day course we focused heavily on tactical military intelligence techniques.”

Moroccan military students traveled from throughout the country to attend the course, which covered three main topics, according to Greene.

“We taught classes in intelligence preparation for the battlefield or environment, and, with the aid of National Geospatial Agency trainers provided by U.S. Africa Command, we taught a system designed to be able to capitalize on mapping and imagery,” Green said. “We provided hands-on training with the Remote Replication System (RSS), which analyzes data from imagery and mapping sources.”

Students also interacted for the first time with tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and were afforded the opportunity to operate the RAVEN UAV.

“Intelligence (gathering) in today’s world is an absolute necessity,” said Royal Moroccan Army Gen. Farouk, commander of the Moroccan Southern Zone. “The commander must have accurate intelligence to make precise decisions.”

Course material is developed around requirements from the RMA, according to Greene.

“We facilitate those requests with appropriate recommendations based on tools we use,” Greene said. “Although we introduce some new concepts, their knowledge is largely right on par with ours.”

The value of such courses comes through increased interoperability.

“When we look to the future for stability and security on the African continent and in international waters, interoperability with allied nations such as Morocco is going to be critical to our success in a dynamic threat environment,” Greene said.

The course concluded with a Moroccan distinguished visitors’ day. General officers from the Moroccan military were given demonstrations of RSS and UAS operations, before attending the graduation ceremony.

“As long-standing friends, we need to further develop the capacity to work together,” said Farouk. “Regardless of what the environment may present, we will do this.”

Plans for AFRICAN LION 2011 include a course proposal for another along the same vein, said Greene.

AFRICAN LION 2010 is an annually scheduled, joint, combined U.S.-Moroccan exercise. It is coordinated by U.S. Marine Forces Africa and is the largest exercise in U.S. Africa Command’s area of responsibility. It brings together nearly 1,000 U.S. service members from 16 locations throughout Europe and North America with more than 1,000 members of the Moroccan military. The exercise is scheduled to end on or around June 9. All U.S. forces will return to their home bases in the United States and Europe at the conclusion of the exercise.

Citation :

4th Marine Division commanding general visits troops in Morocco during AFRICAN LION

5/24/2010 By Maj. Paul Greenberg, Marine Forces Reserve


AGADIR, Morocco — Brig. Gen. James Lariviere, the commanding general of the New Orleans-based 4th Marine Division, traveled here May 16 to visit U.S. service members participating in African Lion 2010.

About 700 Marines and sailors from Marine Forces Reserve, as well as several hundred Navy SEABEEs and U.S. Army and Air National Guardsmen are participating in this month-long joint and combined theater security cooperation exercise.

“This is an important exercise at both the tactical and strategic levels,” said Lariviere. “At the tactical level, there has been an exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures between individual Marines and the Moroccan soldiers. At the strategic level, this exercise has further strengthened the bond of friendship between the United States and Morocco; a friendship that goes back to the early days of our republic.”

Lariviere had the opportunity to see a command post staff exercise between Moroccan and U.S. officers and staff noncommissioned officers on a modern Moroccan military base.

He also visited junior troops from both countries engaged in a peace keeping exercise in a hot and dusty training area resembling Twentynine Palms, Calif. Finally, Lariviere observed task force leadership conducting expeditionary headquarters operations in their make-shift command operations center.

“Reserve Marines gain a great deal from exercises like African Lion,” explained Lariviere. “First, they gain experience dealing with foreign militaries. Second, they gain an appreciation for what it’s like to live and work in a foreign country. Finally, they gain an understanding of how important it is to engage our allies overseas before we are called upon to work with them in a real operational environment.”

Lariviere’s personal reserve experiences are broad, having served with the 4th Marine Division in the past as the 25th Marine Regiment assistant operations officer in Fort Devens, Mass., and commanding officer of 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company in Mobile, Ala.

As a reserve officer, Lariviere has participated in previous combined exercises and operations in Norway and Panama.

“We fight the way we train,” insisted Lariviere. “As Reserve Marines, it’s our job to augment and reinforce the active component (Marine Corps). It is hard to imagine a future operation, whether it be a large-scale conflict, irregular warfare or phase zero operation that would not take place in a joint and combined environment. Reserve Marines gain valuable experience in exercises like African Lion, working with another nation’s military alongside our sister services from the United States.”

For most of the reserve Marines here, this is about a two-week deployment, with troops rotating in and out in two major waves of movement between mid-May and mid-June.

The U.S. troops’ morale here struck the general as particularly high, and he noted that for those reserve Marines who have never been outside the United States before, this opportunity has broadened their world view and whetted their appetite for more overseas deployments.

“They are excited about going someplace where they have not been before and being part of something that contributes to the security of the nation,” said Lariviere. “I think that interesting (annual training exercises) like African Lion make service in the reserves exciting and keep young Marines affiliated with their units and coming back for more.”

Looking to the future, Lariviere is optimistic that the successes of this year’s African Lion have set the stage for further joint theater security cooperation endeavors with the Moroccans for years to come.

“African Lion is getting larger and more complex every year,” commented the general. “Both the United States and Moroccan governments see this as an important engagement opportunity. We already have an officer here conducting an advance reconnaissance for African Lion 2011 and we anticipate will be larger than this year’s exercise.”

In fact, a U.S. Navy SEABEE unit is currently working with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 from Beaufort, S.C. to build storage facilities at a logistics support area in Tan Tan near Morocco’s southern coastline.

These large “K-Span” structures will enable the proper storage of American equipment throughout the year. This will, in turn, facilitate a less expensive and smoother movement of reserve personnel from the United States to Morocco each summer to optimize training time here.

“Exercises like African Lion are ideal from a reserve perspective for a number of reasons,” concluded Lariviere at the end of his four-day visit. “Under the evolving concept of the operational reserve, exercises like this allow the reserve component to take real-world commitments off the plate of the active component. We get to make a real contribution to national security while simultaneously offering (operational tempo) relief. Exercises like African Lion fit perfectly into the way the reserves operate; the relatively short duration and wide variety of skills needed allows us to maximize our participation while at the same time providing great training….. that contributes to our recruiting and retention efforts in the reserves.”

Lariviere was commissioned as an officer in the Marine Corps in 1979 and joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1991. He took command of the 4th Marine Division on April 10.

Citation :

Moroccan, Marine marksmanship training broadens horizons during African Lion ‘10

AGADIR, Morocco — The joint weapons training being conducted as part of Exercise African Lion 2010 continued at Moroccan Military Base Tifnit as Marines serving with Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 4th Marine Division of St. Paul, Minn., and Co. F, Anti-terrorism Bn., 4th Marine Div. of Lafayette, La., conducted urban combat marksmanship training with Moroccan soldiers May 19.

The Moroccans showed particular interest in the marksmanship training because much of their prior weapons training here has been based on targets at known and expected distances as opposed to what one would encounter in real combat situations.

“The Moroccans are used to shooting known distance targets,” said Sgt. Christopher Schiff of New Orleans, an infantryman serving with Company F, Anti-terrorism Bn., who conducted the training. “What we’re doing is teaching them how to operate if a target appears at close proximity, and how to engage that target, and do it effectively.”

The Moroccan soldiers showed a lot of motivation as they received this up-to-date training incorporated from lessons learned by the Marines from almost a decade of experience in urban combat.

“We are using things now that we’ve learned in different theatres of operation like Iraq and Afghanistan,” Schiff said. “We’re teaching the Moroccans how to perform in an urban environment, and I find it really amazing that they’re so willing and able to subject themselves to any training that we do.”

Reciprocity is central to the training and to Exercise African Lion in general. Just as the Marines train Moroccans in close-quarters marksmanship, the Marines receive weapons familiarization training on the AK-47 from the Moroccans which is their primary weapon of choice.

“A lot of the junior Marines have not used the AK’s before and knowing how it works and fires will make them more well-rounded Marines,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Odit of Baton Rouge, who serves with the Anti-terrorism Bn. as an infantry platoon sergeant.

During the exercise, the commander of the 4th Marine Division, Brig. Gen. James Lariviere of Springfield, Va., stopped by to greet the Marines in the field and see the training being conducted.

“It’s a good mix as we learn from the Moroccans and the Moroccans learn from us,” said Lariviere about the training. “They’ve been friends to the United States since we declared our independence, and it’s very important that we maintain that relationship so that we can work together and be interoperable.”

Positive attitudes on both sides have helped the Marines and Moroccan soldiers overcome the most difficult hardship encountered during their time together: the language barrier.

“The language barrier is the biggest challenge that we’re having,” Schiff said. “But we’ve found soldiers in their ranks that speak English really well, and so we’ve been able to push through that.”

As the Marines and Moroccan soldiers have pushed through the communication barrier and shared common hardships together, the combined training has proved to broaden understanding on both ends.

“Every time I train with a foreign service I feel like I take something from it, and I’ve implemented things from foreign services as I’ve been coming up through the ranks,” said Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Bradley of Knoxville, Tenn., who serves with the Anti-terrorism Bn. “It broadens their horizons as well as ours.”

encore une qui vaut la peine avec kalache et des mines très serieux cette fois :

Spoiler:

Ca c'est quelque chose de permanent. Le Maroc point sur la bonne direction alors.

Citation :

In fact, a U.S. Navy SEABEE unit is currently working with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 from Beaufort, S.C. to build storage facilities at alogistics support area in Tan Tan near Morocco’s southern coastline.

These large “K-Span” structures will enable the proper storage of American equipment throughout the year. This will, in turn, facilitate a less expensive and smoother movement of reserve personnel from the United States to Morocco each summer to optimize training time here.

Citation :

The Seabees, or SeaBees, are the Construction Battalions (CBs) of the United States Navy. The Seabees have a history of building bases, bulldozing and paving thousands of miles of roadway and airstrips, and accomplishing myriad other construction projects in a wide variety of military theatres dating back to World War II.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabee

bien vu Leo,je l´ai remarqué hier aussi,comme quoi,le debut en douceur d´Africom..

K-Span