Exercice Jebel Sahara 2022

Citation :

Paratroopers train in Moroccan deserts

Soldiers from the British Army’s Global Response Force are putting their desert warfare skills to the test alongside their Moroccan counterparts on Exercise Jebel Sahara.

The exercise has seen Colchester-based A Company Group, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (A Coy Gp, 2 PARA) working in Morocco alongside troops from 2e Brigade d'Infanterie Parachutiste.

   Exercise Jebel Sahara is all about developing our readiness for operations, wherever and whatever is asked of us. MAJOR NEVE
   2ND BATTALION THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT

For the British paratroopers, the three-week-long exercise near Marrakech provides an opportunity to learn from the Moroccan troops’ experience of operating in the hot, dry and demanding conditions of the desert. In return, they have shared with the Moroccans their hard-earned skills in patrolling, both on foot and in vehicles; marksmanship; demolitions; and casualty care. Troops also honed their fire and manoeuvre tactics on live-fire battle runs.

The exercise is building towards a six-day war game with British and Moroccan troops fighting side-by-side to seize an airstrip to use as a base to launch strike operations from.

Major Ash Neve, Officer Commanding A Coy Gp, said: “Exercise Jebel Sahara is all about developing our readiness for operations, wherever and whatever is asked of us. We’ve been training on demanding and unfamiliar terrain and, by working side-by-side with the Moroccans, we’ve learnt from their experience of the desert and developed a cultural understanding that will help if we operate with North African troops in the future.

“What is also important is that we’ve trained how we would fight. We’ve taken an expeditionary approach, living in austere conditions and relying on the bare minimum that we’ve brought with us or can source locally.”  

   It’s always interesting to come to a different country and environment to work with other countries' armies. It’s about understanding different challenges, looking at how our partners operate, and sharing skills. CORPORAL BURNELL
   2ND BATTALION THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT

2 PARA’s Corporal Paul Burnell said: “It’s always interesting to come to a different country and environment to work with other countries' armies. It’s about understanding different challenges, looking at how our partners operate and sharing skills.

“There’s been a really good relationship between us and the Moroccan soldiers. We’ve been playing football together and most of them speak some English, so we’ve been able to talk about our lives and careers.”

Combat medical technician Lance Corporal Charlotte Wrigley is delivering a team medic course to Moroccan paratroopers.

“What we’re doing is building on the existing knowledge and kit the Moroccans have got to give them the skills to save a casualty’s life on the battlefield,” she said. “They’ve been very interested and keen to learn, and while the language barrier is there we can work around it.”

Morocco is a long-standing partner of the UK in North Africa, with the first bilateral Exercise Jebel Sahara held in 1989. Training together helps build shared skills and relationships between the two armies to improve their ability to operate together.

Lieutenant Colonel Omar Abou-El-Khebra, Commanding Officer of the 22nd Airborne Battalion, said: “Exercise Jebel Sahara is of capital importance as it allows the engagement on the ground of a relatively large number of troops to carry out various tactical missions.

   Exercise Jebel Sahara is of capital importance as it allows the engagement on the ground of a relatively large number of troops to carry out various tactical missions. LIEUTENANT COLONEL OMAR ABOU-EL-KHEBRA
   22ND AIRBORNE BATTALION

“There has been a significant flow of military knowledge between the Moroccan and British soldiers, who share a relationship based on respect and the pursuit of excellence demonstrated during the execution of combined exercises.

“Military operations in a desert environment take on a particular character imposed by the nature of the terrain and the climate, which requires advanced physical and tactical skills that cannot be achieved without thorough preparation before engagement.”

2 PARA is training to serve as the lead infantry battlegroup for 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, which is held at very high readiness to deploy on operations anywhere in the world. The BCT is specially trained and equipped to deploy by parachute, helicopter and air landing.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion @TheParachuteReg are putting their desert warfare skills to the test alongside their Moroccan counterparts on Exercise Jebel Sahara.

Read more about the exercise here: https://t.co/CVmVuDX7eP #UtrinqueParatus #Morocco pic.twitter.com/vpvtpyBNul

— British Army (@BritishArmy) November 8, 2022

Citation :

British paratroopers taking part in the Exercise Jebel Sahara in Morocco received supplies by air dispatch from the UK.

A Royal Air Force Atlas transport aircraft flew to Morocco to parachute essential supplies to British soldiers on the ground, in what is the longest-range airdrop performed by the RAF’s Atlas Force.

The Atlas C1 (A400M) departed from RAF Brize Norton and flew 1,400 miles to drop multiple packages at a small drop zone near Marrakech just hours later. Once on the ground the packages - known as Container Delivery System (CDS) - were collected by paratroopers from the A Company Group, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment taking part in Exercise Jebel Sahara.

The large and agile Atlas was operated by pilots and loadmasters from 30 and 70 Squadrons. The co-pilot, Flight Lieutenant Kay, said “this is the first long-range insertion of CDS by Atlas, showing the aircraft’s reach and speed, and its capability to deliver large and heavy cargo to a precise coordinate without landing.”

He added “we can deliver wherever help is needed, such as humanitarian aid, flood relief, or in this case, military resupply. Sometimes to deliver by road or sea would take too long or is just not possible, and Atlas has the ability to deliver over long distances, quickly and with precision.”

The cargo was prepared and deployed by soldiers from 47 Air Despatch Squadron Royal Logistic Corps. They regularly work with RAF transport aircraft to deliver supplies to troops requiring equipment or civilians in desperate need.

Corporal Williams was in charge of the preparation and deployment of the CDS. He said: “47 Air Despatch has airdropped supplies around the world, from Alaska to Antarctica, and the loads are always different – it could be pallets of jerry cans or a single large boat. It’s a challenging job and we work hard to find the best solution for each load to reach the troops on the ground efficiently.”

Exercise Jebel Sahara has seen 2 PARA working in Morocco alongside troops from 2e Brigade d'Infanterie Parachutiste. The despatched supplies, included a quad bike, trailer and rations that were vital for the paratroopers to continue operating with their Moroccan counterparts.

Sergeant Seng Lee, of 13 Air Assault Support Regiment RLC, ran the drop zone in Morocco.

He said: “This is the longest-range air despatch serial I’ve been involved with and, as DZ (Drop Zone) NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) I’m responsible for finding, marking and managing the DZ.

“My priority is safety, to protect troops on the ground from falling loads, but also for the stores. If I chose unsuitable ground and the stores are damaged and unusable, then it’s a wasted effort - even more so when they’ve been flown all the way from the UK.”

The three-week exercise near Marrakech has provided an opportunity for the paratroopers to learn from the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces’ experience of operating in the hot, dry and demanding conditions of the desert. In return, 2 PARA have shared their hard-earned skills in patrolling, both on foot and in vehicles, as well as marksmanship, demolitions and casualty care.

RED BISHOP a écrit:

l'A400 M Atlas est un vrai couteau suisse ont peut tous faire avec.

RED BISHOP a écrit:

l'A400 M Atlas est un vrai couteau suisse ont peut tous faire avec.