Reserve Marines strengthen US, Moroccan ties at African Lion 08

CAP DRAA, MOROCCO

06.27.2008

Story by Sgt. Rocco Defilippis 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

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CAP DRAA, Morocco – More than 140 reservists from Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment recently finished more than 10 days of bi-lateral, combined arms training with the Royal Moroccan Army's 6th Regiment Infantry here as part of exercise African Lion 2008.

The regularly scheduled annual combined U.S. - Moroccan military exercise is designed to promote improved interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation's tactics, techniques and procedures.

During the field training exercise portion of African Lion 08, the Marines and sailors of Weapons Company worked hand-in-hand with their Moroccan counterparts during a variety of small arms, heavy machinegun, mortar and anti-tank weapons shoots that highlighted the interoperability of the two forces.

"This exercise is important because Morocco is one of our key allies in the Global War on Terrorism," said Capt. Andrew D. Bedo, commander of Alpha Platoon, Weapons Company, and Sugar Land, Texas resident. "Because of this relationship, our efforts to increase and fine tune interoperability greatly enhance our operational flexibility."

During the exercise, the Marines and the Moroccans each demonstrated their particular weapons systems and shared tactics, techniques and procedures used in the employment of those systems.

The culmination of this shared learning experience came in the form of bi-lateral, combined arms deployment of Moroccan and U.S. weapons systems in a simulated attack.

"This has been a great opportunity for our Marines," said Sgt. Jonathan Gobbo, platoon sergeant of Weapons Co.'s Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon and a Tulsa, Okla. resident. "Coming out here and working with the Moroccans, overcoming language and culture barriers along the way, will help both of our countries in the future as we work with other foreign forces."

Gobbo said working with the Moroccan anti-armor infantry was especially helpful in overcoming language barriers because of the similarities in their military occupations.

"We basically have the same weapons systems, even though we employ them differently," Gobbo, an anti-tank missileman, said. "Because of this shared background, its been a little bit easier to communicate, because they know what were are saying when it comes to the weapons systems."

In addition to the shared weapons experience, Bedo said his Marines learned much from the Moroccan soldiers in the area of desert operations.

"The Moroccans have an incredible desert capability," Bedo said. "They are very used to operating in this environment, so we've been able to learn a lot from them in regards to desert survival."

Overall, even though the exercises has consisted of multiple weapons shoots and other infantry training, the Marines said that more importantly, exercise African Lion 08 provided them with a relationship building experience between two allied countries.

"Establishing good will has been a higher priority, even higher than training," said Maj. Gary Bilyeu, Weapons Co. commanding officer and Sanger, Texas resident. "It's good for our Marines to come out here and get a new perspective and experience the Moroccan culture."

"I feel that overall, our Marines have developed a great respect and appreciation for the Moroccan people through this exercise," Bedo said. "I know I have made personal friends here that I will stay in touch with after I return home."

The reservists of Weapons Company are based out of Broken Arrow, Okla., Shreveport, La., Houston, Austin, Texas, and Corpus Christy, Texas. The Marines and sailors are slated to return to their home units near the end of June.