Photo By Chief Petty Officer Gary Keen | Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17)...... read more read more
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DOHA, Qatar – U.S. Marines continued their beach landings on the Qatari coast as part of the multinational exercise Eagle Resolve 2013 April 22.
Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 25 transported to shore infantry and combat logistics Marines and light-armored vehicles from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17). The transport included more than 27 Marines and 18 light armored vehicles that, together with mortars systems already on Camp Al-Galail training site, will make up six expeditionary fire-support systems.
Touting nearly 3,000 participants from 14 nations this year, Eagle Resolve is an annual multilateral exercise designed to enhance regional cooperative defense efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations and U.S. Central Command.
“During the exercise, the 26th MEU will be working together with Qatar Armed Forces to increase tactical proficiency, expand levels of cooperation and enhance mutual maritime capabilities,” said Capt. Glenn Jensen, anti-terrorism force protection officer and 26th MEU exercise officer in charge. “These military-to-military exercises help refine relationships and demonstrate U.S. commitment and resolve to security in the region.”
As part of the training, U.S. Marines and Qatar Armed Forces will learn from each other while conducting combined arms training, indirect fire support, oil platform security, counter-terrorism and improvised-explosive device training.
Over that last two days, more than 200 U.S. Marines and Sailors have arrived to Camp Al-Galail from USS San Antonio aboard CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters and LCAC 25, Jensen added.
According to the top-ranking U.S.-military representative for Eagle Resolve 2013, planning for the exercise—the 11th held since 1999—has been long and well worth the effort.
“Eagle Resolve is the only exercise that is designed to include all the nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Steve Foster, U.S. senior representative for the exercise. “Because it is so large and complex, it requires a lot of planning. That is why we have been working on the plan for the exercise for almost 18 months. It is beneficial to get all of us together so we know what each country’s capabilities are and what they are able to bring to each individual event that we have planned.”
| Date Taken: | 04.23.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.24.2013 06:04 |
| Story ID: | 105725 |
| Location: | DOHA, QA |
| Web Views: | 262 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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