Photo By Cpl. Ryan Joyner | A Senegalese Companie de Fusilier Marine Commando boat team lifts and carries their...... read more read more
Subscribe
DAKAR, Senegal--Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13 began maritime assistance and medical aid training with the Senegalese Companie de Fusilier Marine Commandos on Bel Air Naval Base in Dakar, Senegal, Aug. 10-17, 2013.
Special-Purpose MAGTF Africa 13 is a primarily reserve unit comprised from more than 30 various units throughout the United States. The reservists utilize lessons and experience gained from their civilian side adding an edge to this specific mission,
The current theater-security team is the fourth iteration to provide training for the Senegalese Commandos.
The Marines and sailors utilized a “walk-crawl-run” method by beginning with the basics and increasing in technical and tactical skills daily.
“These guys have good understanding of what we are teaching them and have a willingness to learn,” said Gunnery Sgt. John Aguayo, a reconnaissance Marine and the team chief.
During the first week of training, the Commandos would split into two groups rotating between amphibious and medical classes and ending with a practical application.
For the medical portion, they started with how to assess for injuries and gradually advanced into treatments and evacuations. The medical classes encompassed many lifesaving techniques for the Commandos to learn.
Once the medical training was found to be proficient, they shifted their focus to maritime assistance.
Prior to the Commandos entering the ocean, they had to prove themselves by swimming laps in the pool and performing different swimming strokes so Marines could identify those who needed additional instruction.
“Majority of (the Commandos) can swim, some have even been through scout swimmer course before,” said Aguayo, a Ladera Ranch, Calif. native.
After mastering the basics in the swimming pool, the Senegalese moved on to the fun parts, boats! The team members taught the Commandos boat commands, safety procedures and tactics for the rubber reconnaissance crafts, also known as “Zodiacs.”
After receiving a class on all aspects of the boat, the Commandos familiarized themselves with their version of the Marine’s Zodiac; a small rubber craft used for amphibious insertions and extractions. They practiced on land prior to entering the water. Boat teams had the coxswain call out several commands including turns, recovering for inoperable boats and man overboard drills.
“The Commandos are very receptive to the training and pick it up very quickly,” said Sgt. Michael Hoffman, a rifleman with the team and a Thorndale, Pa. native.
Advancing into more real-world scenarios, the team had the Senegalese conduct an amphibious insertion on a beach using their new gained knowledge and skills during the culminating training evolution for week one.
Through the use of translators, Commandos regularly thanked the Marines and expressed their gratitude toward the training the Marines were presenting them with.
“Overall, I think everything is going well and we are assisting the Senegalese a great amount,” said Capt. Daniel Rueda, a team leader with the task force.
The team is slated to continue this rotations training in Toubacouta, Senegal, and once there, they are scheduled to conduct live-fire ranges and riverine training missions that will be more specific to the environments the Commandos will most likely conduct operations in.
The task force is set to continue building relationships with partner nations to assist U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa in conducting military-to military engagements, security force assistance, logistical and medical training.
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2013 09:11 |
| Story ID: | 112655 |
| Location: | DAKAR, SN |
| Hometown: | ATLANTA, GA, US |
| Hometown: | LADERA RANCH, CA, US |
| Hometown: | THORNDALE, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 257 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13 provides maritime training to Senegalese Commandos, by Cpl Ryan Joyner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT