Tennessee Marine returns from training in Burundi

Courtesy Photo | Gunnery Sergeant Christopher D. Robbins (left) a Knoxville, Tenn., native and engineer equipment mechanic with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14, and Maj. Luke A. Sauber, a Memphis, Tenn., native and officer-incharge of Security Cooperation Team 4 with SP-MAGTF Africa 14 pose for a photo with members from the Burundi National Defense Force, in Burundi, Aug. 27, 2014. SCT-4 conducted a tactical-advising course with the Burundi National Defense Force August through September. Topics covered included maintenance management planning, counter improvised explosive device, general engineering, troop-leading steps, orders development, combat-lifesaving and trauma care, and convoy planning. SP-MAGTF Africa strengthens U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command’s ability to assist partner nations in addressing their security challenges. Marines and Sailors with SP-MAGTF Africa conduct theater security cooperation, military-to-military engagements and are trained to provide contingency support to crisis response. (Courtesy Photo)  

SIGONELLA, ITALY

09.15.2014

Story by Cpl. Shawn Valosin 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

SIGONELLA, Italy - Gunnery Sgt. Christopher D. Robbins, a Marine with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14, and native of Knoxville, Tenn., recently returned from a theater security cooperation mission in Burundi.

Robbins was part of a small team of Marines and Sailors who trained and advised the Burundi National Defense Force in logistics and engineering, medical services, basic marksmanship, communications, vehicle movement and maintenance procedures, infantry squad tactics and staff coordination training.

SP-MAGTF Africa is a rotational deployment of Marines and Sailors for theater security cooperation in various African countries that was started in 2011. The current iteration is sourced from units across II MEF. It is primarily sourced from Combat Logistics Battalion- 2 out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. CLB-2 is the first logistics battalion to serve as a command element for SP-MAGTF Africa. Also supporting SP-MAGTF Africa is a detachment from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.K. Royal Marines.

SP-MAGTF Africa strengthens U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command’s ability to assist partner nations in addressing their security challenges. Marines and Sailors with SP-MAGTF Africa conduct theater security cooperation, military-to-military engagements and are trained to provide contingency support to crisis response.

• Date Taken: 09.15.2014
• Date Posted: 09.15.2014 07:48
• Story ID: 142152
• Location: SIGONELLA, IT
• Hometown: KNOXVILLE, TN, US