Tennessee Marine returns from training in Burundi

Courtesy Photo | Major Luke A. Sauber, a Memphis, Tenn., native and officer-in-charge of Security Cooperation Team 4, with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa, poses for a photo with children in Burundi, Aug. 25, 2014, while advising the Burundi National Defense Force. Marines are advising African partner nations to address regional security challenges. (Courtesy Photo)  

SIGONELLA, ITALY

09.15.2014

Story by Cpl. Shawn Valosin 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

SIGONELLA, Italy - Major Luke A. Sauber, a Marine with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14, and native of Memphis, Tennessee, recently returned from a theater security cooperation mission in Burundi.

Sauber 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, North Carolina, 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 08:13
• Story ID: 142153
• Location: SIGONELLA, IT
• Hometown: MEMPHIS, TN, US