U.S. Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

Photo By Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins | U.S. Marines, with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, take cover being a wall during an urban assault with the Spanish mountaineers with 1st Mountain Troops Command, as part of mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property, and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)  

SPAIN

12.24.2014

Story by 1st Lt. Gerard Farao 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

MORÓN AIR BASE, Spain – U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa conducted mountain warfare training with 1st Mountain Troops Command in Candancu, Spain.

From Dec. 15 - 19, 2014, the Marines and Spanish soldiers trained in cold weather survival techniques, snowshoeing, offensive operations in mountainous environments, shooting while using snowshoes and poles, and a company sized offensive operation.

“The Spanish Army Mountaineers we worked with are true mountain warfare experts,” said Capt. Nathan Bedle, a company commander with SPMAGTF-CR-AF. “They helped us gain knowledge in operating in a mountainous environment and we look forward to working with them as NATO Allies in the future.”

The event culminated with a final training exercise in which the Marines and Spanish soldiers conducted movement at night over mountainous terrain and a combined assault attacking a fortified position in an urban environment at sunrise.

The exercise, which was conducted with and led by the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain.

• Date Taken: 12.24.2014
• Date Posted: 12.24.2014 08:46
• Story ID: 151053
• Location: ES