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Ancon, Peru: Today’s military of the world are tasked with much more than combat missions. Forces must be able to quickly react to natural disasters or crisis response situations to provide support and uphold peace.
In order to prepare for such events U.S. Marines and military members of nine other nations participated in a simultaneous two-week training exercise, Partnership of the Americas and Southern Exchange, which came to a close in an elaborate display of military strength as well as kindness.
Among simulated gunfire and explosions, the combined forces of peace needed just 20 minutes to storm the beach off the coast of Peru’s military base just North of Lima. They moved in by amphibious vehicles that departed from one of two naval ships supporting the exercise—the U.S. “New Orleans” and the Peruvian vessel "Callao".
The event was attended by key government dignitaries of Peru, like Vice President, Luis Giampietri and Defense Minister, Rafael Rey. Maj. General Cornell A. Wilson, Commander of Marine Forces South, and other senior military leaders representing their own nation’s Navy or Marine Corps teams, attended as well.
The joint Marine infantries charged from the sea in synchronized attacks, repelling “rebel” forces to an urban area on the hill. They worked side-by-side, surrounding the buildings, and going room-by-room to apprehend and subdue the insurgents in the urban zone.
Later, the scenario moved to a hostage rescue crisis. A helicopter flew to the scene and a quick reaction team slid to the ground using a rope—called fast roping.
With stealth and tactics, the team surrounded the rebels and quickly rescued the hostages, moving them to a safe zone to be extracted by another awaiting helicopter.
The event concluded with a staged humanitarian aid mission similar to those that Marines would face in a real-world disaster. The forces were tasked with distributing food and medical support to the local populace. However the calm crowds, played by military members, soon turned to angry protesters that challenged the peacekeeping forces to restore order.
At the end of the elaborate display of military power, the key leaders and dignitaries went to a local school in Ancon to see the real-world humanitarian aid effort that the multinational forces did to upgrade the school’s lighting, plumbing, doors, and paint.
Defense Minister Rey said that, “This event served to prove the effectiveness of our military forces” and later thanked all the nations involved to make it successful.
Col. Gary S. Johnston, Com¬manding Officer of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-24 said, “As a result of Partnership of the Americas and Southern Exchange, U.S. Marines and partner nations are better prepared to respond to a crisis or intervene with humanitarian aid and peacekeeping missions anywhere we are called."
U.S. Marine reserves are part of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-24. Participating military forces in the exercise are: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and U.S.
| Date Taken: | 07.20.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2010 23:56 |
| Story ID: | 53337 |
| Location: | ANCON, PE |
| Web Views: | 233 |
| Downloads: | 171 |
This work, Marines from U.S. and nine other nations finish exercise with demonstration, by LT Peter Walz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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