American troops deploy to Morocco

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Quentin Hendriksen | A Marine sergeant briefs joint troops on quarters assignments upon the troops' arrival in Agadir April 6, 2012, in support of African Lion 2012. African Lion 2012 is the latest in the continuing series of U.S.-Moroccan military exercises designed to promote improved interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation's tactics, techniques, procedures, and unit readiness in order to enhance foreign relations and ensure regional peace through U.S. Africa Command's strategy of cooperative engagement.  

AGADIR, MOROCCO

04.06.2012

Story by Sgt. Quentin Hendriksen 

128th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

AGADIR, Morocco — Troops from Texas, Utah, California and other states deployed to the northwest coast of Africa today to gather with a total of approximately 1,200 American troops in support of Task Force African Lion 2012, a U.S.-Moroccan military exercise.

These soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen will be conducting joint-combined training with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and providing humanitarian assistance aid in the form of medical and dental care.

The 1,200 service members are coming from elements from the United States African Command (USAFRICOM), U.S. Marine Forces Africa (MARFORAF), U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF), U.S. Marine Forces, Reserve (MARFORRES), Utah Army National Guard, Air Mobility Command (AMD), and reserve elements from the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.

“African Lion 2012 is the latest in the continuing series of U.S. – Moroccan military exercises designed to promote improved interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation’s tactics, techniques, procedures, and unit readiness in order to enhance foreign relations and ensure regional peace through U.S. Africa Command’s strategy of cooperative engagement,” said Task Force African Lion 2012 commander, Marine Col. Roger A. Garay, in his written orders for the exercise. “This exercise consists of amphibious offload operations, peacekeeping operations, combined air and ground field training exercises, and a bilateral command post exercise. The exercise will also provide constructive benefits to the people of Morocco through combined U.S.-Moroccan medical, and dental humanitarian assistance projects.”

This is the eighth continuous year of the exercise, and it will run April 8 through 17.

• Date Taken: 04.06.2012
• Date Posted: 04.20.2012 20:57
• Story ID: 87105
• Location: AGADIR, MA
• Hometown: FORT WORTH, TX, US