By land and by sea: US Marines, Mauritanians train together

Photo By Sgt. Danielle Rodrigues | Mauritanian Fusilier Marins carry a U.S. Marine while practicing tactical combat casualty care in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, March 19, 2015. Approximately 20 U.S. Marines, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa trained with the Mauritanians, practicing infantry skills, small boat operations, combat marksmanship, and close-quarters combat techniques. (Courtesy photo)  

NOUADHIBOU, MAURITANIA

04.15.2015

Story by Cpl. Lucas Hopkins 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy – More than 20 U.S. Marines, Sailors and Coastguardsmen with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa trained with approximately 100 Mauritanian Fusilier Marins and Gendarmerie in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, Feb. 16 to March 20, 2015.

The service members and their Mauritanian partners rehearsed infantry skills and tactics, including combat marksmanship, tactical combat casualty care, detainee handling and close-quarter combat techniques. Small-boat maintenance and tactics, including zodiac operations, also played a huge part in the training and curriculum.

“Despite the large number of Mauritanians we trained, they progressed through their capability sets well,” said 1st Lt. Rudy Mistovich, the SCT officer-in-charge. “By the end of the five weeks, their capabilities improved.”

The beginning of the training brought the Mauritanians back to the basics, as the Marines emphasized weapons handling and safety. After the Marins demonstrated some of their tactics, the Marines quickened the pace of the course.

“Initially, we ensured that their weapons handling and safety was on par, and it absolutely was. [This] allowed us to transition into patrolling very easily,” said Mistovich.

The Marines were able to accelerate through the initial stages of the training and focus on more advanced skills.

“Their early grasp on the knowledge allowed us to speed up the teaching process in the beginning,” said Cpl. Jacob Jones, also a team leader with the unit.

Once the essentials were covered, the groups moved onto patrolling and detainee handling. The Mauritanians and Marines then transitioned to boat operations, utilizing the skills previously taught. The training was readily welcomed by the Fusilier Marins, who are Mauritania’s Naval Infantry.

Throughout the evolution, the Marines harped on the concept of small-unit leadership.

“Once we designated leadership billets, they surged through the operations flawlessly. It was just a matter of fostering the culture of always having someone prepared to step up,” said Mistovich.

Providing border protection and countering illicit trafficking along the Senegal River is the Fusilier Marins’ primary objective. While the training was designed to increase the Mauritanians’ operational proficiency, it also boosted their confidence for future missions.

• Date Taken: 04.15.2015
• Date Posted: 05.01.2015 14:49
• Story ID: 161975
• Location: NOUADHIBOU, MR
• Hometown: AMBRIDGE, PA, US
• Hometown: WEIRTON, WV, US