U.S., Moroccans test artillery skills, build partnership

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jared Gehmann | Marines assigned to India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment show Moroccan Royal Armed Forces artillerymen their howitzer’s capabilities during Exercise African Lion 15, 2015, near Tan Tan, Morocco.  

TAN TAN, MOROCCO

05.24.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Jared Gehmann 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

TAN TAN, Morocco - Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and Marines assigned to India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment came together just outside Tan Tan, Morocco, to conduct several days of combined artillery training as a part of Exercise African Lion 15, May 15-18, 2015.

The purpose of the exercise was to increase artillery skills and teamwork between 90 Royal Moroccan Armed Forces artillerymen and 90 U.S. Marines through the implementation of realistic training.

The training consisted of firing artillery rounds at old abandoned tanks set several miles away from the artillery placement, including a night illumination fire. The Moroccans and Americans called coordinates to each other from an observation position and took turns completing live fire missions and assisting each other in destroying their targets with artillery rounds from howitzers.

Capt. Justin T. Kratzer, a Lititz, Pennsylvania, native and commander of India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, said he was impressed with the abilities the Moroccans showcased and said their capabilities had grown vastly since his last participation in African Lion four years ago.

“Their skill set is very refined for the equipment they use,” said Kratzer. “The digital gear that they are using allows them to check where rounds hit for more accuracy. They are very proficient, they have been putting accurate rounds on target, they just do it a little bit different than we do.”

Not only did the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and Marines spend time training together, they also spent time building friendships while eating, joking, hanging out and talking about life outside of their daily duties.

“This is my first time working with the Americans, and so far I like the way they operate,” said Hafid, an adjutant with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and 25 year veteran who did not wish to give his last name. “The Moroccans and Americans have developed a strong friendship throughout the years. We both love what we do and we work together quite well. All the training is great, but what’s important is the fraternal bond we have formed over the last few days."

Although the artillery training had positive results, it is only a small piece of the overarching Exercise African Lion 15 in which U.S. and Moroccan armed forces and a variety of representatives from eight African and European countries are taking part in throughout mid-May 2015. The exercise involves various types of training in several areas of Morocco, including a combined joint task force command post exercise linked with an intelligence capacity building workshop, a field training exercise, an aviation training exercise, stability operations exercise, and a humanitarian/civic assistance event.

This exercise was conducted in accordance with UN-mandated peace operations with humanitarian assistance themes and emphasizes the strong military bond between U.S. and Moroccan Armed Forces. It reinforces training engagements conducted in previous African Lion exercises and creates a foundation for inter-military cooperation in the future. AL15 also improves interoperability between nations and builds relationships with key strategic partners within the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility.

• Date Taken: 05.24.2015
• Date Posted: 05.23.2015 18:38
• Story ID: 164387
• Location: TAN TAN, MA
• Hometown: LITITZ, PA, US