8th Marines handover reins of SPMAGTF-CR-AF

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Jessika Alarcon | U.S. Marine Corps Major General Niel E. Nelson, Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, addresses Marines of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa, and commends them for their hard work at Morón Air Base, Spain, Oct. 10, 2016. During his visit, Nelson reviewed a transfer of authority ceremony and spoke to the inbound Marines and Sailors about the importance of their mission as a crisis response unit. U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa Command support operations, contingencies and security cooperation in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jessika Branden)  

MORóN AIR BASE, SPAIN

10.10.2016

Story by Sgt. Jessika Alarcon 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

U.S. Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa held a transfer of authority ceremony at Morón Air Base, Spain, Oct. 10, 2016.

The ceremony, held between 8th Marine Regiment and 2nd Marine Regiment, marked the close of 8th Marines’ deployment in support of crisis response operations in Africa.

Colonel Martin F. Wetterauer, 8th Marine Regiment Commanding Officer, welcomed the incoming rotation of Marines and Sailors and commended the outgoing members for their hard work and dedication to duty.
“[Holding command] has absolutely been an honor,” Wetterauer said. “You’ve stepped up to every single task and mission we put in front of you.”

Over the course of a 9-month deployment, 8th Marine Regiment operated as a contingency force, able to respond to a host of crises on the continent of Africa. Notably, the Marines and Sailors assisted in the evacuation of staffers working in the U.S. Embassy in Juda, South Sudan, earlier this year.

Colonel Daniel Q. Greenwood, 2nd Marine Regiment Commanding Officer and newly assigned commander of SPMAGTF-CR-AF, expressed his gratitude to partners and commitment to meeting operational challenges facing the unit.
“The Marines couldn’t do their mission without the partnership from our Spanish and U.S. Air Force brethren [at Morón Base],” Greenwood said. “We have a lot to learn and big shoes to fill, but [2nd Marine Regiment] is honored to be here.”

In addition to continuing the mission preserving U.S. and partner interests in Africa, the SPMAGTF is slated to carry on theater security cooperation efforts with our counterparts through bilateral training events, to include an amphibious exercise on a foreign vessel.
SPMAGTF-CR-AF, postured at Morón Air Base, was established in 2013 and gives U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa a broad range of military capabilities to respond to crises in the U.S. AFRICOM area of responsibility.

• Date Taken: 10.10.2016
• Date Posted: 10.13.2016 10:14
• Story ID: 211861
• Location: MORóN AIR BASE, ES