Photo By Spc. Tynisha Daniel | U.S. Soldiers representing the 805th Military Police Company from Cary N.C. and...... read more read more
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A safe, stable and secure Africa is in the best interest of the United States and its allied countries. In effort to elevate and strengthen military forces and relationships, Exercise African Lion 17 (AL), held in Morocco, was created to establish our commitment to African security and peace support operations.
Encouraging the motto “Stronger together than Apart,” deployed U.S. Soldiers and Marines were divided into three companies to demonstrate and promote the cohesiveness of the U.S. military while establishing multinational platoons with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.
“Working with the Marines and Moroccan Soldiers, has been a great learning experience,” said Spc. Josym Garcia, a military policeman representing the 805th Military Police Company from Cary, North Carolina. Garcia and 37 other Soldiers from his unit joined the Bravo Company, consisting of 10 Alpha 3rd Marine Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) Marines, once they arrived in Tifnit. “It’s fun seeing how other branches and military do things.”
Throughout the exercise, the U.S. military and Moroccan soldiers, participated in training on tactics and procedures to familiarize each other with how their respective militaries work.
U.S. service members and Moroccan armed forces cross-trained with each other’s weapons.
“This is my first time shooting an AK-47,” said Garcia. The Soldiers and Marines also shot 9-millimeter and 50 caliber weapons.
During urban operations, a team building exercise, U.S. Soldiers, Marines and Moroccan soldiers practiced clearing rooms together.
“There was a bit of a language barrier at first but we’re all learning,” laughed Spc. Xavier Hill, a military policeman with the 805th.
After receiving a class from both American and Moroccan instructors on non-lethal crowd control, the troops headed out to practice responding to the different types of protests they may encounter when facing crowds.
When heading out of the classroom troops were eager to train for the exercise.
Both militaries were able to experience using the others’ issued military gear. As the exercise continued, the smiles on all of the troops’ faces seemed to grow.
“They were not only learning but having fun together. It’s motivating to see how excited they are just to work with us,” said Hill.
By training together, African Lion 17 has allowed the U.S. military and Moroccan soldiers to develop relationships that will be mutually beneficial for many years to come.
| Date Taken: | 04.22.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.28.2017 09:14 |
| Story ID: | 231903 |
| Location: | TIFNIT, MA |
| Web Views: | 168 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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