Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester | A Moroccan pilot with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces explains the process for using...... read more read more
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TAN TAN, Morocco – Soldiers assigned to the 744th Forward Support Company (744TH FSC), 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard partnered with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), for a sling load exercise, May 17, 2025, at Tan Tan, Morocco, during African Lion 25.
The Royal Kingdom of Morocco was recently approved to purchase High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and related equipment, and the exercise demonstrated air transportation of munitions for the system. U.S. Army Sgt. Jeff Splain, a motor transport operator with the 744th FSC led his soldiers through the training event where the FAR, using their CH-47 Chinook, flew into the training area, retrieved a reduced range practice rocket pod, departed, and then returned the pod to the landing zone.
“My team spent five days rehearsing concepts of this operation,” Splain said. “We brainstormed with the pilot and his crew what the best way to hook up the pod was, keeping safety in mind.”
Military operations require a combined force, which demands rigorous training as teams integrate with allies and partners. This ensures combat experience and readiness to dominate and win on contemporary battlefields.
The multinational team worked together to determine the best way to complete the sling load by inspecting the pod, sling legs and apex, as well as the individual hookup equipment which includes the static discharge wand; keeping safety at the forefront of the mission.
U.S. Army Sgt. Kyle Alomonte, a motor transport operator with the 744th FSC played a key role in ensuring safety.
“My role is the ground guide for the aircraft,” said Alomonte. “Guiding the aircraft above the pod … as we have individuals under the aircraft hooking it up. It’s my job to make sure we do it as safely as possible.”
After the best course of action was determined, the teams took their respective places on the landing zone, completing two successful hookups.
“This sling load exercise was a great success. It was a culminating event following months of training on both sides,” said Splain. “I’m very proud of my team and what they’ve done, and the knowledge they’ve shared with our Moroccan partners. There’s been no other training I've done so far that’s comparable to this.”
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win.
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.27.2025 05:47 |
| Story ID: | 498655 |
| Location: | TAN TAN, MA |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, New Hampshire National Guard teams with Morocco for sling load training at African Lion 2025, by SFC Jessica Forester, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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