Marine Forces Europe and Africa

United States Marine Corps

USAG Stuttgart, Germany

Maj. Gen. Beydler visits SP-MAGTF Africa

By Cpl. Shawn Valosin | Marine Forces Europe and Africa | September 16, 2014

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Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler, the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa, visited Naval Air Station Sigonella to meet the service members of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14, Sept. 13, 2014. During his visit Beydler commended them on the work they are doing and stressed the importance of maintaining readiness and being capable of springing into action at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin) (Photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin)

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Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler (right), the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa, shakes hands with Cpl. Kevin Peach (center), a Port St. Lucie, Fla., native and rifleman with SP-MAGTF Africa 14, aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella Sept. 13, 2014. Cpl. Kevin Peach and Cpl. Tirrany James, a New Orleans, La., native and fiscal clerk with SP-MAGTF Africa 14, were recognized during the visit for their performance on deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin) (Photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin)

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Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler (left), the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa, shakes hands with Cpl. Tirrany James (center), a New Orleans, La., native and fiscal clerk with SP-MAGTF Africa 14, aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella Sept. 13, 2014. Cpl. Tirrany James and Cpl. Kevin Peach, a Port St. Lucie, Fla., native and rifleman with SP-MAGTF Africa 14, were recognized during the visit for their performance on deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin) (Photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin)

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Sgt. Maj. James J. McCook, the sergeant major for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, speaks with service members from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14 aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sept. 13, 2014 During the visit, Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler, the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa, and McCook thanked the service members for their hard work and dedication to mission accomplishment and stressed the importance of maintaining readiness, reminding them that they could be called to action at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin) (Photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin)

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SIGONELLA, Italy --

Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler, the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa, visited here, Sept. 13, to meet the service members of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14.

The service members currently assigned to SP-MAGTF Africa 14 are tasked with supporting Marine Forces Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command by carrying out theater security cooperation missions in various African countries in order to build partnerships and the capacity to address regional security concerns.

Maj. Gen. Beydler visited the members of SP-MAGTF Africa to commend them on the work they are doing and stress the importance of maintaining readiness and the capability of springing into action at a moment’s notice.

“You don’t get to pick the time and location,” said Beydler. “You have to be ready to employ based on all the training you received in eastern [North Carolina], and all the training that you’re doing out here to maintain that sharpness.”

Maj. Gen. Beydler focused his discussion points with Marines and Sailors of SP-MAGTF Africa on three topics during the visit: readiness, standards and core values.

Sgt. Maj. James J. McCook, the sergeant major of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, also spoke to the Marines and Sailors of SP-MAGTF Africa.

“This is a very impressive mission and you’re a very impressive group that gets to perform the mission,” said McCook. “This is the first rotation with a logistics unit as the command element. Every one of you is an important part of this team and I appreciate all the work you’re doing.”

Cpl. Tirrany James, a New Orleans, La., native and fiscal clerk, and Cpl. Kevin Peach, a Port St. Lucie, Fla., native and rifleman with SP-MAGTF Africa 14, were recognized during the visit for their exemplary performance on deployment.

SP-MAGTF Africa conducts theater security cooperation and military-to-military engagements while providing U.S. Africa Command a rapid-response capability in North and West Africa.