PATCH BARRACKS, Germany --
Marines assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa areas of operation are spread out to the farthest reaches of Europe and Africa conducting the ongoing missions of training and advising, stability, humanitarian support, and other theater security cooperation activities.
With so many Marines in ‘every clime and place,’ it is important to bring them together every year to ensure they are getting the administrative, medical and annual training support they need to continue completing their mission. To do this, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa played host to the 5th annual Theater Marine Conference, Sept. 20-23 at United States Army Garrison Patch Barracks.
“This effort will bring together U.S. Marine Corps forces from across the European and African theaters and provide professional and administrative assistance to Marines in order to conduct annual admin & medical audits as well as an opportunity to attend a professional dinner,” said, Maj. Patrick Davis, G-6 Operations and Plans Officer, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa.
This year’s four-day event was attended by 155 Marines and their schedule consisted of a physical fitness test, combat fitness test, scheduled sit-downs with various occupational specialty monitors and a professional dinner with guest speaker, Maj. Gen. David Garza, Inspector General, Headquarters Marine Corps.
“The Theater Marine Conference, professional dinner provided attendees with an opportunity to network during an offsite social function which was given tremendous value, and added meaning from the guest speaker, who spoke of the current state of the United States Marine Corps,” added Davis.
The Theater Marine Conference is a way for Marines operating in Europe and Africa to get the support they need to continue completing their missions and providing regional, cooperative security and stability.
“I think it was a successful conference and there was a lot of value added not only from the hosting headquarters; MarForEur and MarForAf, but from all of the attendees coming from outlying stations which culminated during the Theater Marine Conference professional dinner where there was a lot of good information sharing,” said Davis.