Marine Forces Europe and Africa

Sgt. Maj. Brian Alsleben, left, sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 8th Marines uncases the colors alongside Lt. Col. Justin Ansel, right, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 8th Marines during the transfer of authority ceremony aboard Mihail Kognalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Jan. 22, 2016. The rotational force of Marines and sailors gives U.S. European Command the continuous capability to integrate with NATO and partner nations in Eastern Europe. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Immanuel M. Johnson/Released)

Sgt. Maj. Paul Costa, left, sergeant major of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, cases the colors alongside Lt. Col. Kemper Jones, right, commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines during the transfer of authority ceremony aboard Mihail Kognalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Jan. 22, 2016. The rotational force of Marines and sailors gives U.S. European Command the continuous capability to integrate with NATO and partner nations in Eastern Europe. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Immanuel M. Johnson/Released)

Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines salute the colors during the transfer-of-authority ceremony aboard Mihail Kognalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Jan. 22, 2016. The rotational force of Marines and sailors gives U.S. European Command the continuous capability to integrate with NATO and partner nations in Eastern Europe. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Immanuel M. Johnson/Released)

Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines salute alongside members of the Romanian Armed Forces during the transfer-of-authority ceremony aboard Mihail Kognalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Jan. 22, 2016. The rotational force of Marines and sailors gives U.S. European Command the continuous capability to integrate with NATO and partner nations in Eastern Europe. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Immanuel M. Johnson/Released)

Lieutenant Col. Kemper Jones, commanding officer for 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines speaks during the transfer-of-authority ceremony aboard Mihail Kognalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Jan. 22, 2016. The rotational force of Marines and sailors gives U.S. European Command the continuous capability to integrate with NATO and partner nations in Eastern Europe. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Immanuel M. Johnson/Released)

U.S. Marines with the Ground Combat Element, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa conduct an alert-force drill at Naval Station Rota, Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-sustaining crisis-response force prepared for the protection of American personnel and facilities on the African continent when directed by U.S. Africa Command.

U.S. Marines with the Ground Combat Element, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, prepare to board an MV-22B Osprey during an alert drill at Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 23, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF’s crisis response capability requires Marines to be ready to respond within six hours of an alert in support of U.S. Africa Command.

U.S. Marines with the Ground Combat Element, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, run toward an MV-22B Osprey after recovering a simulated casualty during an alert-force drill at Naval Station Rota, Spain, January 23, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-sustaining crisis-response force prepared for the protection of American personnel and facilities on the African continent when directed.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kyle Maurer, machine gunner with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, participates in an alert-force drill at Naval Station Rota, Spain, January 23, 2016. The alert force tested the unit’s capabilities by simulating the procedures of reacting to a time-constrained, crisis-response mission.

U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa prepare to lift a simulated casualty onto a field litter during quick-response training at Naval Station Rota, Spain, January 23, 2016. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-sustaining crisis response force prepared for the protection of American personnel and facilities on the African continent when directed.

A U.S. Marine with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa provides security during quick-response training at Naval Station Rota, Spain, January 23, 2016. The alert force tested the unit’s capabilities by simulating the procedures of reacting to a time-constrained, crisis-response mission.

U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa extract a simulated casualty during quick-response training at Naval Station Rota, Spain, January 23, 2016. The alert force tested the unit’s capabilities by simulating the procedures of reacting to a time-constrained, crisis-response mission.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Niel E. Nelson, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, (left), and Sgt. Maj. William R. Frye, Sergeant Major of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe & Africa (right), discuss Sgt. Matthew A. Sprankle, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa (middle) actions after receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, aboard Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 26, 2016, for saving a Senegalese man from drowning last August. The award is the highest non-combative decoration for heroism awarded by the U.S. Department of the Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Niel E. Nelson, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, (left), and Sgt. Maj. William R. Frye, Sergeant Major of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe & Africa (right), pose for a photo with Sgt. Matthew A. Sprankle, after he received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal aboard Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 26, 2016, for saving a Senegalese man from drowning last August. The award is the highest non-combative decoration for heroism awarded by the U.S. Department of the Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew A. Sprankle is awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal after saving a Senegalese man from drowning last August aboard Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 26, 2016.The award is the highest non-combative decoration for heroism awarded by the U.S. Department of the Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew A. Sprankle is awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal after saving a Senegalese man from drowning, last August, aboard Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 26, 2016. The award is the highest non-combative decoration for heroism awarded by the U.S. Department of the Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew A. Sprankle is congratulated by a Spanish Air Force Officer at Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 26, 2016, after receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for saving a Senegalese man from drowning on last August. The award is the highest non-combative decoration for heroism awarded by the U.S. Department of the Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)

U.S. Marines Corps Maj. Gen. Niel E. Nelson, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa awards Sgt. Matthew A. Sprankle the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, aboard Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 26, 2016, after saving a Senegalese man from drowning last August. The award is the highest non-combative decoration for heroism awarded by the U.S. Department of the Navy. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kassie L. McDole/Released)

Nearly 100 Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa established an evacuation control center for an exercise in Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The exercise prepared the crisis response unit for a military assisted departure mission. The passenger terminal used hosted a real ECC 19 months ago when SPMAGTF-CR-AF, assisted in the evacuation of U.S. personnel from the U.S. embassy in Tripoli, Libya. U.S. citizens and embassy personnel traveled by ground convoy to neighboring Tunisia, before being flown to NAS Sigonella, where they were processed through the ECC before moving on to other locations.

Nearly 100 Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa established an evacuation control center for an exercise in Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The exercise prepared the crisis response unit for a military assisted departure mission. The passenger terminal used hosted a real ECC 19 months ago when SPMAGTF-CR-AF, assisted in the evacuation of U.S. personnel from the U.S. embassy in Tripoli, Libya. U.S. citizens and embassy personnel traveled by ground convoy to neighboring Tunisia, before being flown to NAS Sigonella, where they were processed through the ECC before moving on to other locations.

Nearly 100 Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa established an evacuation control center for an exercise in Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The exercise prepared the crisis response unit for a military assisted departure mission. The passenger terminal used hosted a real ECC 19 months ago when SPMAGTF-CR-AF, assisted in the evacuation of U.S. personnel from the U.S. embassy in Tripoli, Libya. U.S. citizens and embassy personnel traveled by ground convoy to neighboring Tunisia, before being flown to NAS Sigonella, where they were processed through the ECC before moving on to other locations.

Nearly 100 Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa established an evacuation control center for an exercise in Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The exercise prepared the crisis response unit for a military assisted departure mission. The passenger terminal used hosted a real ECC 19 months ago when SPMAGTF-CR-AF, assisted in the evacuation of U.S. personnel from the U.S. embassy in Tripoli, Libya. U.S. citizens and embassy personnel traveled by ground convoy to neighboring Tunisia, before being flown to NAS Sigonella, where they were processed through the ECC before moving on to other locations.

Sgt. Raheem Boyd, a heavy equipment operator with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa is recognized for his heroic actions during an American Hero Award ceremony aboard Morón Air Base, Spain, Dec. 23, 2015. Boyd’s courageous actions prevented a suicide aboard Camp Lejeune, May, 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy/Released)

Sgt. Raheem Boyd, a heavy equipment operator with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa received an American Hero Award aboard Morón Air Base, Spain, Dec. 23, 2015. Boyd, a Birmingham, Alabama native, was recognized for his courageous actions saving another Marine’s life, May, 2015 aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy/Released)

U.S. Marine M1A1 Abrams tanks and Bulgarian T-72 tanks conduct maneuver training during Platinum Lion 16-2 at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Jan. 8, 2016. Exercise Platinum Lion provides combined training with NATO Allies and partners, demonstrating our commitment to promoting a peaceful and stable Europe through theatre security cooperation engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released)

U.S. Marine M1A1 Abrams tanks and Bulgarian T-72 tanks conduct maneuver training during Platinum Lion 16-2 at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Jan. 8, 2016. Exercise Platinum Lion provides combined training with NATO Allies and partners, demonstrating our commitment to promoting a peaceful and stable Europe through theatre security cooperation engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released)

U.S. Marine M1A1 Abrams tanks and Bulgarian T-72 tanks conduct maneuver training during Platinum Lion 16-2 at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Jan. 8, 2016. Exercise Platinum Lion provides combined training with NATO Allies and partners, demonstrating our commitment to promoting a peaceful and stable Europe through theatre security cooperation engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released)

Marines with the Combined Arms Company, Black Sea Rotational Force and Romanian Forces rehearse an Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System breach during Platinum Lion 16-2 at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Jan. 8, 2016. An APOBS breach is used to clear a foot path through a wire, or mine field, obstacle for personnel. Exercise Platinum Lion provides combined training with NATO Allies and partners, demonstrating our commitment to promoting a peaceful and stable Europe through theatre security cooperation engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released)

Marines with the Combined Arms Company, Black Sea Rotational Force and Romanian Forces rehearse an Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System breach during Platinum Lion 16-2 at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Jan. 8, 2016. An APOBS breach is used to clear a foot path through a wire, or mine field, obstacle for personnel. Exercise Platinum Lion provides combined training with NATO Allies and partners, demonstrating our commitment to promoting a peaceful and stable Europe through theatre security cooperation engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released)

Marines with the Combined Arms Company, Black Sea Rotational Force and Romanian Forces rehearse an Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System breach during Platinum Lion 16-2 at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, Jan. 8, 2016. An APOBS breach is used to clear a foot path through a wire, or mine field, obstacle for personnel. Exercise Platinum Lion provides combined training with NATO Allies and partners, demonstrating our commitment to promoting a peaceful and stable Europe through theatre security cooperation engagements. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Justin T. Updegraff/ Released)