U.S. Marines from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234) pose for a photo in front of a KC-130T Nov. 12, 2013, aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The Marines of VMGR-234 rotated detachments in support of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13. - U.S. Marines from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234) pose for a photo in front of a KC-130T Nov. 12, 2013, aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The Marines of VMGR-234 rotated detachments in support of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13.
Lance Cpl. Henry Benitez, a Maintenance Management Officer with Black Sea Rotational Force 14, is all smiles after a round of paintball at NRG Park in Constanta, Romania, Oct. 19, 2013. BSRF-14 is the first-full year rotation of U.S. forces in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania. While being the premiere crisis-contingency force in the Eastern Europe, Marines and sailors are also tasked to maintain relationships with their partner nations in the region, and conduct community engagement events to further strengthen relationships with the host-nation population. - Lance Cpl. Henry Benitez, a Maintenance Management Officer with Black Sea Rotational Force 14, is all smiles after a round of paintball at NRG Park in Constanta, Romania, Oct. 19, 2013. BSRF-14 is the first-full year rotation of U.S. forces in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania. While being the premiere crisis-contingency force in the Eastern Europe, Marines and sailors are also tasked to maintain relationships with their partner nations in the region, and conduct community engagement events to further strengthen relationships with the host-nation population.
Cpl. Codey Bauchspies, a mortarman with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13, observes as a Senegalese Companie de Fusilier Marine Commando performs an immediate-action drill with his M16 while in Thiès, Senegal, Nov. 25, 2013. During the first week of the task force’s fourth month-long engagement in Senegal this year, the Marines focused on basic and combat marksmanship skills. - Cpl. Codey Bauchspies, a mortarman with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13, observes as a Senegalese Companie de Fusilier Marine Commando performs an immediate-action drill with his M16 while in Thiès, Senegal, Nov. 25, 2013. During the first week of the task force’s fourth month-long engagement in Senegal this year, the Marines focused on basic and combat marksmanship skills.
Andrew Nackley is now a staff sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. Assigned as a senior intelligence analyst with Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, the Baton Rouge, La., native selected a path less traveled, having enlisted into boot camp at the age of 32. Although impacted by 9/11, he says joining the Marine Corps was, "a long time coming." - Andrew Nackley is now a staff sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. Assigned as a senior intelligence analyst with Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, the Baton Rouge, La., native selected a path less traveled, having enlisted into boot camp at the age of 32. Although impacted by 9/11, he says joining the Marine Corps was, "a long time coming."
Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response (SP-MAGTF Crisis Response) carry a simulated downed pilot toward an MV-22B Osprey during a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel training exercise as part of Theater Marine Integration Training (TMIT) at Naval Station Rota, Spain, Nov. 19, 2013. TMIT was a multi-unit exercise intended to bring together diverse Marine Corps assets to accomplish a unified goal. The units included Black Sea Rotational Force 14, SPMAGTF Crisis Response, Fleet Antiterrorism Support Team, and Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa. - Marines and Sailors with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response (SP-MAGTF Crisis Response) carry a simulated downed pilot toward an MV-22B Osprey during a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel training exercise as part of Theater Marine Integration Training (TMIT) at Naval Station Rota, Spain, Nov. 19, 2013. TMIT was a multi-unit exercise intended to bring together diverse Marine Corps assets to accomplish a unified goal. The units included Black Sea Rotational Force 14, SPMAGTF Crisis Response, Fleet Antiterrorism Support Team, and Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa.
A group of United States Embassy personnel and their families gather to view an MV-22B Osprey during a static display held by Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response in Dakar, Senegal, Nov 14, 2013. SP-MAGTF Crisis Response also conducted a flight demonstration of the Osprey following the more than 1,500 nautical miles long-range flight demonstration of SP-MAGTF Africa 13 Marines for a small-boat operations and marksmanship exercise with the Senegalese. - A group of United States Embassy personnel and their families gather to view an MV-22B Osprey during a static display held by Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response in Dakar, Senegal, Nov 14, 2013. SP-MAGTF Crisis Response also conducted a flight demonstration of the Osprey following the more than 1,500 nautical miles long-range flight demonstration of SP-MAGTF Africa 13 Marines for a small-boat operations and marksmanship exercise with the Senegalese.
Corporal Nicholas Zablonski, a team leader and vehicle commander with Black Sea Rotational Force 14, takes a knee during the defensive operation of Exercise Peace Sentinel in Novo Selo, Bulgaria, Nov. 7, 2013. The two-week long exercise included cordon-and-search tactics and battalion-sized defense and raid operations that included dismounted, mounted, and combined-arms tactics. - Corporal Nicholas Zablonski, a team leader and vehicle commander with Black Sea Rotational Force 14, takes a knee during the defensive operation of Exercise Peace Sentinel in Novo Selo, Bulgaria, Nov. 7, 2013. The two-week long exercise included cordon-and-search tactics and battalion-sized defense and raid operations that included dismounted, mounted, and combined-arms tactics.
U.S. Ambassador Deborah Malac dedicates medical equipment to the Armed Forces of Liberia in a ceremony at Edward Binyah Kesselly Barracks Medical Clinic Oct. 30, 2013. The United States donated more than $40,000 in equipment to help the AFL treat its soldiers and their families and support Liberia’s efforts against HIV/AIDS. U.S. service members with Operation Onward Liberty provide mentorship to AFL soldiers at the clinic to produce a capable, respected force able to protect Liberian interests in the West African region. In addition, OOL is developing the leadership capabilities of the officers and noncommissioned officers to maintain a professional and credible military force with a reputation as a “force for good” among the Liberian people. - U.S. Ambassador Deborah Malac dedicates medical equipment to the Armed Forces of Liberia in a ceremony at Edward Binyah Kesselly Barracks Medical Clinic Oct. 30, 2013. The United States donated more than $40,000 in equipment to help the AFL treat its soldiers and their families and support Liberia’s efforts against HIV/AIDS. U.S. service members with Operation Onward Liberty provide mentorship to AFL soldiers at the clinic to produce a capable, respected force able to protect Liberian interests in the West African region. In addition, OOL is developing the leadership capabilities of the officers and noncommissioned officers to maintain a professional and credible military force with a reputation as a “force for good” among the Liberian people.
The Military Intelligence Noncommissioned Officer's Course- Africa gathered at the Burkina Faso Military celebration following a parade, where the nation's president was in attendance. MINOC-A enhances capacity for intelligence skills and techniques while providing a combined-forces environment to promote collaboration methods with the region’s military-intelligence community. - The Military Intelligence Noncommissioned Officer's Course- Africa gathered at the Burkina Faso Military celebration following a parade, where the nation's president was in attendance. MINOC-A enhances capacity for intelligence skills and techniques while providing a combined-forces environment to promote collaboration methods with the region’s military-intelligence community.
Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response and Legionnaires from the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment of France's 6th Light Armored Brigade work side-by-side during a simulated heliborne raid Oct. 31, 2013, at Camp des Garrigues, France. The event was part of a week-long bilateral training exercise between U.S. Marines with SP-MAGTF Crisis Response and French Legionnaires. SP-MAGTF Crisis Response is a self-mobile, self-sustaining force capable of responding to a range of crises to protect both U.S. and partner-nation security interests in the region, as well as strengthening partnerships throughout the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim) - Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response and Legionnaires from the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment of France's 6th Light Armored Brigade work side-by-side during a simulated heliborne raid Oct. 31, 2013, at Camp des Garrigues, France. The event was part of a week-long bilateral training exercise between U.S. Marines with SP-MAGTF Crisis Response and French Legionnaires. SP-MAGTF Crisis Response is a self-mobile, self-sustaining force capable of responding to a range of crises to protect both U.S. and partner-nation security interests in the region, as well as strengthening partnerships throughout the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim)