MUNSTER SOUTH TRAINING AREA, Germany -- For many Marine units, pre-deployment training includes trips to the parched, sandy deserts of Southern California, but for the 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, their training took them to the lush green countryside of northwestern Germany.
Approximately 40 Marines, three sailors and one soldier from 2nd ANGLICO, came to the Munster South Training Area, near Hamburg, Germany 1-18 March to participate in exercise Combined Thunder, an annual German exercise that focuses on fire support coordination and execution.
During the two-week exercise the Camp Lejeune, N.C. based ANGLICO team worked along side German soldiers assigned to the Panzer Artillery Regiment 100 and Panzer Artillery Battalion 125, coordinating fire support during a virtual battle at the historic training area.
Munster is home to the largest military base in Germany, and has been used as a training range since the Prussian Army used it in 1893. Now, more than one hundred years later, instead of the sounds of muzzle-loaded cannons, the range rings with the sound of the Panzerhaubitze 2000, a German 155mm self-propelled Howitzer and GR4 Tornado attack aircraft missiles.
ANGLICO is a unique unit that specializes in coordinating artillery, naval gunfire and close air support between the Marine Corps, Navy and Army units and the armed forces of U.S. allies.
This exercise gets to the heart of our mission as it will apply to the unit while in Iraq, said Cpl. Vincent Bartczak, fire support man. "Figuring out how to work through a language barrier, working with other systems, learning to not only do things the way the Marine Corps does things, but adjusting to the way that other people do it."
Four and five-man ANGLICO teams paired with their German counterparts to call in both Howitzer artillery and close air support from German Tornado attack aircraft. For the German battalion, this was the first time they worked with U.S. troops.
"Operating artillery with the air support is very important, and I think their forward air controllers can show us a lot and it is what we need to learn the most," said Capt. William Kramer, Panzer Artillery Battalion 125, Battery and Liaison officer.
During the exercise the Marines were also able to experience German culture and cuisine even in the field. The Marines left behind the traditional Marine field rations of Meals Ready to Eat, for breakfasts of fresh baked bread and croissants, and with lunches and dinners being an array of freshly field-made soups and pasta dishes.
"They have a great culture, and the best thing about it is the hospitality here. They have been very good to us," said Lance Cpl. Justin Valderaz, a fire support man.
Combining the training and cultural experience will prove valuable during the unit’s upcoming deployment to Iraq.
"What we are doing here, working with the German Army directing fire support, is exactly what we will do with the Iraqi Army," said Valderaz.