Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, spent the day here mentoring soldiers with the Armed Forces for the Defense of Mozambique (FADM) in combat marksmanship, proper escalation of force, and the establishment and value of vehicle checkpoints. The classes are part of a package designed to increase Mozambique’s capacity for peace and stability operations during SHARED ACCORD 2010, an annually scheduled event designed to build U.S. Africa Command’s partner nation capacity for peace and stability operations.
“We are laying a foundation in effective peacekeeping tactics at the small unit level,” said U.S. Marine Sgt. Jonathan Robinson, a police sergeant with Weapons Co., 2/25, which is based out of Garden City, N.Y. “Every Marine in Weapons Company, from the youngest to the most experienced, is approaching this event with the utmost professionalism and enthusiasm. We’re excited about the opportunity to pass on our experiences and training to a friendly force.”
During the seven-day evolution, the Marines will work with the FADM to review a variety of peace keeping skills to include maneuver live fire, entry control points, vehicle check points, fixed site security, and the processing of detainees.
Exercises like SA10 provide valuable opportunities for Marines, according to U.S. Marine Capt. Jonathan Frangakis, commander of Weapons Co., 2/25.
“This is a great training opportunity for us,” said Frangakis, a New York, N.Y., native. “We’re reviewing our skills as we work with the FADM, then during their down time we’re training with our own troops.”
Robinson, also a New York, N.Y., native, agrees.
“Every time you have an opportunity to partner with another soldier, it gives a new perspective on your experiences in (the military),” Robinson noted. “This type of exchange provides us an appreciation for the universal nature of soldiering, and the similarities between everyone who wears a uniform.”
The exchange of information and knowledge is eased by the fact that the company has 10 Spanish-speaking Marines, who serve a valuable – if unexpected – role as translators between the Portuguese-speaking Mozambicans and the Marines, according to Frangakis.
“I’ve been using my (Spanish) skills a lot to interpret – even for today’s class,” said Lance Cpl. David Fuertes, a tow gunner with Weapons Co., 2/25. “Spanish and Portuguese are pretty similar, so we make ourselves understood.”
The Mozambican troops, who at first seemed reserved, quickly warmed to their American counterparts when they learned that nearly 90 percent of the Marines in the company had deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, or both, according to Frangakis.
“They know that we’re combat veterans,” said Robinson. “They see our experiences, and that validates our position as (mentors). We are bringing the very best in experience and instruction, and in return we’ve found them to be enthusiastic and willing to learn. They’ve been extremely welcoming to us. They’re hungry to absorb as much information as we can provide.”
As the Marines and FADM eat together, work together and live together in the same camp, mission success seems nearer than ever.
“Success will be that the FADM understands the principles of patrolling, and escalation of force, as well as safe operations for us all on the range,” said Frangakis.
SHARED ACCORD is an exercise hosted by a different AFRICOM partner nation each year. Previously, SA has taken place in locations such as Benin, Ghana, and Senegal. The exercise is coordinated by U.S. Marine Forces Africa, AFRICOM’s Marine component, and is scheduled to conclude on or around Aug. 13. All troops will return to their home bases in Europe and the U.S. at the end of the exercise.