Tankers train tenaciously in Moroccan desert during AFRICAN LION 2010 combined exercise. 

In close tandem with three others, the tank rocks back on its haunches as a massive ball of flame leaps from the barrel. A split second later, the tank lurches forward, settling, as a “BOOM!” reaches the ears of bystanders, the press of the concussion is felt, and a slow cloud of dust appears in the wake of the shell. Grins cover the sunburned faces of Marines from Fox Company, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division.

“This job has its moments,” smiles Lance Cpl. Justin Nolan, a tank crewman with 2nd Platoon, Fox Company, 4th Tank BN, 4th MarDiv. “Usually we only see one tank in action, so to see them together is pretty cool.”

For the past week, Nolan, a reserve Marine and full-time college student, has been living in the field with 32 other deployed Marines from his company. Their mission is simple, according to Maj. John Knapp, commanding officer for Fox Company, 4th Tank BN, 4th MarDiv.

“We’re providing a tank platoon for the AFRICAN LION final exercise with U.S. and Moroccan troops,” he said. “We’re also conducting annual training based on mission essential task lists to include live fire, platoon gunnery and maneuver training.”

The training tests a platoon’s ability to work as a cohesive unit as they engage targets, according to 2nd Lt. Peter Heiman, platoon commander for 2nd Platoon, Fox Company, 4th Tank BN, 4th MarDiv.

“We’re accomplishing everything we’re scheduled to, and then some,” said Heiman. “Working with the Moroccans gives these Marines the opportunity to experience another way of doing things, and the challenge of working with another country. They’re demonstrating their maneuvers and methods, and we’re doing the same. We’re excited to be out here.”

The challenge of working in new terrain also provides good training, according to Nolan.

“This is definitely nothing like North Carolina,” said Nolan. “You have to be careful when you’re driving out here, otherwise you can pop track. Aside from that, I’d say adjusting to the climate has been the biggest challenge.”

Reserve units, which are required to remain combat ready, also face the unique challenge of accomplishing set training and education goals in very short amounts of time. The unit meets that challenge by pushing off-duty education and maintaining consistent contact with other Marines in similar occupational specialties.

“At home, I read up,” said Sgt. Travis Odell, tank commander with 2nd Platoon, Fox Company, 4th Tank BN, 4th MarDiv. “I do a lot of studying, and MCIs [Marine Corps Institute] help a lot. The junior Marines here have been great when it comes to learning new information. While we’re out here, we’re teaching them how to bore site a tank, call for fire, and how to deal with possible problems when conducting operations. They’re totally motivated, which is not hard to be when you get to shoot guns.”

Nolan agrees.

“This job is interesting,” he said. “It’s pretty technical, so there’s always something to learn. You can never have too much knowledge about this tank, and I’ve been trying to absorb as much information as I can.”

Fox Company, which stood up in 2006, is a relatively young command, so mastering the essential tasks of shooting, moving and communicating in order to be combat ready is constantly emphasized.

“My goal is to make sure these Marines optimize their time while they’re out here,” said 1st Sgt. Frank Gerraughty, company first sergeant with Fox Company, 4th Tank BN, 4th MarDiv. “We have so much training to do in such a short amount of time, so we have to use our time effectively.”

However, the company’s driving pace of training in the dust and sleeping or standing watch under the open sky has been peppered with interactions with Moroccan troops. In addition to training with their Moroccan counterparts, the Marines have spent off-duty time with them, sharing meals and stories, and exchanging uniform items.

“It’s good to see we have friends out there,” said Gerraughty, a 26-year veteran of the Marine Corps. “The Moroccans have been excellent to us – very hospitable. For our young Marines who maybe have never been out of the country, this exchange might well be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Being out here refines your perspective on life and interaction, and it’s great to have the chance to be an ambassador of the U.S.”

AFRICAN LION 2010 is the largest exercise within U.S. Africa Command’s area of activity, and is coordinated by U.S. Marine Forces Africa. It is an annually scheduled, joint, combined U.S.-Moroccan exercise. AFRICAN LION ‘10 brings together nearly 1,000 U.S. service members from 16 locations throughout Europe and North America with more than 1,000 members of the Moroccan military. The exercise is scheduled to end on or around June 9. All U.S. forces will return to their home bases in the United States and Europe at the conclusion of the exercise.