AGADIR, Morocco -- Convoy operations have started rolling to various areas here.
However, these convoy operations would not be possible without the the current success of the port operations conducted by the Marines , sailors, soldiers and airmen here in support of Exercise African Lion 13.
The troops have been working shifts continuously throughout. The Marines said they get the most accomplished after sunset.
“It’s good because it cools off,” said Cpl. Kyle W. Daley, 22, a cannon crewman assigned to Q battery, 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, from Parker, Colo. “We get a lot done at night too.. We can get everything moved.”
Marines were responsible for moving, arranging, tracking and staging more than 689 pieces of gear from the maritime prepositioning ship. The troops accomplished this task within 96 hours with no safety incidents.
“We try to maintain the safety standards and accountability. It has been literally, moving parts everywhere,” said Cpl. Brian M. Armusewicz, 29, a light-armormed vehicle repairman assigned to 6th Communications Company in Brooklyn, N.Y., Armusewicz is a reservist from Southampton, N.Y.
Sergeant Jeff W. Cantu, 28, said he has been extremely impressed by the work ethic of these troops despite the joint working environment. Many of the Marines here have came from various different units throughout the United States to their provide support.
“These Marines have been working hard and we don’t even know each other,” said Cantu, who assigned to 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, from Arlington, Texas. “I’m proud of these Marines. I have never seen a harder working group. They did it all. With few drivers and in two days, they moved more than 200 pieces of gear. You had guys here that you had to force to go to go to bed.”
The Marines’ leaders were highly satisfied with their results. One leader attiributed the units’ success was due to the hard work and dedication.
“Small unit leadership and coordination across the services has made this happen,” said Capt. Ania V. Driscoll, 33, officer-in-charge for the Landing Force Shore Party, who is from Levittown, Pa. “They have made this successful.”
The Marines here have also made an impression on their Army counterparts. The soldiers from the Joint Task Force- Port Opening said they are happy to participate in this unique experience.
“Working with Marines is excellent,” said Lt. Col. Marcilyn L. Patterson, battalion commander of 839th Transport Battalion. “You don’t get the oppurtunity to work with Marines or in support of Marines that often. Not a lot of time we get to work with Marines on the maritime prepositioning. This is really good for the soldiers. We recognize that the Marines are hardchargers. We’re going to give some of the Marines some Army achievement medals.”
“This is just so much more than the JTF-PO and the Marines working with the Moroccans,” said Patterson, 43, who is from Hartford, Conn. “It’s carrying out the orders of the President; building relationships and were down here executing that. The Army, Navy, Marines, and sailors executing is what Im proud of; being apart of the bigger picture.”
Exercise African Lion is a U.S. Africa Command-scheduled, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa- led, joint multi-lateral exercise. The joint task force consisting of U.S. Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen were able to conduct modified joint training for Exercise African Lion 13, demonstrating their ability to adapt to unpredicted circumstances, restore mission essential tasks, build interoperability and create friendships during the remaining days of the evolution. The logistics component will continue to exercise vigilant, safe and rapid retrograde of almost 1,200 personnel and 250 short-tons of vehicles and equipment while working with Moroccan partners and contractors to sustain the force and redeploy them back to their home stations in a timely and efficient manner.