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International partnership will use Marines as sea-born force

US Marine Corps News

1/27/2011
By Lance Cpl. Timothy L. Solano, Marine Forces Africa

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The upcoming deployment of Security Cooperation Task Force Africa Partnership Station 2011 will soon put to rest a recent misunderstanding circulating throughout the Corps, proving that its amphibious roots are not forgotten.

The uniquely naval and terrestrial capabilities of SCTF APS-11 have been tested since the unit was established in October and began pre-deployment training. Once embarked aboard the USS Whidbey Island, the SCTF will deploy and conduct partnered theater security force assistance events with South Africa and several countries along Africa’s western coast.

The engagement events will encompass subject matter expert exchanges in several military aspects, such as ship-to-shore movement by amphibious assault vehicles, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program familiarization, combat marksmanship, land navigation and noncommissioned officer development.

What makes this particular partnership unique, however, is the almost invisible presence left by APS-11 in each of the countries visited.

“We don’t leave any kind of footprint,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Matthew McIntosh, a three-year APS veteran and senior enlisted leader for Destroyer Squadron Six Zero, the Navy unit assigned as the overall command element collaborating with the Marine SCTF. “We don’t have to base in their countries, which helps us to avoid conflict with other countries’ sensitivities.”

Before Whidbey Island leaves port, the SCTF, comprised of various Marine units aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, (principally Company D, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion), has to ensure its own operational readiness by maintaining a continuous and demanding training regimen.

“We’re amtrackers (amphibious assault vehicle operators) by trade, not grunts,” said Sgt. Carl Gunnerson, squad leader for second squad, second platoon, Ground Combat Element, SCTF APS-11. “The more field exercises we get to do, the better prepared we can be to train the infantries of other countries.”

The united engagement between the Marines and the African nations will reinforce the Marine Corps’ maritime heritage while partnering with foreign militaries as they operate in their own respective endeavors. Through NCO leadership courses and tactical training evolutions, the sharing of ideas in the military-to military exchange will act to enhance each nation’s capabilities.

“Improving the capacity of these partner nations to conduct various security operations will help counter the threats that affect us as well as them,” said Lt. Col. Kirk Coker, commanding officer of SCTF APS-11. “These threats include Al-Qaeda influence and recruitment activities, illegal narcotics smuggling, human trafficking and illegal fishing inside the territorial waters of African partner nations.”

With the growing threat of international crimes like these and the encroaching influence of terrorist cells like Al-Qaeda, force assistance between the U.S. and its African partner nations enhances their abilities to take a stance against such criminal activity, all the while promoting maritime safety and security.

“The concept (of force assistance) is not new, but is gaining popularity as we see results from other partnerships within the last ten years,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Kevin M. Goodrich, command master chief for USS Whidbey Island.

Carrying similar momentum to APS deployments in recent years, close interaction between U.S. forces and those in Iraq and Afghanistan has mirrored the undertaking of security force assistance. These interactions have enabled each of the allying militaries the ability to become more proficient.

Likewise, in recent years, political and operational climates in Africa have allowed the U.S. to conduct missions along Africa’s western coast with similar partnership principles in mind.

“As Africa becomes more stable and more lines of communication begin to open up, the opportunity to interact with and aid these militaries becomes more available,” said McIntosh.

The expeditionary nature of the deployment will allow the SCTF Marines a change of pace from the operational tempo of deployments to Afghanistan, and will provide the Marine Corps with an opportunity to revisit its amphibious ancestry that has been recently set aside due to current overseas contingency operations.

“This is what Marines do,” said Coker, referring to the long Marine Corps history embarked aboard U.S. Navy ships.

Though forms of force assistance are still ongoing throughout current U.S. conflict, some already speculate the distinctive nature of this deployment to be a rare and unique opportunity for all who make APS-11.

“This is a different kind of deployment than most sailors and Marines ever get to experience,” said Goodrich. “Any time an international partnership allows a confluence of opinion-- hearing each other’s concerns and developing working relationships-- it is guaranteed those interactions can better an alliance,” he added.