U.S. Marines Visit Colombian Weapons Range
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS110210-13
2/10/2011
From Amphibious Southern Partnership Station 2011 Public Affairs
COVENAS, Colombia (NNS) -- The ground combat element (GCE) of the U.S. Marine Security Cooperation Task Force (SCTF) and Colombian marines conducted subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) consisting of familiarization, drills and handling of weapons at the Marine Infantry Training base in Covenas, Feb. 1.
The SCTF is currently deployed in support of Amphibious Southern Partnership Station 2011 (A-SPS 11). A-SPS11 is designed to strengthen cooperative partnerships among partner nations and to help enhance regional maritime security. The purpose of the A-SPS11's mission is to conduct SMEEs to enhance partner nation interoperability and regional security capabilities.
U.S. and Colombian marines exchanged weapons, shooting the M249 squad-automatic weapon, Beretta 9 mm pistol, Galil assault rifle, Mossberg 500 shotgun, Bennelli 1014 semi-automatic shotgun and the M4 carbine rifle.
"This was a great way to build a professional working relationship that will continue to build over the years," said 1st Lt. James E. Amberg, SCTF range officer in charge. "Both U.S. and Colombian marines enjoyed firing on unfamiliar weapons and both liked the features of their counterparts."
The Colombian marines' many years of fighting in the jungle, against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), has given them the shooting experience they bring to the range to exchange with the U.S. Marines, showing their level of proficiency and expert level of marksmanship with the various weapons.
"The purpose of the exchange was to sustain combat marksmanship training for both sides and to learn new techniques and weapon systems by handling infantry-centric weapons," said Amberg.
This was a first experience for many of the SCTF Marines to train with a military force that has already had combat experience.
"I think the U.S. Marines ended up getting more out of the range exchange than the Colombian marines," said Amberg. "We learned how to partner with a professional military force and learned new weapons systems."
At the end of the day, the Colombian marines swapped weapons with the U.S. Marines and conducted a 150-round familiarization fire with each other's weapons.
"Our presence was certainly beneficial on both sides," said Amberg. "It was fun, productive, and definitely worth while."
In addition to the marksmanship training, a small group of engineers with the SCTF spent their time in Colombia repairing one of the small arms ranges.
"The Colombian marines are grateful for what we are doing here and they finally got their range back," said Gunnery Sgt. Daniel R. Borowiecki with the SCTF. "It's nice to help someone out."
One of the three small arms ranges had damages to the berm that prevented Colombian marines from training on that particular range.
"What the U.S. Marines are doing here is very important," said Colombian marine 1st. Sgt. Raul Jose Mayor, range staff non-commissioned officer in charge. "It is very important that the civilian population is assured that the ranges are safe here."
Ten U.S. Marines with the engineer team helped establish a better relationship between the training base and local Colombian populace by building a berm to absorb the rounds coming down range.
"Every day we make our partnerships grow stronger with our allies," said Mayor. "Thanks to their hard work and dedication, the marines here can continue to train. I am very happy with the U.S. Marine Corps' presence here in Covenas, and I am appreciative of the friendships we share and the work they do."
A-SPS 11 is a United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)-directed operation implemented by Commander, United States Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO), supported by United States Marine Corps Forces, South (MARFORSOUTH) and carried out by Commander, Destroyer Squadron Four Zero (CDS40), USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and a Marine Corps Security Cooperation Task Force.
For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit COMUSNAVSO/C4F Public Affairs by email at comusnavso-c4f_mypt_pao@navy.mil, visit www.public.navy.mil/comusnavso-c4f
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For more news from Commander, U.S. Marine Forces South, visit http://www.mfs.usmc.mil/organization.htm
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For more news from Commander, U.S. Southern Command, visit http://www.southcom.mil/
For more news from U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.
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