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Marines conduct long-range flight into Senegal

US Marine Corps News

By Capt. Sharon A. Hyland | Marine Forces Europe and Africa | November 20, 2013

DAKAR, Senegal -- Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response completed a long-range flight demonstration of Marines from Moron, Spain, to Dakar, Senegal, November 13.

The flight totaled more than 1,500 nautical miles and consisted of more than 30 Marines from SP-MAGTF Crisis Response and SP-MAGTF Africa 13. The Marines with SP-MAGTF Africa 13 traveled to Senegal to participate in a small-boat operations and marksmanship exercise with the Senegalese military.

The event marked the first time MV-22B Ospreys arrived in West Africa and offered the Senegalese and U.S. Embassy personnel an up-close look at the tiltrotor aircraft during a static display.

Embassy officials and their families were able to interact with the Marines, ask the flight crew questions about the aircraft, and sit in the seats normally occupied by battle-ready Marines.

Once the static display was complete, SP-MAGTF Crisis Response conducted a demonstration flight for the Senegalese Minister of the Armed Forces, senior members of the Senegalese military, and the U.S. Ambassador to Senegal.

The pre-flight brief began with opening remarks from Lt.Col. Robert A. Freeland, aviation combat element commander, explaining that they planned to fly from Dakar to Thies, a commute that would take approximately an hour to drive, in about 7 minutes in the Osprey.

"This was very impressive," said U.S. Ambassador to Senegal, Lewis Lukens, after the flight, "and a great experience [for the Senegalese]."

This sentiment was shared by the Senegalese.

Minister of Armed Forces for Senegal, Augustin Tine, commented that the Osprey's power and speed validated that the aircraft is "the best of the best."

The day concluded with expressions of appreciation by both the Marines and the Senegalese.

Col. Scott Benedict, commanding officer of SP-MAGTF Crisis Response, thanked the Senegalese and the U.S. Ambassador for the opportunity to come to Senegal and demonstrate the organic aviation capabilities of the SP-MAGTF, and mentioned he looked forward to future opportunities to work with the Senegalese.

SP-MAGTF Crisis Response is a self-mobile, self-sustaining force postured in Moron, Spain. It is capable of responding to a range of crises to protect both U.S. and partner-nation security interests in the region, while also strengthening partnerships throughout the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility.