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FAST Company Europe Completes Exercise Lisa Azul

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS170928-06
Release Date: 9/28/2017 8:40:00 AM

By Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class M. Jang, NAVSTA Rota Public Affairs

NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- Marines assigned to Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) Company Europe completed their final exercise as part of a two-week military operation training, Exercise Lisa Azul, Sept. 21.

FAST Company Europe Marines worked multilateral exercises with four other European and U.S. Marine units to promote partnership, improve interoperability and cultural understanding between the U.S., Spain and Italy. The three Marine units working together with FAST Company Europe included U.S. Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa (SPMAGTF-CR-AF) in Morn, Spain; Spanish Marines from Tercio del Sur, Brigada de Infanteria de Marina; and Italian Marines from the San Marco Regiment.

"The focus of Lisa Azul has been proficiency in infantry fundamentals and really trying to leverage the subject matter expertise of the different units that we have out here," said Capt. Edward Hickey, officer in charge of FAST Company Europe during Lisa Azul. "We're integrating the units so we can start to build working relationships and cohesion, so that when it's time to execute during the final exercise, they'll be well prepared to do that. The final exercise is going to be an application of all the skills that we've learned so far."

Exercise Lisa Azul was an opportune bi-lateral training exercise where Marines conducted live fire training at a Spanish range complex off base, performed fast rope and repelling exercises, practiced urban patrol operations and combat and building clearing procedures at various facilities on base.

"The significance of the drills are to enhance interoperability between units and increase a general understanding of different TTPs (techniques, tactics and procedures), skills sets and levels," said 1st Lt. Robert Zieser-Misenheimer, SPMAGTF-CR-AF 1st Platoon commander.

All units gathered to complete their final exercise early, Sept. 21, at 5 a.m. on a variety of tasks, which encompassed all of their training from the past two weeks.

"It's evaluating how well they've retained those skills to be able to do those things against an opposing force that we're going to be putting out there against them, and seeing how they react to that challenge of the thinking enemy going beyond the knowledge of it and more into the practical application of it," said Hickey.

Leadership from all units coordinated a barbeque the following day as a closure to the extensive training that the Marines received.

FAST Company Europe is a tenant command of Commander, Naval Expeditionary Task Force Europe and Africa. The task force is responsible for exercising tactical control and functional component command over assigned forces for the direction, control and approval of movements, maneuvers and operations necessary to accomplish Commander, 6th Fleet assigned missions and tasks.

Just as ship performs lines of operation that provide a capability, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (EURAFSWA) bases perform the same eight lines of operation to provide capability to the fleet, joint and allied forces. These eight lines of operation are air operations; port operations; safety; security; housing; Morale, Welfare and Recreation; Fleet and Family Services; and what is called the core: the fuels, water and power that keep the bases running. Through these lines of operation, the installations are force multipliers that maximize combat capability of operational units.