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Eastern Maverick

Exercise Eastern Maverick is intended to strengthen relationships between the United States and Qatar, show the US commitment to the nation of Qatar and strengthen military inter-operability between the two nations. One of the major goals of the exercise is to get to know, at every level, counterparts in the Qatari air and ground forces.

USS Essex Amphibious Task Group and 11TH Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted Exercise Eastern Maverick 97-1 with the Emirate of Qatar. The amphibious combined arms training exercise was part of an ongoing, bilateral exercise program between the two military forces. The crew also hosted Crown Prince of Qatar and Deputy Emir Sheik Jassim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. The crown prince, tank platoon commander, also viewed Marine sniper platoon techniques and other aspects of Marine ground force operations. Operating in the Arabian Gulf, the USS ESSEX (LHD 2) Amphibious Task Group (ATG) was involved in bi-lateral exercises with several regional nations. Exercise Eastern Maverick combined the Essex ATG with military units from Qatar from Dec. 14 to 18, 1996. The exercise enhanced the ability of U.S. and Qatari forces to conduct joint and combined operations, demonstrated the ATG's amphibious capabilities and provided training opportunities for Qatari forces.

The Marines from Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines participated in exercise Eastern Maverick from April 18-23, 1998, conducted by 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

As temperatures heat up in the Arabian Gulf, so did the operational tempo of 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Following nearly one month of sustainment training in Kuwait, Marines and sailors of the Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group participated in Operation Eastern Maverick April 18-23. The exercise began only two days after the ARG left Kuwait and was conducted jointly with Qatari armed forces. One of the units which participated in the exercise was C Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines. The infantry company is 11th MEU (SOC)'s designated heliborne assault company and had two opportunities to fly from ship to shore during the training period. The first time ashore April 19 was a rehearsal for what was to happen four days later. Both occasions were for the same mission -- to fly ashore and establish a blocking position to facilitate the Qataris' ability to protect their own coast. In this scenario, the Marines played the role of the opposing force.

As helicopter blades cut through the hot and humid air on the flight deck of the USS Tarawa, C Co. Marines boarded their respective aircraft, and shortly after were en route to their landing zone. Upon touching down at their destination, the Marines charged out of the helicopters amidst clouds of dust from the helicopters' rotor wash and quickly fanned out to establish defensive positions on sun-bleached, rocky terrain. As planned, the Marines then began their movement to a pre-designated landing zone where they set up a hasty defense to repel the impending Qatari counterattack. Helicopters of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) responded quickly, returning C Co. safely to USS Tarawa.

The opportunity to do it twice gave a chance to execute it once, come back and take some mental notes, apply that to the planning process for the second time and execute again. The chance to go in twice in such a short period for the same type of mission was of great benefit to Marines. Because there are so many different working parts, you don't normally get to do heliborne operations once, and then do it over again a few days later. Usually, you'll go out on an exercise, come back and write down critique notes, and apply those things the next time you go out which may be four weeks later. This was four days later, so they got to turn right around, do it again, and apply those things that we noted from the first time out.

Other 11th MEU (SOC) participants in Eastern Maverick included A and B companies, the designated boat and amphibious tracked vehicle companies respectively; C Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion; 3rd Platoon, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company; and reconnaissance and surveillance elements from the Battalion Landing Team.

In March 2002 Marines and Sailors of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) got to stretch their legs and spin their tracks in the deserts of Qatar at the Al Qala'il Training Area. Exercise Eastern Maverick was an 11-day amphibious exercise that focused on mechanized operations with the Qatari Armed Forces.

The joint training was executed with a regimental-size Qatari force of tank, weapons, anti-armor, mechanized, reconnaissance, and combat support companies and an artillery battery of 120mm mortars, called the Tariq Battalion. The 13th MEU (SOC) added an Assault Amphibian Vehicle Platoon, Reconnaissance Platoon and Company B from Battalion Landing Team 1/4, as well as support Marines from each of the 13th MEU (SOC) elements to the mix. The exercise marked the first time AAVs and B Co. have participated in mechanized, bilateral amphibious training during Western Pacific 02-1 deployment.

The terrain, focus on core capabilities in the training and constant action within the schedule allowed AAVs to complete a maximum amount of training, compared to compressing 90 days of field time at home into 10 days in Qatar. The platoon found time to work on platoon- and section-level offensive and defensive tactics for day and night movements, fired more than 13,000 rounds from the vehicles' heavy machine guns, and provided some of the troop transport for the offload and backload of the exercise. The AAVS, or tracks, were also an important transportation asset for moving Marines to various ranges throughout the training area.

The open desert terrain not only put distance between the ranges, it provided an arena for large-scale bilateral training. Offensive and defensive mechanized operations stretched Qatari tanks, anti-armored vehicles, and mechanized infantry and 13th MEU (SOC)'s AAV Plt. and B Co. across a more than one-mile-long front for joint training. On a smaller scale, Marines and Qatari military personnel exchanged information to enhance their military-to-military relationships. On the second evening of training, each force displayed weapons and equipment and provided a brief summary of capabilities followed by a period of questions and answers.

Several unilateral training events conducted by Bravo Co. and BLT Recon were also woven into the condensed exercise, highlighted by live-fire training, squad and platoon attacks and immediate action drills. The live-fire training exposed Marines to battlefield movement under simulated mortar fire and suppressive machine gun fire while honing their coordination skills with the AAV platoon. The Marines fired small arms, medium and heavy machine guns, 60mm mortars and grenade launchers. Small demolitions were also used during several events.