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Infinite Moonlight

Infinite Moonlight is part of the ongoing bilateral exercise program between the United States military forces of U.S. Central Command and the military forces of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Infinite Moonlight '96

The United States and Jordan began a three-week series of military exercises in June and July code-named "Infinite Moonlight '96," one part of a series of joint U.S. and Arab military exercises conducted throughout the region by troops from the United States Central Command. Exercise Infinite Moonlight '96 was a combined exercise between the 13th MEU(SOC) and Jordanian armed forces.

Some 4,000 U.S. servicemen arrived in Aqaba on June 21 on board the USS Tarawa, USS Duluth and USS Rushmore. An estimated 2,800 U.S. and Jordanian soldiers took part in the desert warfare exercises held in Qatrana, 80 kilometers south of Amman. These maneuvers follow the no-cost lease of U.S. F-16s to Jordan and the stationing of a U.S. Air Expeditionary Force in Jordan earlier in the year.

Infinite Moonlight '97

Marines and Sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), and soldiers from the Royal Jordanian Army completed Exercise Infinite Moonlight '97 June 19. The annual, month-long, bilateral, combined arms training exercise was the 15th MEU(SOC)'s first training exercise during its current six-month deployment. The exercise was intended to increase military training opportunities and enhance the relationship between U.S. Naval amphibious forces and the Royal Jordanian armed forces.

It gave the infantry companies a chance to conduct lots of live fire while the platoons worked together toward one mission. Also, it was a great chance for all the supporting arms elements to get involved in a large-scale operation.

Infinite Moonlight began with joint training at the small unit level. From there, the infantry companies from Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment conducted independent training designed to work the companies as a whole. The training included helicopter and mechanized assault courses. Overall, the Marines fired nearly 700,000 rounds of ammunition, from rifle bullets to artillery shells. This exercise meant conducting a lot of training the Marines would never have the opportunity for in the US.

The live-fire mechanized assault course posed one of the biggest challenges for some Marines, especially when they tackled it in the dark. It takes a lot of concentration to handle the confusion during a live-fire attack. Doing this at night takes a lot of energy. The exercise culminated with a combined, live-fire attack where Jordanian tanks and infantry worked alongside the Marines.

The U.S. Ambassador to Jordan, Wesley Egan, had witnessed the past three Infinite Moonlight exercises, and said he "recognizes its efforts in building a strong military-to-military relationship" between the U.S. and Jordan. He also said the exercise has significantly contributed to U.S./Jordan relations.

Infinite Moonlight '98

Sailors and Marines of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and members of the Jordanian Armed Forces conducted a combined-joint field training exercise known as Infinite Moonlight 98 in Jordan. The exercise, scheduled for May 14 to June 15, 1998, was designed to demonstrate U.S. commitment to regional security and provide increased interoperability between U.S. Naval amphibious forces and Jordanian armed forces. The exercise also included medical and dental civic action projects to benefit the civilian populace.

A similar live-fire exercise in 1997, involving 1,500 Americans and a similar number of Jordanians, was held in the desert town of Qatrana, 120 kilometers south of Amman.

The Jordan News Agency, Petra, said that the exercises are held to help raise the efficiency and skills of the Jordanian Armed Forces, enable these forces to gain combat experience and learn about advanced and modern military equipment. Since Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, Washington has donated $300 million worth of military supplies, including 16 F-16 jet fighters, tanks and helicopters to the Kingdom. American forces conduct joint exercises with several Arab countries, including Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. Commander for Infinite Moonlight 98 was Vice Admiral Thomas Fargo, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet, under the direction of USCINCCENT. Approximately 4,000 sailors and Marines participated in the exercise, of these, approximately 1,400 U.S. personnel will participate in the training ashore. The following U.S. military units took part in Infinite Moonlight 98: The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Camp Pendleton, California, Amphibious Squadron Three embarked upon the USS Tarawa, the USS Denver and the USS Mount Vernon, all of which have San Diego, California as their home port. Training activities were conducted by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps units and units of the Royal Jordanian Armed Forces. Training included squad and platoon level tactics, fire support coordination and battle skills sustainment. Some of the U.S. military units, that took part in Infinite Moonlight came from Kuwait and Qatar, where they participated in similar exercises.

Marines and sailors of 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) hit the ground running 20 May 1998, kicking off exercise Infinite Moonlight 98. Infinite Moonlight 98 paired units of 11th MEU (SOC) with units of the Royal Jordanian Army for 18 days of training in the vast desert of Jordan. With more than half of their six-month deployment complete, infantrymen with B Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, trained like a well-oiled machine during Infinite Moonlight 98 -- the MEU (SOC)'s largest and final scheduled training exercise of the deployment.

One day after arriving at the desert training site of Al Qatranah, B Company began a fast-paced training schedule including squad-, platoon- and company-level assault tactics combined with live firing of various weapons systems. Excellent range facilities for weapons firing near 11th MEU (SOC)'s base camp in the desert allowed the units to "go hot" with their weaponry during the training. The unit incorporated live fire with a variety of weapons into their squad and platoon tactical training including the Mossburg 12-gauge shotgun, M-203 grenade launcher, M-67 fragmentation grenade, M-16A2 service rifle, M-9 pistol and AT-4 rocket launcher. After a familiarization fire with the shotgun, the Marines utilized it and other weapons in bunker-clearing drills. Teams of four Marines armed themselves with the shotgun, M-16 and grenades to clear the bunkers. The shotgun is a weapon many of the Marines had never trained with in the field.

In addition to bunker clearing, the platoons of B Company also practiced live-fire assaults. The Marines fired and moved over several hundred meters of terrain utilizing the M-16, M-203 and AT-4 all during one assault. This range allowed the most realistic training the Marines had so far (this deployment). It allowed the Marines to combine live fire with the tactics they've practiced all along. For several of the training evolutions, Jordanian soldiers with the Royal Army's 3rd Battalion, 9th Brigade, 5th Armored Division, joined the Marines of B Company.

One successful training scenario for 1st platoon C Company, Light Armored Reconnaissance was an attack dubbed Deep Strike. The Deep Strike scenario called for the platoon to insert behind enemy lines and attack key enemy logistics centers in the rear. The mission began when the platoon's four LAVs moved into a position allowing the scouts to observe the enemy's base camp. After several days of observation and detailed reporting to the platoon commander, a mission was planned to ambush an enemy convoy leaving the logistics center, followed by an attack on the logistics center. First, Marine scouts from the vehicles were deployed in flanking positions on either side of a valley, poised to initiate the attack by destroying both the lead and rear vehicles with Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapons. For training purposes, a series of targets were placed in the valley, representing the convoy. The scouts took positions overlooking the valley while, behind them, two LAVs waited in a hidden position out of sight to the approaching convoy. As soon as the scouts engaged the convoy with the SMAWs, the LAR Marines drove over the hill and finished the job with their deadly 25 mm cannon fire. Simultaneously, as the convoy was engaged, the platoon's other two LAVs engaged the enemy logistics center with their 25 mm cannons. As soon as the convoy was destroyed, the scouts returned to their vehicles and moved out to support the attack on the base camp. On the way to the base camp, the LAV Marines sighted an enemy forward resupply point which they successfully engaged from 2,000 yards with a TOW missile. After destroying the resupply point, the two LAVs joined in on the base camp attack. "Four LAVs on-line, firing at one target is pretty exciting."

Infinite Moonlight '00

After the Christmas and New Years Holiday the Marines and Sailors of the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 3/6 returned aboard ship. The 22 Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) now headed for the deserts of Jordan for its last exercise. This exercise was based out of Northern Jordan. This would be the last chance for the Marines to train as a BLT.

On 20 January 2000 the 22 MEU chopped to LF5F for the next month. The ships pulled into Jordan where they would remain until the completion of the exercise. Convoys were planned over a 3 day period starting on the 24th of January. For force protection reasons, the Sparrow Hawk was stood up as the convoys made their way to the Base Camp. Fortunately, the BLT arrived safely at the Base Camp. The S-4 and Marine Service Support Group (MSSG) already had the Chow Hall and other facilities up and running when the main body arrived. The first few days were spent getting familiar with the ranges and the particular procedures associated with each one. Each Company went to a range and had the opportunity to fire their organic weapons and practice Company level tactics. The Jordanians also joined our units while they were conducting this training. From mechanized to ground attacks bilateral training was conducted for the next week.

On the 30th and 31st of January a Heliborne Assault Course (HAC) was conducted on Range 4. On the 30th India Company along with a Jordanian company completed rehearsals in preparation for the HAC. Both Fixed Wing (FW) and Rotary Wing (RW) aircraft flew sorties in supported the exercise. Bravo Battery started the assault with a ten minute prep fire. FW and RW dropped ordnance on the objective and finally 81's provided the cover fire for the ground units. The Companies were inserted and moved into a fire area on the objective. India Company provided the base of fire while the Jordanians attacked from the south, negotiated obstacles and ultimately secured the objective. On the 31st the actual HAC commenced. Pre-Fires began as scheduled. While the helicopters were in a holding area to the east, a Cobra was struck by a bird, which damaged the aircraft. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and crashed into the desert floor. The aircraft was destroyed, but the pilots survived with only minor injuries. The rest of the HAC was cancelled, which allowed time for the ACE to determine the cause of the mishap. The Prince of Jordan attended this demonstration, and expressed his relief when hearing that the pilots were well.

The next major event was the Final Exercise (FINEX), on the 5th of February. The 4th was a rehearsal and the 5th was the actual FINEX. The attack included one Mechanized and one Helicopter Company from each country. Once again the Prince of Jordan was in attendance. This exercise combined the training of the previous week and a half into one mission. Every asset in the Battalion and the Air Combat Element (ACE) was coordinated and used in this attack. Prep fires by Bravo Battery commenced at 0957 on an Air Defense site (ADA). The 81's started to fire on Objective "A". With precise timing the Battery ceased fire and a section of Harriers followed by a section of Jordanian F-5 dropped ordnance on the ADA site. A Cobra Division consisting of two Marine and two Jordanian helicopters attacked Objective "C" with rockets and guns. At H-hour the ground package was inserted by helicopters to the west of Objective "A". FW and RW players continued with two more passed on there respective targets. Once all of the air was off station the 81's shifted to Objective "C" to provide cover fire for the mechanized units as they moved into position. M1A1s and LAVs along with Jordanian tanks attacked objective "C". At 1035, after objective "A" was secured a base of fire was provided on Objective "B" by India Company. A Mechanized Company from the BLT and Jordan attacked Objective "B" and "C" respectively. By 1130 the Attack was complete with all objectives secured. The Marines returned to the Base Camp to make preparations for their return to ARG Shipping.

With Exercise Infinite Moonlight '00 complete, a medical group from 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) or 22nd MEU (SOC) and Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, or Bataan ARG, had time to reflect upon the training they experienced in the cold, desert sand of Jordan. The medical team interacted with Jordanian civilians and military as they conducted a Medical and Dental Civil Assistance Program (MedCAP/DenCAP) in various locations around Jordan. Physicians, hospital corpsmen, dentists and technicians came from MEU Service Support Group-22 (MSSG-22); 22nd MEU (SOC)'s command element and the Bataan ARG. The Jordanians had a similar medical unit. Every morning for five days, the American medical group joined its Jordanian colleagues to visit various schools around Aqaba and Al Qatranah during two phases of the exercise. The medical team turned cinder block schools into makeshift "sick call" wards.

Infinite Moonlight '01

On 07 June 2001, The Navy/Marine Corps team of the CLEVELAND (LPD 7) anchored out in the Red Sea just off the coast of Saudi Arabia, to conduct exercise RED REEF. During RED REEF, the crew of the CLEVELAND was able to hold training operations with the Saudi Arabian government. After finishing training RED REEF, the CLEVELAND pulled up anchor and set off east towards Jordan. The CLEVELAND pulled into Aqaba, Jordan on June 22, ready to conduct the much-anticipated exercise Infinite Moonlight. Infinite Moonlight is an important exercise that the Marine units conduct each year with the Jordanian government. Infinite Moonlight not only helps U.S. forces and Jordanian forces with their training, but it also helps improve foreign relations with Jordan, one of the U.S.'s biggest allies in the Middle East. However, due to the entire Fifth Fleet being placed on Threat COM Delta, the BOXER ARG had to pull out of Jordan and abort the planned exercise.

Infinite Moonlight '02

Join US-Jordan military exercises began 12 August 2002 in the southern desert part of the country amid heightened tensions over a possible pre-emptive US attack on Iraq. But the undisclosed number of US Marines who landed offshore from two vessels docked at the Red Sea port of Aqaba were engaged in pre-scheduled annual training that was not linked to any possible US military assault against Iraq. The US forces left after the conclusion of the two-week training period.