U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta visits Djibouti

U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, visited Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti . Since 2002, Djibouti – a former French colony – has played host to the only permanent U.S. military base on the African continent. Camp Lemonnier has grown steadily from a small outpost to an operation with more than 3,500 military personnel, most of them dedicated to combating terrorism in Somalia, Yemen and other countries in the region.

Panetta gave his best holiday wishes to the troops dressed in desert-camouflage but then got right to his point about Djibouti’s geographic significance: its location sandwiched between Yemen and Somalia, both of which are home to al-Qaeda networks.

Djibouti is known as a base from which the military has used drones to conduct airstrikes against terrorist targets in Yemen and Somalia. More recently, the military has also expanded drone operations from bases in Ethiopia, the Seychelles, and a secret location in the Arabian Peninsula.

U.S. Marines help train members of the Djiboutian military in combat life-saving techniques

Members of the Djiboutian military took part in exercises to increase their skills in combat life-saving techniques recently. The soldiers invited members of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to offer advice and best practices for a crucial skill in combat. Techniques in C-L-S include splinting, tourniquets, and quick bandaging during stressful situations. These skills are often crucial to saving lives on the battlefield.

APS-11 Marines Move from Jungle to Senegal Grasslands

TOUBAKOUTA, Senegal-Corporal Brandon Blackmon of second platoon, Ground Combat Element, Security Cooperation Task Force, Africa Partnership Station 2011, provides front security for the Marines and Senegalese Commandos of a combat rubber raiding craft as they conduct a beach assault training exercise, recently. The inter-military assault teams were created during the APS 2011 security cooperation partnership, in which U.S. Marines, Senegal Commandos and Nigerian Special Service Group troops train alongside one another to compare military and cultural perspectives.

APS-11 Marines Move from Jungle to Senegal Grasslands.

The Marines of second platoon, Ground Combat Element, Security Cooperation Task Force (SCTF), Africa Partnership Station 2011 recently kicked off the Senegal chapter of APS-11′s military-to-military exchanges along the west African coast. Africa Partnership Station 2011 is a U.S. Africa Command maritime security assistance program that is designed to strengthen participating nations’ maritime security capacity through multilateral collaboration and cross-border cooperation. Marine Corps Forces, Africa is supporting APS-11 with a SCTF based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. Amid countless miles of cashew trees, savannah brush and barren Senegal desert, and together with about 100 Senegalese Commandos and Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service troops, the 45-man platoon is welcoming the close of a rigorous first week of training just outside of town here. As the training regimen picks up pace, it’s apparent to the Marines that cooperation is imperative to the success of the partnership, and is easily achieved even in a culture as different as Senegal’s. “It’s interesting to see how quickly the Senegalese learn the material despite a language barrier,” said Corporal Steven Bray, an armorer attached to second platoon. “It also helps that when we’re not training, we’re still together. We’re trying their food and they’re trying ours, we talk to each other in the evenings and we train with one another all day. It makes for a great partnership,” he added. For the Marines of second platoon, who are mostly combat veterans from Iraq or Afghanistan, a deployment founded on partnership and the exchange of ideas is a welcomed reprieve from previous combat deployments. “On a combat deployment, Marines are often patrolling and engaging in firefights,” said Corporal Brandon Blackmon, an Afghanistan campaign veteran and fire team leader for first squad, second platoon. “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to take what we have learned from those experiences and bring them to the Senegalese and Nigerian military to better serve them when they go to combat.” So far, the Marines have provided periods of instruction that included fundamentals of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, intelligence gathering and analysis, foot patrolling, military operations in urban terrain, and maneuver warfare. Primarily focused on land warfare tactics, further classes will include combat marksmanship fundamentals, pistol marksmanship and static target engagement. Likewise, Senegalese and Nigerian troops are bringing forth their knowledge of combat from what they have learned from conflict in areas like the Casamance, the Congo, Darfur, and Cote D’Ivoire. ‘Riverine’ warfare is an amphibious maneuver taught by the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service that encompasses river movement in small craft, embankment landings, shore assaults, withdrawals to the river, and standard operating procedure when receiving enemy contact from shorelines. After only one week, the three nations’ militaries have come together in fostering a dynamic partnership in which Senegalese, Nigerian and Marine forces transition in leading classes and physical training. The underlying interaction between militaries, cultures and allies is what makes partnerships like these worthwhile because it promotes interoperability and fosters regional stability. “This deployment is less about the actual training [tactics, techniques, and procedures] and more about building the relationships between our militaries and between our nations,” said 1st Lieutenant Michael J. Thomas, platoon commander for second platoon and executive officer for the GCE. “The information being exchanged is helping us build a foundation that helps us understand how one another operate. New and innovative ideas are being brought up every day and the sharing of those ideas will help us all grow together,” he added. The SCTF began its deployment in Ghana in March and is slated to continue its follow-on mission at Gabon in June.

Africa Lion 2011 Military Exercise in Morocco

An M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from Company E, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, fires a round down range from its 120mm main gun during a training mission here May 22 as part of African Lion 2011. African Lion is an annually scheduled, bilateral exercise between the Kingdom of Morocco and the U.S. that involves more than 2,000 U.S. service members and approximately 900 members of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.

African Lion is an annually scheduled, bilateral U.S.-Moroccan exercise designed to promote interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation’s military tactics, techniques and procedures.

Clip below is about the Marine convoy from Agadir to Tan-Tan, Morocco.

This is the aviation refueling portion of the exercise with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 refueling exercise between a U.S. C-130 Hercules and a Moroccan aircraft.

U.S. to send predator drones to Libya

Predator Drone

The Pentagon announced yesterday that the U.S. will begin deploying armed Predator drones against Muammar al-Qaddafi’s forces in order to break the stalemate in Libya.

Rebels have welcomed the news saying the weapons will help protect civilians.  The predators can remain in the sky virtually non-stop, firing missiles unseen, and with no crewmembers at risk.  This is great importance especially since the U.S. has ruled out sending in ground forces to the conflict and allowed NATO to take over command and implementation of defending-enforcing the no-fly-zone.

USS Stout Launches Against Libya

 

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stout launches a Tomahawk missile in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn. This was one of approximately 110 cruise missiles fired from U.S. and British ships and submarines that targeted about 20 radar and anti-aircraft sites along LibyaÕs Mediterranean coast. Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. military forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeramy Spivey)

USS Barry Launches Against Libya

 

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (March. 19, 2011) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) launches a Tomahawk missile in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn. This was one of approximately 110 cruise missiles fired from U.S. and British ships and submarines that targeted about 20 radar and anti-aircraft sites along Libya’s Mediterranean coast. Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. military forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Sunderman)

Video of U.S. Navy launching Tomahawk cruise missiles into Libya

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) launches a Tomahawk missile in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn on March 19, 2011. This was one of approximately 110 cruise missiles fired from U.S. and British ships and submarines that targeted about 20 radar and anti-aircraft sites along Libya’s Mediterranean coast.

U.S. Navy conducts exercise with South African Navy

SIMON'S TOWN, South Africa - A student from the Cape Academy, a school for math and science in Cape Town, South Africa, inspects the 76 mm cannon aboard USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) during a tour of the ship as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) East February 9, 2011. APS is an international security cooperation initiative, facilitated by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, the maritime component of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.

The U.S and South Africa navies jointly conducted military exercises recently.

The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) participated in a joint-maneuvering exercise with the South African Heroine-class submarine SAS Charlotte Maxeke (S-102) off the coast of South Africa, February 10, 2011.

The exercise was part of a series of joint-training operations between South Africa and U.S. navies.

Commander Matthew Rick, commanding officer of Stephen W. Groves, stated that the exercise allowed Stephen W. Groves’ crew to test their ability to deal with real-life situations they might face during their military career.

“Training with another nation’s vessel allows the crew to execute in real time,” said Rick. “We train constantly using simulations, but having an actual submarine to train with provides hands-on experience that is unmatched in anything we can do while independent steaming. Combine that with the chance to work with the South African Navy and it was a win-win situation for both crews and nations.”

The exercise focused on close quarters maneuvering which allowed watch standers to train in vessel avoidance and contact management.

“It is extremely rare to have the opportunity to train with a foreign navy’s warship,” said South African Navy Commander Darren White, commanding officer Charlotte Maxeke. “We met every objective, and were impressed with the precision with which the crew of Stephen W. Groves handled this exercise.”

Two Stephen W. Groves sailors, Lieutenant Shane Collins and Ensign Daniel Stayton, had the unique opportunity to spend two days embarked aboard Charlotte Maxeke.

“It was really impressive to see the professionalism and efficiency with which Commander White’s crew went about their operations,” said Collins. “They were great hosts, and the whole experience is one I will treasure.”

“The crew of the Charlotte Maxeke brought us on board and helped us feel right at home,” said Stayton. “I had a great time and walked away immensely impressed with the type of operational tempo and command climate they have aboard.”

Stephen W. Groves also hosted numerous ship riders from the Charlotte Maxeke. This training was part of the U.S. Navy’s initiative to strengthen military partnership nations throughout the continent of Africa.

Importance of Global Maritime Security Stressed at AFRICOM-Hosted Conference

STUTTGART, Germany - His Excellency Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, delivers the keynote address October 13, 2010, at the beginning of the 2010 conference on Africa Maritime Safety and Security: Towards Economic Prosperity. The event brought together members of the Africa Union Commission, nearly 20 African Nations, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Defense, international agencies, and inter-governmental organizations, along with academic and private sector experts

The importance of global cooperation on maritime security has been highlighted at an Africom sponsored conference.

African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Erastus Mwencha delivered a message of widening international cooperation to a conference of African, U.S., and European partners in Stuttgart, Germany October 13, 2010, during a speech focused on opportunities and challenges of Africa’s maritime domain.The two-day Conference on Maritime Safety and Security: Towards Economic Prosperity, co-sponsored by the U.S. Departments of State and Defense and hosted by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), concentrates on forging partnerships, identifying projects that support maritime security activities, and strengthening collaborative strategies.This international event brings together more than 170 participants representing the African Union Commission, nearly 20 African nations, U.S. government agencies, international and inter-governmental organizations, along with academic and private sector experts. The goal is to provide a forum for interaction among African and U.S. policymakers and non-traditional maritime safety and security stakeholders to identify and discuss common cross-sector maritime security strategies for sustained capacity building and economic development, according to conference organizers.

With maritime challenges growing each year off Africa’s coasts, Mwencha emphasized the importance of international partners in developing a strategy to tackle issues that affect not only Africa, but also the world. These include piracy, illegal fishing, environmental crimes, human trafficking, terrorism, oil theft and arms and drug smuggling. “These are crimes of a global nature,” Mwencha said. “Without a concerted effort by the global community, the health of Africa’s oceans and most significant inland waterways will be irreversibly damaged.” Mwencha delivered the conference’s keynote address. “Any threat can gradually undermine the security of an individual, a state or society and, at a greater level, the security of a whole region or the international trade, as is the case with the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia today,” Mwencha said. “When these threats undermine the security of all these categories, there is obviously a need for action.” Among challenges in Africa, piracy has been a topic highlighted frequently in the media; however, it was not a main issue at the conference.

Event organizers said the conference was more focused on long-term strategies for land-based matters – the root of maritime problems that include piracy. A key aspect in the African Union’s (AU) plan is educating the international community on Africa’s issues to gain knowledge and support. “Until there is true understanding of the strategic importance of Africa’s domain, vulnerabilities will continue to grow,” Mwencha said. U.S. Africa Command supports the totality of Africa’s efforts, said General William E. Ward, AFRICOM commander. “The conference is a way to help us synchronize (and) coordinate the activities that we’re doing … to complement, support and then cause a greater effect overall to be achieved, as the nations of Africa works to increase their ability to provide security over their maritime domain,” Ward said. Command initiatives such as Africa Partnership Station (APS) and the African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership program (AMLEP) aim to enable African partners to build their maritime security capacity and improve management of their maritime environment through training and real-world collaboration.

APS began in 2007 with one U.S. Navy ship working with the nations of the west coast of Africa, providing tailored training, exercises, education, and maintenance activities and partnership opportunities. It is now beginning its fifth cycle, features an international staff, and has expanded to the east coast of Africa. It is an international program, with 26 nations participating, including seven European partners, some of which sail under the APS banner.

The next step in African maritime security is to develop and implement Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy, which Ambassador Johnnie Carson, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, said will consist of an integrated framework that includes all aspects of maritime security and seeks to incorporate all stakeholders at the regional, national and international levels to work together for capacity to secure Africa and its waters. Carson, along with Ward and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Vicki Huddleston, provided the opening remarks at the first session of the conference. Mwencha emphasized that a collaborative, multi-layered effort of all stakeholders will result in enhanced maritime security, leading to reduced revenue losses and increased benefits. “These increased benefits,” Mwencha said, “will positively contribute to environmental and socio-economic development, as well as increased national, regional and continental stability, and by the same token, make a substantive contribution to global security.”

This is a continuation of Africom’s public diplomacy to engage institutions in and around Africa on African security threats and perceptions.  Here is a previous post were Gen. Kip Ward, Commander of U.S. Africa, talks about partnership, security and stability during a military strategy forum held last July.