View Gallery

Gallery contains 4 images

×

Photo 1 of 4

Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team completes first exercise in Africa

170524-N-UJ417-005 RABAT, Morocco (May 24,2017) Marine Sergeant Anthony King, first squad leader with Alpha Company 1st Platoon Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team, Company Europe (FASTEUR), oversees Moroccan Police as they execute various Close Quarters Battle techniques in Rabat, Morocco. FASTEUR was in Rabat to train with Moroccan Police and U.S. Embassy Security during the first embassy training exercise within AFRICOM to strengthen interoperability and prepare a coordinated response plan for any unforeseen emergency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Russell R. Rhodes Jr./Released)

Share:

Download image

Photo by: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Russell Ryne Rhodes Jr. 

Photo 2 of 4

Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team completes first exercise in Africa

170525-N-UJ417-150RABAT, Morocco (May 25, 2017) Marines from Alpha Company 1st Platoon Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team, Company Europe (FASTEUR), learn a traditional Moroccan dance from Moroccan police during a training exercise in Rabat, Morocco. FASTEUR was in Rabat conducting an embassy engagement exercise to strengthen interoperability with host nation response forces and prepare a coordinated response plan for any unforeseen emergency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Russell R. Rhodes Jr./Released)

Share:

Download image

Photo by: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Russell Ryne Rhodes Jr. 

Photo 3 of 4

Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team completes first exercise in Africa

170525-N-UJ417-060 RABAT, Morocco (May 25, 2017) Marine Lance Corporal Samuel Shearer, second team leader, first squad in Alpha Company 1st Platoon Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team, Company Europe (FASTEUR), forms up a column of Marines during a Non-Lethal Combatant techniques demonstration for Moroccan police in Rabat, Morocco. FASTEUR was in Rabat training with Moroccan Police during the first embassy training exercise within AFRICOM to strengthen interoperability with host nation response forces and prepare a coordinated response plan for any unforeseen emergency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Russell R. Rhodes Jr./Released)

Share:

Download image

Photo by: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Russell Ryne Rhodes Jr. 

Photo 4 of 4

Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team completes first exercise in Africa

170524-N-UJ417-011 RABAT, Morocco (May 24, 2017) Marines from Alpha Company 1st Platoon Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team, Company Europe (FASTEUR), take a break from an embassy engagement exercise with Moroccan Police to take some pictures in Rabat, Morocco. FASTEUR was in Rabat conducting an embassy training exercise to strengthen interoperability with host nation response forces and prepare a coordinated response for any unforeseen emergency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Russell R. Rhodes Jr./Released)

Share:

Download image

Photo by: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Russell Ryne Rhodes Jr. 

RABAT, Morocco – U.S. Marines from Alpha Company 1st Platoon of Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Company Europe (FASTEUR) completed the first embassy engagement training exercise in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility in Rabat, Morocco May 26, 2017.

Embassy engagement exercises allow Embassy staff members the opportunity to see the support FASTEUR would provide in an emergency and FASTEUR gains direct knowledge of how an embassy functions, which improves their capability for response and protection.

During the training engagement, FASTEUR trained with Moroccan police and the embassy’s Local Guard Force during live fire exercises, defensive tactics and medical techniques training. Embassy training engagements like these are held to prepare for a coordinated response to an unforeseen emergency, and Morocco’s on-going partnership with the United States made it an ideal environment for FASTEUR to strengthen interoperability with the host nation security, locally employed guard force, Department of State and other Embassy staff.

This is the first time FASTEUR is working in Rabat for this type of exercise.

“It’s been a year and a half workup watching my Marines grow,” said Capt. Jacob Fernandez, Alpha Company 1st Platoon Commander.  “Watching their performance and their ability to see first-hand being in an embassy and getting the realism of a full-fledged supported embassy staff to support the exercise just made the exercise go over the top and their performance was nothing less than exemplary.”

“I think that as much as we can do table top exercises, that’s essential, but you really can’t replace exercises in which everybody has to jump up from their desks and go through the motions, go to where they need to go, try to keep communication lines open, try to understand as things are going off around you how you would react,” said Stephanie Miley, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Mission to Morocco.  “The FAST team being here offered us that opportunity. There were a lot of lessons learned. Every time we do this it gives us an opportunity to improve the game and that’s what we’re looking for. The FAST team gave us an extra level of sophistication that we don’t normally have in these kinds of exercises.”

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with joint, allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.