SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Sailors conduct evacuation control center training

Scenarios help test a unit’s capability to work with the base in conducting non-combatant evacuations

By Lance Cpl. Patrick Osino , U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa Sigonella, Italy Jan 16, 2018

View Gallery

Gallery contains 9 images

U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa conducted an evacuation control center (ECC) training with base personnel at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, Nov. 17, 2017.

The training helped to test and evaluate the unit’s capability to work with the base in conducting non-combatant evacuations.

“The exercise involved getting evacuees and American citizens out of a country or area that is unstable,” said 1st Lt. David Kerkhoff, officer-in-charge of ECC operations. “ECC is meant to track and process all personnel that have been evacuated and make sure that they are accounted for.”

The ECC training included verifying identities, medical assistance, individual contraband searches, and administrative processing.

“We have to identify the categories of evacuees and move them through a number of stations for pat-down searches, administrative processing, and medical inspections before they can be evacuated safely,” said Sgt. Dominic Dady, current operations chief with the unit.

The current rotation of SPMAGTF-CR-AF worked with permanent NAS Sigonella personnel who filled roles on both sides of the simulation as evacuees and as security screeners during the training to simulate a real evacuation.

During the exercise, the role players, some who played the roles of pregnant women, highly contagious people or were disruptive, made the training more realistic. In one scenario, Marines quickly de-escalated a situation when an embassy employee was complaining about being pat down and asked many questions because he did not pose a threat.

In another scenario, one role player had a notional improvised explosive device in his luggage which the Marines conducting the search and screening were able to detect and put the person in custody for further evaluation.

At any given time the Department of State may call for the evacuation of U.S. citizens out of a foreign country facing natural disasters, political unrest or a deteriorating government. In that situation, a noncombatant evacuation operation is conducted to evacuate U.S. citizens whose lives are in danger. Once the Secretary of State approves an evacuation, the U.S. ambassador to the country has the authority to implement the plan in a crisis.

“I think we executed the training pretty well and I am confident saying that if this were to happen in a real world, we could do it successfully,” said Dady.

U.S. Forces Conduct Strikes Targeting al-Shabaab

U.S. Forces Conduct Strike Targeting ISIS-Somalia

U.S. Forces Conduct Strike Targeting al-Shabaab

Archbishop Broglio visits Djibouti to strengthen faith and partnerships

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, visited Djibouti for a multi-day engagement with religious leaders and U.S. service members. The visit highlighted the role of faith-based engagement in strengthening partnerships, fostering dialogue, and supporting U.S. service members stationed in the Horn of Africa.

Military Flight Showcases Power Projection, Supports Partner Training

U.S. Africa Command, supported by U.S. European and U.S. Strategic Commands, conducted a partner training event with the Mauritanian Air Force in Atar, Mauritania on Wednesday. U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) traveled from Vicenza, IT to Atar, Mauritania and conducted ground to air training with Mauritanian Air Force personnel.

U.S. Africa Command Change of Responsibility Marks Continued Strength in Enlisted Leadership

U.S. Africa Command hosted a Change of Responsibility ceremony formally transitioning senior enlisted leadership from U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major Michael P. Woods to U.S. Army Sergeant Major Garric M. Banfield at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, Nov. 20.

Archbishop Broglio visits Djibouti to strengthen faith and partnerships

Military Flight Showcases Power Projection, Supports Partner Training

U.S. Africa Command Change of Responsibility Marks Continued Strength in Enlisted Leadership

Archbishop Broglio visits Djibouti to strengthen faith and partnerships

Military Flight Showcases Power Projection, Supports Partner Training

U.S. Africa Command Change of Responsibility Marks Continued Strength in Enlisted Leadership

United States Africa Command

SPMAGTF-CR-AF Marines and Sailors conduct evacuation control center training

Scenarios help test a unit’s capability to work with the base in conducting non-combatant evacuations