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U.S. Naval Forces-Africa continues exercises to test movement of troops across Africa

U.S. Marines with Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Company, Europe (FASTEUR), U.S. Navy Sailors with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8 (EODMU 8), and Naval Construction Forces, the “Seabees”, Commander, Task Force - 68 (CTF-68) personnel wait to board a U.S. Air Force C-130J with the 37th Airlift Squadron in Agadez, Niger, May 8, 2021 for a joint forces readiness exercise in Mali, Africa. U.S. forces routinely conduct operational and logistics assessment exercises across regions to prepare for contingencies, exercise readiness, and identify areas of improvement. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. William Chockey)

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Photo by: Sgt. William Chockey 

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U.S. Naval Forces-Africa continues exercises to test movement of troops across Africa

U.S. Marine Security Guards with U.S. Embassy Mali conduct a simulated Close Quarters Battle (CQB) scenario during a joint forces readiness exercise with Commander, Task Force - 68 (CTF-68) at the U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali, May 8, 2021. U.S. forces routinely conduct operational and logistics assessment exercises across regions to prepare for contingencies, exercise readiness, and identify areas of improvement. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. William Chockey)

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Photo by: Sgt. William Chockey 

U.S. Sailors and Marines assigned to Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team, Europe (FASTEUR), Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Force Europe­/Africa Task Force (CTF) 68, stationed in Rota, Spain, traveled to Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger, last week to refine interoperability between U.S. component forces in Africa.

"We rapidly deploy to promote security and stability on the African continent," said U.S. Navy Capt. Cameron Chen, Commodore, Task Force 68. "This Joint Response Force deployment of FASTEUR Marines and Navy Expeditionary Combat Force Sailors to Agadez, Niger, demonstrates the highly maneuverable capabilities of our integrated Naval Expeditionary Force."

This movement continues U.S. Africa Command's series of exercises in West Africa this spring. The first two exercises were completed by troops stationed at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, and tested the command's ability to move troops quickly across the continent from east to west in support of partners throughout the region. Later exercises tested the command's ability to move quick-response forces from southern Europe to West Africa.

FASTEUR provides security to vital naval and national assets by conducting rapid response expeditionary antiterrorism and security operations for the African and European area of responsibility. CTF 68 provides explosive ordnance disposal operations, naval construction, expeditionary security, and theater security efforts in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations.