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MIDDLE EAST (October 28, 2008) - Marines and
sailors of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit demonstrated their
interoperability with Middle Eastern counterparts at an exercise in
the Middle East Oct. 28, 2008. The 26th MEU conducted the exercise
to strengthen cooperation with regional partners.
The exercise was the culmination of several days bilateral
training the 26th MEU conducted there. The Marines trained with
their Middle Eastern counterparts at several warfighting abilities,
including combined air parachuting, Military Operations in Urban
Terrain, live-fire exercises and other infantry-level skills.
Senior military and civilian officials from both nations arrived
the morning of the 28th to observe the final exercise, or
FINEX.
Shortly after 9:30 a.m. as they looked out over several hundred
square kilometers of desert, observers were greeted by the
explosion of the "enemy" anti-air facilities, courtesy of
host-nation special forces, making way for a combined air assault
from host-nation helicopters, U.S. AV-8B Harrier jets and AH-1
Super Cobra attack helicopters from the MEU's Aviation Combat
Element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-264 (Rein).
Nearly simultaneously, a U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air-Cushioned
brought a company of host-nation Marines, who rushed forward to the
first phase-line in preparation for their combined final
attack.
With "enemy" command and control facilities destroyed by the air
assault, two support by fire positioned opened up with heavy
machine guns, Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-guided (TOW)
missiles, 81mm mortars and a variety of other weapons. The support
by fire positions knocked out enemy weapons positions and
suppressed the enemy in preparation for the next phase of the
operation.
26th MEU's Super Cobras returned, laying down suppressing fire
as seven accompanying CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters brought in Fox
Co., Battalion Landing Team 2/6, the MEU's Ground Combat Element.
The Marines landed north of their host-nation counterparts and
quickly prepared for the joint assault.
As the Sea Knights flew off, the support by fire positions
resumed their rain of fire on enemy positions and the combined
infantry assault began. Fighting side-by-side, the Marines and
host-nation Marines consolidated on the enemy position, firing
small arms, Shoulder-launched Multi-purpose Assault Weapons (SMAW),
and Rocket-Propelled Grenades until the cease-fire sounded,
indicating successful destruction of the enemy.
"These kinds of events are truly important," said 26th MEU
Commanding Officer Col. Mark J. Desens. "They demonstrate to our
friends and the world that the U.S. is a team player, willing to
train with friends and allies to strengthen both our forces and our
relationships."
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