Spanish and U.S. Marines train together in Rota Naval Base

In the course of three days, ‘CADEX 1502’ exercise has been conducted in Rota Naval Base with participation of a rifle platoon from the US Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Africa (SPMAGTF-CR-AF) currently stationed in Morón Air Base; two platoons from the US Fleet Antiterrorist Security Team – Europe (FASTEUR), deployed in Rota Naval Base and the Spanish Marine Corps 7th Company from the 2nd ‘Tercio de Armada’ Landing Battalion.

The exercise included three stages of intense and combined training programs on tactics, techniques and procedures in a high intensity combat environment. The first stage focused on day/night fast-rope air assault insertion techniques from MV-22 ‘Osprey’ tilt-rotor aircraft. The second stage aimed at physical-military training and integration of the different units in a 10-kilometer cross-country obstacle course race with combat equipment. The third stage was an urban warfare Close Quarter Battle-type exercise.

These collaborations and exercises between the Spanish and US Marine Corps are ever more frequent since the SMAGTF deployed in Morón Air Base. Those two Services have a common amphibious and expeditionary spirit with similar combat concepts and techniques.