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Response force hones capability in air-ground integration exercise

A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey carries Army paratroopers during a North and West Africa Response Force air-ground integration exercise at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Dec. 7, 2021. Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade trained with Marine aviators of the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron - 365 in the exercise to hone the NARF's crisis response.

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Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Michael Cossaboom 

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Response force hones capability in air-ground integration exercise

U.S. Army paratroopers prepare to load a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey during a North and West Africa Response Force air-ground integration exercise at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Dec. 7, 2021. Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade trained with Marine aviators of the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron - 365 in the exercise to hone the NARF's crisis response.

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. John Yountz 

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Response force hones capability in air-ground integration exercise

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment take part in a North and West African Response Force validation exercise at Dandolo range in Pordenone, Italy on Dec. 08, 2021. The NARF utilizes 173rd Airborne Brigade’s infantry units as decisive, forward postured, quick response element for crisis related taskings in the United States Africa Command areas of responsibility.

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. John Yountz 

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Response force hones capability in air-ground integration exercise

173rd Airborne Brigade Soldiers assigned to the North and West Africa Response Force carry a simulated patient to a drop zone during an Air Ground Integration exercise at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Dec. 7, 2021. The exercise strengthened the capability of the NARF to respond to crisis and protect American interests in Africa.

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Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Michael Cossaboom 

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Response force hones capability in air-ground integration exercise

A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey lands to pick up Army paratroopers during a North and West Africa Response Force air-ground integration exercise at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Dec. 7, 2021. Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade trained with Marine aviators of the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron - 365 in the exercise to hone the NARF's crisis response.

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Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Michael Cossaboom 

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Response force hones capability in air-ground integration exercise

A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey carries Army paratroopers during a North and West Africa Response Force air-ground integration exercise at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Dec. 7, 2021. Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade trained with Marine aviators of the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron - 365 in the exercise to hone the NARF's crisis response.

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Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Michael Cossaboom 

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Response force hones capability in air-ground integration exercise

A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey carries Army paratroopers during a North and West Africa Response Force air-ground integration exercise at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Dec. 7, 2021. Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade trained with Marine aviators of the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron - 365 in the exercise to hone the NARF's crisis response.

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Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Michael Cossaboom 

Members of the U.S. Africa Command North and West Africa Response Force conducted and air-to-ground integration exercise near Aviano, Italy, Dec. 7-9.

Soldiers of the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) joined with U.S. Marines from Naval Air Station Sigonella and U.S. Airmen on drop zones near Aviano Air Base, Italy, to improve crisis response capabilities.

The training included multiple air insertion and airborne operations involving Army paratroopers aboard U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys.

"My unit's involvement has been doing CASEVAC as well as tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel," said Capt. Collin Buesser, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM-365). "We're also doing air drop with a lot of the Soldiers out here. We're trying to get involved with both the Army and the Air Force to make sure everybody is on the same page for this joint mission."

The NARF supports USAFRICOM requirement to respond to crises and contingencies on a moment's notice in North and West Africa. Regular exercises ensure the joint team's capability to marshal and deploy with a scalable force package in support of U.S. persons, facilities and interests in Africa.