Service Members Establish Early Communications for Exercise African Lion 12

Service members with the joint communications support element provided rapid response communications capabilities to exercise coordinators during African Lion in Agadir, Morocco, April 7-18, 2012.<br />



By US AFRICOM Public Affairs U.S. Marine Forces Africa AGADIR, Morocco Apr 10, 2012
Service members with the joint communications support element provided rapid response communications capabilities to exercise coordinators during African Lion in Agadir, Morocco, April 7-18, 2012.



First executed in 2008, Exercise African Lion is an annual, bilateral endeavor, designed to increase interoperability between the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and the U.S. military during civil and military training operations.



Service members came from all branches of the U.S. military to work in the Deployable Joint Command and Control program providing communications capabilities to conventional U.S. forces and government agencies deployed overseas, said Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Jorgensen, a communications team non-commissioned officer-in-charge with the Joint Communications Support Element attached to Task Force African Lion.



During the final planning and personnel reception phase of the exercise, soldiers and Marines with the JCSE provided non-classified internet protocol router, secret internet protocol router, phone and video teleconference services.



In order to do so effectively, they utilized Rapid Response Kits, which come equipped with everything needed to supply robust communications, such as satellite terminals, laptops, routers, switches, phones, ethernet and power cords.



"You can only do so much using just cell phones in an international capacity," said Army Staff Sergeant Mike Pich, a communications chief with the JCSE attached to Task Force African Lion. "Our Rapid Response Kits allow leadership in Morocco to communicate with logistics coordinators at the ports and command leadership at higher headquarters in the U.S. It also provides a moral boost by allowing them to view their personal email accounts.



Four Rapid Response Kits are being used in different locations in Morocco in support of AF-12.



"The kits are meant to serve as a means to communicate before the command operations center can be established," Pich added.



See also: Last Marines Land, Prepare to Begin Field Training at African Lion 2012





More in Media Room
U.S. Africa Command Conducts Change of Command Ceremony
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) held a Change of Command ceremony August 15 at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, as Marine Corps General Michael E. Langley formally transferred command to Air Force General Dagvin R.M. Anderson.
Read more
AFRICOM and Kenya Defence forces issue first-ever African chiefs of defense joint communiqué, setting course for continental security opportunities
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have formally released the first Joint Communiqué to emerge from the African Chiefs of Defense Conference (ACHOD), marking a new phase of coordinated action among African and international defense leaders.
Read more
U.S. Africa Command Quarterly Civilian Harm Assessment Report
Read more
More in Media Room
U.S. Africa Command Conducts Change of Command Ceremony
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) held a Change of Command ceremony August 15 at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, as Marine Corps General Michael E. Langley formally transferred command to Air Force General Dagvin R.M. Anderson.
Read more
AFRICOM and Kenya Defence forces issue first-ever African chiefs of defense joint communiqué, setting course for continental security opportunities
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have formally released the first Joint Communiqué to emerge from the African Chiefs of Defense Conference (ACHOD), marking a new phase of coordinated action among African and international defense leaders.
Read more
U.S. Africa Command Quarterly Civilian Harm Assessment Report
Read more
More in Media Room
U.S. Africa Command Conducts Change of Command Ceremony
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) held a Change of Command ceremony August 15 at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, as Marine Corps General Michael E. Langley formally transferred command to Air Force General Dagvin R.M. Anderson.
Read more
AFRICOM and Kenya Defence forces issue first-ever African chiefs of defense joint communiqué, setting course for continental security opportunities
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have formally released the first Joint Communiqué to emerge from the African Chiefs of Defense Conference (ACHOD), marking a new phase of coordinated action among African and international defense leaders.
Read more
U.S. Africa Command Quarterly Civilian Harm Assessment Report
Read more