AFRICAN LION 16: Airmen visit Moroccan counterparts for major exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Krystal Ardrey
  • AFRICAN LION 16 Public Affairs
From April 17 to 27, 2016, the U.S. Air Force along with other U.S. military branches, and Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, joined with 10 other nations in the Kingdom of Morocco for the annual exercise AFRICAN LION 2016.  

This is the second year the U.S. Air Force has participated in the exercise.  Air Force involvement helps to educate the joint and combined audience on what tools the Air Force brings to an environment like this. 

"What we are doing here is providing an [unique] perspective to the partner nations on exactly how the air component operates and how we integrate with all of the different components of air, land and sea," said Col. Joseph Prue, exercise Combined Joint Forces Air Component Command commander. "As well as how we do what we do in a multinational environment."

The exercise is also an opportunity for the U.S. to strengthen interoperability with Moroccan Royal Armed Forces to respond to a range of potential concerns, including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and peacekeeping operations.

"Interoperability is the key to successful multilateral or coalition engagement," said Maj. Gen. Timothy Zadalis, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa vice commander. "It strengthens our relations not only with Morocco, but with all the other nations that are participating. Their hosting this exercise and their incredible participation in it showcasing their military is an example for other nations; it gives them a vision of what their militaries can be in the future."

For the Airmen in AFRICAN LION 16, it comes down to learning from one another to build on capabilities for the future.

"I think the most rewarding thing is the one on one, face-to-face time we get to spend with our Moroccan counterparts, Mauritania, and other coalition partners," said Prue. "We get a good understanding of what their processes are, what their vision is, how they operate, and what their optics are on how we operate."

"The relationship between the United States and Morocco began in 1777," said Zadalis. "That relationship has done nothing but grow since that time. Morocco's leadership on the continent has been very impressive. To see their military, their government support and how the King enabled his military forces to come together as one team is tremendous."