AFRICOM, USAFE leaders check in on African Lion

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Eboni Reams
  • United States Air Forces in Europe
BEN GUERIR AIR BASE, Morocco --  The Africa Command commander as well as the United States Air Forces in Europe- U. S, Air Forces in Africa commander visited Ben Guerir Air Base to connect with partners and speak to U.S. and Moroccan Airmen participating in the joint coalition Exercise African Lion here.

African Lion is a U.S. Marine Corps led exercise emphasizing interoperability and partnership with some of the oldest U.S. allies: Royal Moroccan Air Force.

"The [Royal] Moroccan Air Force has great air capability," said Gen. Frank Gorenc, USAFE-AFAFRICA commander. "We always look for opportunities to share tactics, techniques, and procedures and develop our interoperability and the fact that we're doing it inside of a joint exercise makes it that much more important."

The RMAF hosted the two-week long exercise welcoming complete integration between U.S. and Moroccan pilots.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for the Air Forces to integrate with not only our coalition partner but also our joint partners."

Both U.S. and Royal Moroccan Air Forces are flying F-16 Fighting Falcons for the air training exercise portion of African Lion. Gorenc shared his view of the importance of this event.

"We don't know what challenges are going to presented in the future," said Gorenc. "When those challenges are presented it sure would great to be interoperable and develop an effective capability from the air."

Gen Gorenc along with other USAFE-AFAFRICA leadership visited with Airmen, recognized outstanding performance and highlighted innovation.

"We are proud of what you all are doing here," said Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force commander. "Keep up the good work."

Dwight Bush, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco also expressed his gratitude and welcomed the Airmen to Morocco.

The unit supporting the air training exercise portion of African Lion 15 will continue flying operations until May 22.

Gorenc summed up the joint coalition exercise with one statement.

"We are stronger together."