We'll Put America to Work Again

Building drones - we're going to need more.

A select group of Marines is quietly battling terrorism across a wide swath of Africa as part of the first wave of what could become a long-term mission for the Corps.

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”There are al-Qaida affiliates operating in and around this area,” said Maj. Dave Winnacker, executive officer for SPMAGTF-12. “This definitely is the next frontier as far as there is the opportunity for expansion for both ourselves and for violent extremists. Essentially, we’re trying to beat them to the punch.”

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The unit, made up mostly of reservists, is focused not on combat but rather team-building with militaries scattered throughout this region, said Winnacker.

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Rounding out the SPMAGTF are a variety of Marines from 41 other drill centers across the Reserve, plus some active-duty Marines and nine corpsmen, Winnacker said.

“Literally, we have a little bit of everything,” he said. “From mortarmen, reconnaissance men, tankers, all the way up to [explosive ordnance disposal technicians] and logisticians. … If the Marine Corps has it, we’ve probably got one of them.”

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It’s another high-profile mission for the Reserve, where new opportunities continue to emerge.

  Marine Corps Times

Yes, that’s what our marines need – more opportunities.

Although the primary mission is training foreign militaries, the Marines could also be tapped to provide limited humanitarian assistance, said Brig. Gen. Chuck Chiarotti, deputy commander of Marine Forces Africa. The Marines could also be used in a variety of missions that “could enable support of U.S. forces supporting [U.S. Africa Command and U.S. European Command] areas of operations,” Chiarotti said.

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“We’re seeing a high return on our investment,” he said. “We’ve got young [noncommissioned officers] out there that are engaging and training some of our partners in preparations for their own individual country’s missions.

What missions? Whose missions?

Winnacker is reluctant to name precisely all the places his Marines have deployed in the Trans-Sahel, citing concerns from partner nations that did not want to publicize their own missions or military needs.

Yeah, I bet.

By the end, the foreign troops were performing Marine physical training and had begun to empower more of their NCOs, just like in the Marine Corps.

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An 18-member team recently returned from a 75-day stint in West Africa. The Marines spent their deployment training troops in the country’s only logistics company. Some had never fired an AK47, their military’s primary weapon, or even driven a vehicle.

No matter. We’ll make killers out of ‘em. Just give us a few good Marines.

[Djibouti] soldiers, who had been using outdated VHS cassettes and Beta tapes to learn English, [...] now use updated computer programs.

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“Basically, we’re putting a presence in another country,” [Master Sgt. Bill] Simpson said. “We’re putting a face for the United States of America.

To put it bluntly.

What Africa needs is an American face.

Although the mission may sound relatively tame, the security risks are very real, Winnacker said. While not going into details, he confirmed “anti-terrorism force protection measures are robust” among the troops, in the event of an emergency. All missions are thoroughly vetted before boots hit the ground.

And although the mission is not about kicking in doors, it’s an important one for the longevity of African partnerships, Winnacker said.

Be patient, Winnacker. We’ll have your men kicking in doors, apparently the more important mission, as soon as we can.

Relationship building with the Africa countries is likely to remain high on the priority list for these Marines, Winnacker said.

“If you drive through the streets with your windows rolled up at a high rate of speed and honking your horn, you’re probably not going to be invited back,” he said.

And as we’ve seen elsewhere, we don’t go anywhere without an invitation.