Marine Platoon Works With Jordanian Armed Forces

By Marine Corps Cpl. Michael S. Lockett
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit

AL QUWEIRA, Jordan, June 14, 2013 – Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s amphibious assault vehicle platoon had its first bilateral training event of Exercise Eager Lion 2013 here June 12, conducting a live-fire shoot in their AAVs with members of the Jordanian armed forces in their own light armored mechanized vehicles.

Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s amphibious assault vehicle platoon order their vehicles for transport to the training area after conducting an amphibious landing on the coast of Jordan as part of Exercise Eager Lion, June 6, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael S. Lockett   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

“In any training event, one of the major end states is that we build relationships and the understanding that we’re not just building military skills, but also establishing rapport on a personal and professional level,” said Marine Corps Capt. Jonathan Riebe, the platoon’s commander.

“I think it’s important that we take part in these multinational operations in order to share methods on how we maintain our military and how we employ our military,” added Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Michael Conners, platoon sergeant.

Eager Lion has proven to be more than just a yearly exercise in the high deserts of Jordan involving service members from the United States, Jordan and other partner nations, Riebe said. It is a significant training exercise solidifying already strong partnerships, he added.

“Jordan has been a partner of ours, supporting us through Operation Enduring Freedom,” Riebe said. “Eager Lion is an annual training exercise with the Jordanians … to strengthen our military and political ties and foster a friendly relationship in the area.”

The platoon’s Marines are focusing their training by tailoring to their Jordanian hosts and thoroughly observing the Jordanian skillsets.

“We’re approaching the training in a logical fashion [by] really getting the host nation’s input on what they’re trying to get out of the training,” Riebe explained. “We’re adapting the assets we have to give them the training [that will most benefit them].”

The Marines of AAV Platoon and the rest of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will be in Jordan for the remainder of Eager Lion, training with their Jordanian and United Kingdom counterparts.