About 350 Marines and Sailors from 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and about 150 soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) trained together July 17-21 for exercise Noble Shirley 16, a bi-lateral training exercise held annually in Israel.“Noble Shirley 16 is a U.S. and Israeli exercise designed to strengthen and sustain partnerships between two countries,” said Maj. Chris Niedziocha, executive officer for Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd MEU.The 22nd MEU service members offloaded July 17 from the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD-17) and were transported inland to a training area in western Israel. Training began the next day with a simulated integrated assault on a massive urban

The Marines and Sailors volunteered more than six hours, assembling a fence, landscaping, painting and fixing irrigation canals. The language barrier aside, the servicemembers and local Italians worked together in what Staff Sgt. Robert Schmitt described as “an impressive transformation, and one of my most gratifying experiences.” He added, “I’ve participated in a lot of COMRELs, most in Japan and one in Senegal. This one was the most labor-intensive. I saw eye-to-eye with the staff. They really care for these kids, and we respected that.”The school staff showed their appreciation by presenting a lunch of pasta, sausage, bread, fruit and pastries for the service members. “These guys really helped out. We would not have been able to complete

Breaking down language barriers is what happened when U.S. Marines and Sailors worked with their Moroccan counterparts to complete the first exercise of their deployment.U.S. Marines and Sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) trained with Moroccan military members during Exercise African Sea Lion from July 10-12, 2016 off the coast of the North-African nation.Several dozen Moroccans came aboard Wasp to discuss planning and tactics with infantry leaders from the MEU’s Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.Lance Cpl. Kerns Tham served as a translator for his platoon, helping the Moroccan forces understand the mission and their roles in

United Kingdom Royal Marines from 42 Commando Royal Marine Unit, Juliet Company, boarded the amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD-41) and met with U.S. Marines and Sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) July 7 – 10, 2016 in order to improve interoperability between U.S. and United Kingdom military forces.British Royal Marines, much like U.S. Marines, take tremendous pride in their history. King Charles II established the Royal Marines on October 28, 1664 during the beginning of the Second Dutch War to serve as the Royal Navy’s amphibious infantry troops. In order to become a Royal Marine, recruits have to go through 32 weeks of physically and mentally demanding training in the inhospitable terrain of Dartmoor,

Marines and Sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the USS Wasp (LHD-1), and Amphibious Squadron Six (PHIBRON-6), successfully completed Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), May 22, 2016.COMPTUEX is the culminating event of the 22nd MEU’s pre-deployment training program (PTP), a rigorous cycle of training courses and unit-level exercises designed to prepare and certify the MEU for the mission essential tasks it may be called upon to perform during its upcoming deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.Whether executing a large scale, multi-ship, targeted amphibious raid on a simulated enemy position or bringing desperately needed water and relief supplies to notionally starving masses of displaced

Members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Female Engagement Team (FET) steeled themselves before one of the most painful training sessions the Marine Corps holds: receiving a level one exposure of oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray.The Marines attended non-lethal weapons training March 28 to April 1, 2016 aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as part of their rigorous training schedule before an upcoming deployment.“If you are really physically fit and your knowledge base is high they are going to pick you for the team,” said Sgt. Lauren Fiero, a FET member. “They pick the highest qualified to be on the FET.”FETs originated during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and their mission has been evolving since. “What the FET