Sierra Del Retin, Spain -- Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted external lift training with Spanish Marines at the Sierra Del Retin Training Center, Spain, June 23, 2011.
Marines and sailors with the 22nd MEU recently conducted bilateral training with Spanish Marines as part of the Spanish Amphibious Bilateral Exercise, also known as Spanish PHIBLEX 2011.
Marines and Spanish Marines coupled pallets of cargo underneath a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced). Marines, American and Spanish, took away an experience only found in bilateral training by the end of the night.
“It’s a good experience to share knowledge with the American Marines,” said Cpl. Oscar Gonzalez, a landing support specialist with the Spanish Marines. “We were comparing knowledge, learning how each service operates.”
The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group serving as a flexible, formidable and potent force who continues to train and improve their capability to operate as a cohesive and effective Marine Air Ground Task Force.
The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force, commanded by Col. Eric J. Steidl and comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element.
Marine Expeditionary Units are the Marine Corps' smallest permanent Marine Air-Ground Task Force, and comprised of approximately 2,200 Marines and sailors ready to provide immediate response to a hostile environment or crisis.