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AGADIR, Morocco - U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Jorgensen, a non-commissioned officer with the joint communications support element and Sergeant Zach Pooler, a joint movement control center operator with 4th Marine Regiment, work on establishing provided non-classified internet protocol router, secret internet protocol router, phone and video teleconference services for Exercise African Lion, April 7-18, 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Kris Daberkoe)

AGADIR, Morocco, 

Apr 10, 2012 — Service members with the joint communications support element provided rapid response communications capabilities to exercise coordinators during African Lion in Agadir, Morocco, April 7-18, 2012.

First executed in 2008, Exercise African Lion is an annual, bilateral endeavor, designed to increase interoperability between the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and the U.S. military during civil and military training operations.

Service members came from all branches of the U.S. military to work in the Deployable Joint Command and Control program providing communications capabilities to conventional U.S. forces and government agencies deployed overseas, said Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Jorgensen, a communications team non-commissioned officer-in-charge with the Joint Communications Support Element attached to Task Force African Lion.

During the final planning and personnel reception phase of the exercise, soldiers and Marines with the JCSE provided non-classified internet protocol router, secret internet protocol router, phone and video teleconference services.

In order to do so effectively, they utilized Rapid Response Kits, which come equipped with everything needed to supply robust communications, such as satellite terminals, laptops, routers, switches, phones, ethernet and power cords.

"You can only do so much using just cell phones in an international capacity," said Army Staff Sergeant Mike Pich, a communications chief with the JCSE attached to Task Force African Lion. "Our Rapid Response Kits allow leadership in Morocco to communicate with logistics coordinators at the ports and command leadership at higher headquarters in the U.S. It also provides a moral boost by allowing them to view their personal email accounts.

Four Rapid Response Kits are being used in different locations in Morocco in support of AF-12.

"The kits are meant to serve as a means to communicate before the command operations center can be established," Pich added.

See also: Last Marines Land, Prepare to Begin Field Training at African Lion 2012