Senegalese soldiers learn how to use a reconnaissance kit to properly identify various types of ordnance, March 8, at an engineer base in Bargny, Senegal. Since Feb. 15, a group of explosive ordnance disposal technicians with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, began assisting Senegalese engineers as part of the Humanitarian Mine Action Program through what is called a train-the-trainer program. The program initially began in 2014, when EOD Marines from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Vermont Air National Guard EOD technicians began teaching a group of veteran, hand-selected Senegalese soldiers how to be instructors. Now, in its second phase, three Senegalese soldiers, all engineers, are instructing eight junior-level soldiers in an EOD level one class, which teaches students how identify various types of ordnance and landmines and how to properly mark its locations.

A group of explosive ordnance disposal technicians with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, began assisting Senegalese engineers as part of the Humanitarian Mine Action Program, Feb. 15, 2016. The train-the-trainer program initially began in 2014, when EOD Marines from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Vermont Air National Guard EOD technicians began teaching a group of veteran, hand-selected Senegalese soldiers how to be instructors. Now, in its second phase, the same three Senegalese soldiers, all engineers, are instructing eight junior-level soldiers in an EOD level one class, which teaches students how identify various types of ordnance and landmines and how to properly mark its locations.

A U.S. Marine with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa provides security during quick-response training aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain, January 23, 2016. The alert force tested the unit’s capabilities by simulating the procedures of reacting to a time-constrained, crisis-response mission. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tia Nagle)

U.S. Marines with the Ground Combat Element, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa conduct an alert-force drill aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-sustaining crisis-response force prepared for the protection of American personnel and facilities on the African continent when directed by U.S. Africa Command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tia Nagle)

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kyle Maurer, machine gunner with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, participates in an alert-force drill aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain, January 23, 2016. The alert force tested the unit’s capabilities by simulating the procedures of reacting to a time-constrained, crisis-response mission. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tia Nagle)

U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa extract a simulated casualty during quick-response training aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain, January 23, 2016. The alert force tested the unit’s capabilities by simulating the procedures of reacting to a time-constrained, crisis-response mission. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tia Nagle)

Nearly 100 Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa established an evacuation control center for an exercise in Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The exercise prepared the crisis response unit for a military assisted departure mission. The passenger terminal used hosted a real ECC 19 months ago when SPMAGTF-CR-AF, assisted in the evacuation of U.S. personnel from the U.S. embassy in Tripoli, Libya. U.S. citizens and embassy personnel traveled by ground convoy to neighboring Tunisia, before being flown to NAS Sigonella, where they were processed through the ECC before moving on to other locations.

Nearly 100 Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa established an evacuation control center for an exercise in Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The exercise prepared the crisis response unit for a military assisted departure mission. The passenger terminal used hosted a real ECC 19 months ago when SPMAGTF-CR-AF, assisted in the evacuation of U.S. personnel from the U.S. embassy in Tripoli, Libya. U.S. citizens and embassy personnel traveled by ground convoy to neighboring Tunisia, before being flown to NAS Sigonella, where they were processed through the ECC before moving on to other locations.

Nearly 100 Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa established an evacuation control center for an exercise in Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The exercise prepared the crisis response unit for a military assisted departure mission. The passenger terminal used hosted a real ECC 19 months ago when SPMAGTF-CR-AF, assisted in the evacuation of U.S. personnel from the U.S. embassy in Tripoli, Libya. U.S. citizens and embassy personnel traveled by ground convoy to neighboring Tunisia, before being flown to NAS Sigonella, where they were processed through the ECC before moving on to other locations.

U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa fly an aerial refueling mission with pilots from the Spanish Air Force, Aug. 13, near Morón Air Base, Spain. While this particular training was a first for the two countries, the U.S. and Spain work together routinely, fostering one of the closest defense partnerships around the world. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy/Released)

A Eurofighter Typhoon with the Spanish Air Force receives fuel from a U.S. Marine KC-130J Hercules with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, August 13, in Spain. A total of five Spanish pilots and their aircraft had the opportunity to practice their air-to-air refueling skills with the Marines from SPMAGTF-CR-AF. While this particular training was a first for the two countries, the U.S. and Spain work together routinely, fostering one of the closest defense partnerships around the world.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy/Released)

Three Eurofighter Typhoons with the Spanish Air Force escort a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules during an aerial refueling mission, Aug. 13, in Spain. Bilateral exercises such as this one are how Spain and the U.S. foster one of the closest defense partnerships around the world. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy/Released)

A Eurofighter Typhoon with the Spanish Air Force based out of Morón Air Base, Spain, refuels from a KC-130J Hercules, a first for the Marines from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, Aug. 13, in Spain. The U.S. and Spain have been fostering one of the closest defense partnerships around the world for more than 60 years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy/Released)

U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa coordinate an aerial refueling mission with pilots from the Spanish Air Force, Aug. 13, at Morón Air Base, Spain. Five Spanish Eurofighter Typhoons and a KC-130J Hercules from SPMAGTF-CR-AF successfully conducted a refueling of the Spanish aircraft for the first time highlighting a mutual commitment to working together as allies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy/Released)

U.S. service members recently completed the second module of Tactical Intelligence Support to Maritime Operations course for the Ghanaian Navy and Maritime Police Force, Dec. 7-18, at Ghana’s Eastern Naval Command Headquarters here. This course has already paid dividends, according to Foster Kotoku, the Ghanaian Maritime Police Force assistant superintendent. During the two-week course, students from the Ghanaian Maritime Police Force seized an undisclosed amount of illicit drugs from a smuggler on a ferry. With follow-on questioning, the police forces were led to a higher connection in the drug trade.

U.S. service members recently completed the second module of Tactical Intelligence Support to Maritime Operations course for the Ghanaian Navy and Maritime Police Force, Dec. 7-18, at Ghana’s Eastern Naval Command Headquarters here. This course has already paid dividends, according to Foster Kotoku, the Ghanaian Maritime Police Force assistant superintendent. During the two-week course, students from the Ghanaian Maritime Police Force seized an undisclosed amount of illicit drugs from a smuggler on a ferry. With follow-on questioning, the police forces were led to a higher connection in the drug trade.

Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa assisted their Ugandan counterparts during a vertical engineering exercise in Camp Singo, Uganda.

Marines of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa continuously train to be mission-ready as a rapid crisis response force.

Marines and Sailors conducted small unit tactics training with Tanzanian park rangers at the Selous Game Reserve in Matambwe, Tanzania, March 2-3.

More than a thousand Marines and sailors deploying in January and February in support of crisis and contingency response in the U.S. Africa and European Commands’ areas of responsibility recently completed a five-day certification exercise.