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)

U.S. Marine Cpl. Brandon Ditmire, a combat engineer with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, assists a Uganda People’s Defense Force soldier level the base for a concrete slab during a civil engineering exercise at Camp Singo, Nov. 16, 2015. The exercise helps the partner nations fortify their civil engineering skills while strengthening the bond between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Olivia McDonald/Released)

U.S. Marine Cpl. Brandon Ditmire, a combat engineer with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, gives a thumbs-up to a Uganda People’s Defense Force soldier during a civil engineering exercise at Camp Singo, Nov. 16, 2015. The exercise helps the partner nations fortify their civil engineering skills while strengthening the bond between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Olivia McDonald/Released)

U.S. Marine combat engineers with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, assist Uganda People’s Defense Force soldiers nail in one of the wall frames during a civil engineering exercise at Camp Singo, Nov. 19, 2015. The exercise helps the partner nations fortify their civil engineering skills while strengthening the bond between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Olivia McDonald/Released)

A Uganda People’s Defense Force soldier saws the top of a post in preparation to finish the flooring during a civil engineering exercise at Camp Singo, Nov. 16, 2015. The exercise helps the partner nations fortify their civil engineering skills while strengthening the bond between the two. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Olivia McDonald/Released)

Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa extract a simulated downed pilot during a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel exercise aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain, August 3. The training allowed Marines to test their ability to rapidly launch and recover a simulated downed pilot. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy/Released)

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.

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment ride in an MV-22B Osprey during a simulated Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, or TRAP, mission aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, Dec. 10, 2014. The TRAP training provides designated forces tactical training and initial evaluation in order to conduct search and personnel recovery operations for the upcoming deployment with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Krista James)

African role players rehearse combat drills aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 11, 2014. More than 80 Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 and 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment taught military tactics and built camaraderie with role players in preparation for an upcoming deployment with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Lucas Hopkins)

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment practice entering and exiting the MV-22B Osprey during a simulated Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, or TRAP, mission aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, Dec. 9, 2014. The TRAP training provides designated forces tactical training and initial evaluation in order to conduct search and personnel recovery operations for the upcoming deployment with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Krista James)

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.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina - Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment ride in an MV-22B Osprey during a simulated Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, or TRAP, mission aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, Dec. 10, 2014. The TRAP training provides designated forces tactical training and initial evaluation in order to conduct search and personnel recovery operations for the upcoming deployment with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa. (Photo by U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Krista James)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina - Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment practice entering and exiting the MV-22B Osprey during a simulated Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, or TRAP, mission aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, Dec. 9, 2014. The TRAP training provides designated forces tactical training and initial evaluation in order to conduct search and personnel recovery operations for the upcoming deployment with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa. (Photo by U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Krista James)