U.S. Marines join forces with 1st Regiment AFM Soldiers

A detachment from the US Marines Corps Security Force Company was in Malta between the 16 and 24 of this month to train with members of 1 Regiment (Infantry Battalion).

The seventeen marines stationed at Naples, Italy, are amongst other things specialised in High Risk Key Point and VIP protection.

The week long exercise at Pembroke Ranges and Hal Far gave the opportunity to a number of soldiers to interact with foreign troops and conduct bilateral training on security duties and weapon familiarisation.

Lt N Cassar AFM, responsible for the Maltese troops on the field applauded this initiative and commented that these opportunities provide Maltese soldiers with a wider vision and different training techniques. "Soldiers look forward to this kind of training because they feel that rubbing shoulders with a force having such glorious history can be nothing but positive".

Two of the participants, Bombardiers John Grixti and Mark A Mallia, fresh from a 10 week training course in the United States enjoyed every minute "This is an extension of what we were doing in Fort Benning, Georgia. Throughout this week we were able to adapt to local terrain techniques learnt in America".

"The whole exercise was treated as an opportunity to train in different methods and combat techniques those skills that are generally of a routine nature". Major J Schembri AFM, Second-in-Command of 1 Regiment AFM said, "The main aim of the exercise is to provide 1 Regiment AFM personnel with exposure to valuable co-operative training. At the end of the day, we all have things to learn from each other."

The US Marine detachment were in Malta on the initiative of the Headquarters of the Armed Forces and the American Embassy.