-US MARINES TRAIN WITH 1 REGT AFM INFANTRY SOLDIERS

US MARINES TRAIN WITH 1 REGT AFM INFANTRY SOLDIERS

AFM soldiers from 'D' Company, 1 Regiment have just completed a week's joint training at Lyster Barracks and Pembroke Ranges with Marines from the United States Marine Corps Forward Security Company.

Twenty Marines who, at present perform security duties at the base station in Naples, Italy, found training in our environment challenging but useful. Whilst in Malta, they joined forces with a group of 20 Maltese troops and provided periods of instruction in weapon training using the Beretta 92 FS, the M16, the AZ Rifle, the M240 General Purpose Machine Gun and the M249 Light Machine Gun.

This is the USMCFSCo's fourth visit to 1 Regiment and as explained by 1st Lieutenant M Fowler, the officer in charge of the group, they keep coming back because it is an excellent bi-lateral experience for them. Lieutenant M Cardona AFM, Officer Commanding 'D' Company could not but agree with 1st Lieutenant M Fowler, "Training days are long and intensive because the visit is so short but our boys enjoyed working with the Americans. The interaction with a force that has such a prestigious past is a tremendous morale boost to our soldiers."