Marine Assault Amphibian Battalion preps for Africa Partnership 2012

All photos by Sgt. Bryan Peterson

Lance Cpl. Kelvin Moore, an amphibious assault vehicle crewman with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, finishes final water integrity checks before shipping out to the USS Whidbey Island, March 20 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thirty-six Marines with the platoon conducted reintegration exercises from March 19 – 22 in preparation for their deployment with the Africa Partnership Station 2012 this year.  Photo by Sgt. Bryan Peterson

Staff Sgt. Gerson Vanegas, the First Section leader with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, waits to let an amphibious assault vehicle ship out to the USS Whidbey Island, March 20 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thirty-six Marines with the platoon conducted reintegration exercises from March 19 – 22 in preparation for their deployment with the Africa Partnership Station 2012 this year.

Staff Sgt. Gerson Vanegas, the First Section leader with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, waits to inspect an amphibious assault vehicle before it ships out to the USS Whidbey Island, March 20 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thirty-six Marines with the platoon conducted reintegration exercises from March 19 – 22 in preparation for their deployment with the Africa Partnership Station 2012 this year.

Staff Sgt. Gerson Vanegas, the First Section leader with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, clears his section’s amphibious assault vehicle before shipping out to the USS Whidbey Island, March 20 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thirty-six Marines with the platoon conducted reintegration exercises from March 19 – 22 in preparation for their deployment with the Africa Partnership Station 2012 this year.

An amphibious assault vehicle with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, moves out to the USS Whidbey Island, March 20 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thirty-six Marines with the platoon conducted reintegration exercises from March 19 – 22 in preparation for their deployment with the Africa Partnership Station 2012 this year.

NOTE*

With an AAV Battalion now going to Africa Partnership 2012, the US Marine Corps is basically setting  up a SPMAGTF with serious combat capability.

Think about it like this.  If we look at the Africa Partnership as a fully joint operation then you probably have a Special Forces Battalion, an Air Force squadron with F-15E's...a full MEU off shore and unknown number of US Army Rangers, 160th aircraft/personnel, MARSOC and British/French/Dutch/Spanish/Italian Special Forces running all over that continent.

I don't know exactly whats going on there...but something big is brewing...too many personnel moving there at the same time for it to be strictly training.