Rabat – On the final day of Exercise African Lion 2021, Captain Bryant Wine walked Morocco World News through the intricacies of Morocco’s infantry ground strategy and the importance of artillery for both US and Moroccan warfare.
Exercise African Lion 2021 concluded with a multidimensional military display of power, led primarily by Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR). The FAR infantrymen trained alongside US soldiers from the Georgia National Guard’s 214th Field Artillery 1st battalion.
Captain Wine explained that Morocco’s military ground strategy differs from that of the US as the FAR engages targets head-on with a massive, overwhelming force whereas the US infantry strategy seeks to flank the opposing forces from one side while applying pressure from the front.
In a simulated ground maneuvering exercise, the American and Moroccan servicemen on the ground provided suppressive artillery fire on three designated targets while FAR infantrymen attacked the targets directly with vehicle-mounted heavy machine guns and other small arms weaponry.
Multiple Paladin Artillery Systems fired live 155mm munitions at the targets that represented a simulated threat.
The US captain noted the importance of the Paladin system to Morocco’s ground defense tactics and added that the FAR has purchased a substantial number of Paladin systems from the US.
As both the US and the FAR operate the same weapon system, the multinational infantrymen were able to transcend language barriers and train together seamlessly. Wine teased that the FAR’s artillery battalion may actually fire faster than the US’ artillery crew and noted the Moroccan troops’ skillful display and high-level of professionalism on the battlefield.
“We’re all cooperating as we should be,” noted the captain in a statement on the relations between the militaries’ servicemen and women.
He concluded his statement by expressing the Georgia National Guard’s gratitude for being able to work alongside the FAR troops.
Usually, the Utah National Guard participates in the event as Utah is the partner state of Morocco under the US Army’s State Partnership Program. However, due to a scheduling conflict, the Georgia National Guard had the opportunity to engage in the large-scale joint exercise.
Exercise African Lion 2021 concluded on June 18 and US Army General Stephen J. Townsend stated that “planning for African Lion 2022 begins today.”
