US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines, with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, take cover being a wall during an urban assault with the Spanish mountaineers with 1st Mountain Troops Command, as part of mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property, and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)

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US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

A U.S. Marine, with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, provides covering fire to allow his team to cross a road, during a simulated raid as part of mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property, and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)

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US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marine Capt. Nathan D. Bedle, with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, and a Spanish soldier with 1st Mountain Troops Command conduct a trail recon a during mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property, and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)

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US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marine Cpl. David S. Caudill, a rifleman with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, conducts a trail reconnaissance during mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property, and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)

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US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, and Spanish Army mountaineers with 1st Mountain Troops Command, hike though alongside each other during mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property, and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)

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U.S. Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa use ski poles as bipods during mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkin/Released)

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U.S. Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Civiarella, a rifleman with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, sits in a defensive position in snow during mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)

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US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, learn proper the proper technics of shooting in show taught by a Spanish mountaineer with 1st Mountain Troops Command IOT during mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property, and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)

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US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, learn proper the proper technics of shooting in show taught by a Spanish mountaineer with 1st Mountain Troops Command IOT during mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property, and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)

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US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, stand in formation during mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property, and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)

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U.S. Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, are guided by a Spanish Army mountaineer with 1st Mountain Troops Command on a hike during mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)

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U.S. Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa, are guided by a Spanish Army mountaineer with 1st Mountain Troops Command, on a hike during mountain warfare training in Candanchu, Spain, Dec. 16, 2014. The exercise, which was conducted with the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain. SPMAGTF-CR-AF is a self-mobile crisis response force that conducts missions to protect U.S. personnel, property, and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins/Released)

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U.S. Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

Published Dec. 29, 2014
By 1st Lt. Gerard Farao
Marine Forces Europe and Africa

MORÓN AIR BASE, Spain -- U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa conducted mountain warfare training with 1st Mountain Troops Command in Candancu, Spain.

From Dec. 15 - 19, 2014, the Marines and Spanish soldiers trained in cold weather survival techniques, snowshoeing, offensive operations in mountainous environments, shooting while using snowshoes and poles, and a company sized offensive operation.

“The Spanish Army Mountaineers we worked with are true mountain warfare experts,” said Capt. Nathan Bedle, a company commander with SPMAGTF-CR-AF. “They helped us gain knowledge in operating in a mountainous environment and we look forward to working with them as NATO Allies in the future.”

The event culminated with a final training exercise in which the Marines and Spanish soldiers conducted movement at night over mountainous terrain and a combined assault attacking a fortified position in an urban environment at sunrise.

The exercise, which was conducted with and led by the Spanish, allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of mountain warfare tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the Spanish and strengthening the U.S. partnership with Spain.

US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

US Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare

U.S. Marines, Spanish soldiers train in mountain warfare