page_title: Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa / History
caption_attribution_description: English: U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa and French gendarmes with Mobile Gendarmeries Armored Group work together to control a mock riot caused by role-players, while training in crowd and riot control techniques at the National Gendarmerie Training Center in St. Astier, France, Dec. 2, 2014. The exercise allowed the Marines to gain greater knowledge of non-lethal tactics, techniques and procedures while enhancing interoperability with the French Gendarmerie and strengthening the U.S. partnership with France. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl Jeraco Jenkins/Released)
context_page_description: Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force that is permanently based at Morón Air Base in Spain. SP-MAGTF-CR-AF reports to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa under United States Africa Command. It is a self-mobile, self-sustaining force of approximately 850 Marines and sailors, capable of responding to a range of crises. The unit is specifically trained to support U.S. and partner interests throughout the United States Africa Command area of responsibility, to include embassy reinforcement, support to noncombatant evacuation operations, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. The unit also takes part in bilateral and multilateral training exercises with regional partners. It is commanded by a U.S. Marine colonel.
context_section_description: In 2011, based on strategic insight, LtCol. Thomas Atkinson, Strategic Plans Officer for USMARFORAF, created SPMAGTF-AF with funding from USAFRICOM and USMARFORCOM.  The SPMAGTF-AF initially consisted of 120 specially trained Marines from 4th Force Reconnaissance Co. and ACE support.  The TE included two KC-130 aircraft vehicles and trucks.  SPMAGTF-12 (see external link below), the first rotation was trained in Limited Crisis Response, Humanitarian Aid, and Host Nation Support in Africa.  SPMAGTF Marines were trained in embassy reinforcement and stationed out of NAS Sigonella, Sicily, for timely response in Africa.  In 2012, the highly successful SPMAGTF was replicated in every COCOM globally.
  In 2013, following the 2012 Benghazi attack, Lt. Gen. Richard Tryon, Marine Corps deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations, announced the creation of a larger Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force that could fly in a company of Marines on Bell Boeing MV-22B Ospreys to respond to crises in Africa. However, this will require political work to secure a ground base nearby that the amphibious ships operating in the global commons of the world's oceans do not require. The task force self-deployed to Morón Air Base on 27 April 2013.
  USMC spokesman Capt. Eric Flanagan has listed the responsibilities of the task force to be a first responder for American embassies in the area, to help evacuate Americans, and to provide humanitarian and disaster relief.
  In June, elements of the unit went to  Italy during the 100th anniversary of Italian naval aviation where they showcased the U.S. Marine Corps' MV-22B Osprey.
  In July 2013, Col. Scott F. Benedict, the commander of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, took over command of SP-MAGTF Crisis Response and brought much of his staff from the 24th MEU. As of July, SP-MAGTF Crisis Response consisted of a Command Element from the 24th MEU, a Ground Combat Element (GCE) from Bravo Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.; an Aviation Combat Element (ACE) from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (VMM-365) out of New River, N.C.; and a small Logistics Combat Element (LCE) from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, also from Camp Lejeune.
  One of the primary objectives of the new commander was to establish relationships among American and foreign military and civilian leaders within Spain and the surrounding area. To this end, the unit conducted a bilateral exercise from July 29 to Aug. 1, when infantry Marines trained alongside Spanish paratroopers from the Brigada de Infantería Ligera Paracaidista at the Principe Training Camp near Uceda, Spain. Later that month, there was another bilateral event as the GCE again joined Spanish paratroopers and U.S. Sailors for a free-fall training exercise near Naval Station Rota Spain, August 12–16.
  Between August and September, the unit saw its aviation and infantry units conduct turnovers as VMM-162 replaced VMM-365 as the ACE, and Alpha Company replaced Bravo Company (both from 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion) as the GCE. Shortly after, on Sept. 25, the U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Mr. James Costos, visited Moròn and received a brief regarding the capabilities of the force and a ride in an Osprey.
  From Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, SP-MAGTF Crisis Response Marines flew north to Camp des Garrigues near Nîmes, France, to take part in a bilateral training event with French Legionnaires with the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment. The five-day event aimed at developing a working relationship with the French military and was the first event between SP-MAGTF Crisis Response and the French. The training was also historically significant because it was the first time an MV-22B Osprey landed and operated in a tactical environment on French soil. The Osprey had only been in France once before, at the 1995 Paris Air Show in Le Bourget.
  Another significant event in November was the insert of personnel to Dakar, Senegal, Nov. 13. The mission consisted of the movement of a contingent of Marines from SP-MAGTF Africa using SP-MAGTF Crisis Response Ospreys and a 
caption: U.S. Marines with SPMAGTF Crisis Response – Africa and French gendarmes with Mobile Gendarmeries Armored Group work together to control a mock riot caused by role-players, while training in crowd and riot control techniques at the National Gendarmerie Training Center in St. Astier, France, Dec. 2, 2014.
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