SP-MAGTF Deploys to Senegal

Posted on | by Robbin Laird
11/22/2013

2013-11-22 With the Ospreys as a key player in the Philippine’s relief, another story highlights the flexibility of the aircraft.

According to a USMC story by Captain Sharon Hyland:

The Senegalese Minister of the Armed Forces, Augustin Tine, and Col. Scott Benedict, commanding officer of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response, walk toward the rear ramp of an MV-22B Osprey prior to boarding in Dakar, Senegal, Nov. 14, 2013. SP-MAGTF Crisis Response conducted a flight demonstration of the Osprey following the long range insert of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13 Marines to the West African country. Members of the Senegalese military and the U.S. Embassy, including Ambassador Lewis Lukens, also participated in the flight. (Photo by Cpl. Ryan Joyner)
The Senegalese Minister of the Armed Forces, Augustin Tine, and Col. Scott Benedict, commanding officer of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response, walk toward the rear ramp of an MV-22B Osprey prior to boarding in Dakar, Senegal, Nov. 14, 2013. SP-MAGTF Crisis Response conducted a flight demonstration of the Osprey following the long range insert of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13 Marines to the West African country. Members of the Senegalese military and the U.S. Embassy, including Ambassador Lewis Lukens, also participated in the flight. (Photo by Cpl. Ryan Joyner)

Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response completed a long-range transport of Marines from Moron, Spain to Dakar, Senegal, November 13, utilizing MV-22Bs and a KC-130J. 

The trip totaled more than 1,500 nautical miles and consisted of more than 30 Marines from SPMAGTF-CR and Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13.  The Marines with SPMAGTF-Africa 13 were inserted  to Senegal to participate in a small-boat operations and marksmanship training and exercises with the Senegalese military.  

The mission marked the first time MV-22B Ospreys arrived in West Africa and offered the Senegalese and American Embassy personnel an up-close look at the tiltrotor aircraft during a static display and orientation flight.

 This flight to Senegal can be added to other activities of the Osprey worldwide including: a first landing on a Japanese warship in the APR; the TRAP mission from North Carolina to Colorado; the Philippine’s relief mission; and the training with the Foreign Legion.

Clearly, the Osprey and its capabilities are becoming central to USMC global operations.