A combined disaster management exercise dubbed "Maroc-Mantlet 2021" takes place from September 13 to 24, as part of the partnership between the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the US Army, particularly the Utah National Guard.
This exercise, which takes place at the FAR Rescue and Relief Unit, features the application of common disaster management procedures, through the valuation of the contribution, management and integration resources of the Royal Armed Forces in the event of an industrial disaster.
It also seeks to exchange expertise and experience in practical training related to industrial fires, flood rescue, clearing and CBRN defense.
Upon the high instructions of HM King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, and within the framework of the partnership between the Royal Armed Forces and the National Guard of the U.S. State of Utah, the Rescue Unit is organizing a combined "Maroc-Mantlet 2021" disaster management exercise, said Colonel Ahmed El Ghanami, commander of the FAR Rescue and Relief Unit.
The purpose of this exercise is to exchange expertise and experience in practical training relating to industrial fires, flood rescue and CBRN defense, he said, recalling that it is organized in two phases.
The first phase, held at the Rescue and Relief Unit in Kénitra, was marked by presentations, followed by a simulation exercise, he pointed out, adding that the second phase, which is currently taking place at the 5th naval base of the Royal Navy at the military port of Ksar Sghir, is dedicated to the effective implementation of the various rescue and relief techniques in the aforementioned fields.
"This exercise is an example of the advantages we enjoy as partners of the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco,” said Major General Michael J. Turley of the Utah National Guard, adding "it is an opportunity for us to develop our capacities, to encourage Moroccans and to help them in training, which allows them to put into practice their leadership not only in the Maghreb or in the African continent, but also in the Mediterranean region".
This exercise is "an example of Morocco's leadership and its ability to export its expertise, noting that the FAR Rescue and Relief Unit has a lot of skills that the Kingdom of Morocco needs to carry out interventions, in particular in the event of industrial accidents or local rescue operations, he added.
Morocco has proven, thanks to its interventions in Lebanon and some African countries, its ability to deploy its humanitarian and security assistance, he said, praising the professionalism of the FAR, as well as the "strong" relations between the United States, notably the State of Utah, and the FAR.
The second phase of the exercise, in which representatives of the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Mauritania, Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso and Djibouti are taking part as observer countries, takes place from September 20 to 24 at the port complex of Ksar Sghir.
