RED SEA - Marines and Sailors from the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in multilateral Exercise Eager Lion in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Aug. 25-Sept. 5.

The 11th MEU’s participation in the exercise culminated with a company sized live-fire amphibious raid including amphibious assault vehicles, M777 howitzers and light armored reconnaissance vehicles. During the exercise, the 11th MEU partnered with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom.

“This is why partnerships matter,” said Col. Fridrik Fridriksson, commanding officer, 11th MEU. “Eager Lion allowed us the opportunity to maintain ready and responsive forces while working with our partners in the region. Together, we are prepared and trained to address unpredictable adversaries.”

Eager Lion, U.S. Central Command’s premiere exercise in the Levant region, is a major training event that provides U.S. forces, Jordan Armed Forces and 28 other participating nations the opportunity to improve their collective ability to plan and operate in a coalition-type environment through scenarios that span from a long-range bomber mission to maritime security operations to cyber threats from fictitious adversaries.

The 11th MEU trained alongside Jordan Armed Forces and other international partners across the full spectrum of military operations, including an amphibious landing; Maritime Raid Force dive operations and kinetic range qualifications; aerial insertion of the Jordanian 61st Battalion Quick Reaction Force and British Royal Gurkha Rifles; explosive ordnance disposal ranges; nuclear, biological and chemical defense response; and joint integrated civil affairs training alongside partner nations to share best practices.

All forces of the 11th MEU launched from U.S. Navy amphibious ships, making the exercise the largest amphibious operation in the Central Command area of responsibility.

"We're committed to support and cooperate with our regional partners," said Capt. Jason Burns, commander, Amphibious Squadron (FIVE) 5. "Working side by side with our Italian, French and Jordanian partners during exercises such as Eager Lion maximizes our collective strengths and builds trust and bonds between our militaries and nations."

The Boxer ARG/11th MEU is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. The ARG/MEU departed their home port of San Diego for a regularly scheduled deployment, May 1.

For additional information contact the 11th MEU Communication Strategy and Operations Officer, Capt. Jim Stenger at james.stenger@boxer.usmc.mil or Lt. Andrew Bertucci, Commander, Amphibious Squadron Five Public Affairs Officer, at andrew.bertucci@cpr5.navy.mil.