Exercise Alexander The Great 2020
by U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ashley McLaughlin March 11,
2020
U.S. Marines with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine
Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Hellenic and French Armed Forces
participated in Exercise Alexander the Great 2020 in Volos, Greece,
January 31 to February 8, 2020.
The exercise consisted of
integrated battalion-level command-and-control, and
company/platoon-level combined-arms training to increase
interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Hellenic and
French Armed Forces, to reassure Allied and Partner Nations, to
improve readiness, to reinforce relations, and finally to improve
the ability to deploy alongside partnered forces.
 February 1, 2020 - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jordan Brady, a team leader with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, uses a collimator to establish a pre-set zero on a rifle during Exercise Alexander the Great 2020 in Volos, Greece. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ashley McLaughlin)
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“Alexander the Great is an excellent demonstration of improving
military relationships between Europe and the U.S.,” said U.S.
Marine Corps Sgt. Chad Gaddis, a squad leader with 3rd Bn., 2nd
Marines. “We come together to execute everything from small-unit
training to more complex military training operations.”
During the exercise, service members from participating militaries
showed their capabilities through live-fire ranges, patrols, and a
beach assault. By incorporating multinational support, the countries
were able to build a stronger front by combining individual
specialties and experiences.
Alexander the Great 2020 began
as a week-long field operation consisting of integrated
non-live-fire, squad-level, tactical training, an integrated
live-fire combat marksmanship range, and off-handed shooting.
Once aboard the French ship Dixmude, a helicopter carrier,
planning and preparation commenced for a beach assault. The
militaries executed the beach assault on an island, followed by
vehicle reconnaissance and foot patrols throughout the island to
various objective points.
“All the forces worked well
together, because we all had the same mission and goals, as well as
just wanting to learn about each other’s tactics and operations,”
said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Mason Spivey, a squad leader with the
3rd Bn., 2nd Marines.
The annual exercise concluded with a
culminating event testing the skills that the service members
learned throughout the week. By allowing Marines with 3rd Bn., 2nd
Marines the opportunity to work with militaries around the globe,
the Marines improved mission readiness and are better prepared for
any potential future multi-national operations and/or exercises.
 February 1, 2020 - U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division conduct a simulated medical evacuation during Exercise Alexander the Great 2020 in Volos, Greece. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ashley McLaughlin)
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One other vital purpose of the exercise was to prove the U.S.
Marine Corps’ ability to accomplish U.S. European Command
objectives.
“Hopefully in the future we’ll be able to do this
exercise again,” said Private First Class Dandre Washington, a
rifleman with 3rd Bn., 2nd Marines. “The next time we do this, we
can share the tactics and experiences that we learn between
iterations to make us a better force. Things can work smoothly
because we’re all working together as one unit.”
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