Commander Task Force 68 (CTF 68) provided training on basic tactical intelligence processes to Cameroon forces Sept. 19-25, at Douala Naval Headquarters Base in Cameroon.

The training was a coordinated effort between CTF 68 Navy Intelligence personnel and Marines from U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa and Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa (SPMAGTF-CR-AF).

The intelligence task group focused their training on tactical collections such as patrol briefing, debriefing, site exploitation and report writing. The exercise marks the first intelligence training mission for CTF 68 designed to standardize reporting for collecting and processing information during operations. This intelligence will help support the Maritime Operations Center (MOC) in the execution and planning of operations.

Quotes:

"This mission has been in the making for 12 months and is the culmination of the efforts by our subordinate unit's intelligence staffs and our intelligence officer. In a short time, our task force has gone from no organic intelligence support to being able to not only support me as the Force Commander, but our Task Force across two areas of responsibility and now our strategic and long term African partners with this unique skillset which enables them to better combat intelligence problems and defeat their enemies."
- Commodore Joseph Polanin, Commander, Task Force 68

"This training focused on turning tactical information into a clear, simple intelligence product, and how that product should be disseminated so that it supports awareness through multiple domains from the maritime domain to the shoreline. This is unique to CTF 68 as we have forces that specialize in these zones and can relate to the problems our African partners are faced with. This training was well complemented by what our brothers and sisters in the Marine Corps provide."
- Lt. Chris Jordan, officer-in-charge, CTF 68

"This course assists our maritime operations center personnel by teaching them and demonstrating how to process information from littoral forces. Understanding how to collect and to disseminate this information is crucial to supporting our MOC."
- Capt. Ndzana Mvonvo, Cameroon navy

"This was an important event for us, not only in terms of fusing partner nation services' capabilities together, but by planning and instructing a curriculum in concert with U.S. naval officers, we simultaneously increase our own understanding and respect for our fellow services. And by instructing together, we send a clear message about working together."
- Capt. Jeremy Phillips, Intelligence Security Cooperation officer with SPMAGTF-CR-AF

Quick Facts:

* The event, supported by Africa Partnership Station, is the first joint intelligence engagement in West Africa.

* Further collaboration in intelligence security cooperation between SPMAGTF-CR-AF, U.S. Naval Forces Africa, and CTF 68 is scheduled in other West African maritime nations during 2016, and skills will be tested through exercises such as Obangame Express.

* U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, headquartered in Naples, Italy, oversees joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.