# US delivers 21 specialized vehicles to Moroccan Special Forces

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2020/05/us-delivers-21-specialized-vehicles-to-moroccan-special-forces/
- Published: 2020-05-11T12:17:22+01:00
- Author: Darek Liam

The United States on May 6, gifted 21 specialized vehicles to the Moroccan Forces
Armées Royale Special Operations Company (MSOF) valued at over $1 million.

The U.S Military’s African Command (AFRICOM) said that the transfer culminates three
years of close cooperation to train and equip the MSOF company through an $18 million
grant.

The vehicles which are modified Toyota Land Cruiser and this vehicles, AFRICOM said,
marks a critical step to enhance the company’s capacity to conduct special operations
and internal company command and control by the end of this year.

**_“It’s never lost on us that in 1777, as the United States fought for independence,
Morocco emerged as the first country to recognize our new nation,”_** said U.S. 
Air Force Brig. Gen. Steven deMilliano, Deputy Director, Strategy, Engagement, and
Programs Directorate, United States Africa Command. “_**Our friendship, established
over two centuries ago, remains strong with Morocco, a premiere security partner,
providing regional leadership through exercises, training programs, and counterterrorism
cooperation. This vehicle transfer demonstrates our mutual commitment and shared
values.”**_

The U.S. Embassy’s Office of Security Cooperation and the Utah National Guard have
established an exceptional relationship with the MSOF since training first began
in 2017, with numerous combined training events occurring each year in Tifnit as
well as other locations.

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Col. Abderrahim Maddah, Post Commander of the FAR Southern Zone Training Center 
in Tifnit, met with the Senior Defense Official of the U.S. Embassy, Col. Kenneth
Gjone, to complete the transfer.

**_“While this delivery marks the completion of this multi-year security cooperation
project with Morocco, the military-military relationship between our two great countries
is already strong and will continue to grow over the coming years,”_** said Gjone.

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The MSOF has extensive training experience with multiple U.S. Special Operations
units. The MSOF operators have earned an outstanding reputation through numerous
training exercises. Most recently, the Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command
Africa, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, lauded their exceptional performance
during the multinational Exercise Flintlock 2020 in Mauritania.

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The FAR and the Utah National Guard have been strong partners through the U.S. Department
of Defense State Partnership Program since 2003, and the operators and support personnel
of the 19th Special Forces Group of the Utah National Guard are proud brothers in
arms with Moroccan Special Forces.

“We applaud the professionalism, discipline, and dedication of the Moroccan Royal
Armed Forces under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and Inspector 
General Abdelfatah Louarak,” said U.S. Ambassador to Morocco David T. Fischer, “
and we are proud to partner with Morocco in the development of the Moroccan Special
Operations Company.”

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