WILLEMSTAD:--- A reconnaissance unit of the United States Marine Corps is training this month together with Dutch marines in Aruba. The Dutch marines, both from Aruba and frogmen from the Netherlands, exchange knowledge in the field of amphibious and diving operations, among other things.
The American military personnel landed last Saturday with a C-17 aircraft at the Reina Beatrix airfield. They train at various (public) locations in and around the Savaneta Marine Barracks. This is both underwater and on land. Due to the excellent diving conditions in Aruba, the island is gladly used as a "training hub". Here it is possible to train safely under controlled conditions.
The US Marines are from the "2d Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division" based at Camp Lejeune (Jacksonville, North Carolina). The Dutch marines of 32 Raiding Squadron (Aruba) train every year at this training location of 640 square kilometers during the so-called "MOUT training", Military Operations on Urban Terrain. This exercise in America is therefore called "Caribbean Urban Warrior". Dutch and American marines train together to strengthen ties between the two countries.
