KENITRA, Morocco – If you were tasked to succinctly describe the year 2025 using one adjective; complex would hit
the mark. Complexity surrounds everything in modern times. Political complexities shape our
daily narratives and complex societal norms impact our daily behaviors. With the increase in
socioeconomic challenges, it’s imperative to not overlook the threat of natural disaster. Ever
cognizant of the consequence of the forces of nature, the Kingdom of Morocco and the Utah
National Guard have collaborated in Maroc Mantlet, a complex joint training effort which has
evolved into the premiere disaster response program on the African continent. Committed to
sharing knowledge and training, Maroc Mantlet focuses on responding to earthquakes,
tsunamis, wildfires, and chemical hazards, and the event showcases a unified approach to
disaster management to assist the civilian population.
Born from multi-year planning efforts between the Utah National Guard and the Royal Moroccan
Armed Forces (FAR), as well as the Moroccan Ministry of Interior and additional Moroccan
agencies, Maroc Mantlet is a culmination of multiple engagements fostered by a deep and
enduring connection.
“Our partnership with Morocco has been 22 years strong. And every year we see an increase in
our ability to work with them (Moroccans),” said Col. Jon Richardson, a Utah National Guard
aviation officer who served as the commander of the 8th Homeland Response Force during
Maroc Mantlet 2025. “So it’s a great collaboration. We learn from them. They learn from us. We
share our best lessons learned, our best practices together,” he said.
Maroc Mantlet 2025 centered on a maritime catastrophe: an offshore earthquake unleashing
tsunami waves that devastate coastal infrastructure within major urban hubs along the
Moroccan coastline. Hosted by the FAR in Kenitra, Morocco, and the Ministry of Interior at the
Moroccan National Training Center, with activities extending to the port of Casablanca, the two-
week event included:
- Urban Search and Rescue (USAR): Teams familiarized themselves with new search
and rescue equipment, testing capabilities and sharing knowledge of rope rescue. - Firefighting and Emergency Medical Response: Drills focused on multi-casualty
triage and trauma response under emergency conditions. - Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Response: Participants practiced
decontamination to address hazardous material (HAZMAT) releases triggered by the
disaster. - Interagency Coordination: Moroccan civilian agencies worked alongside FAR and
Utah National Guard personnel, testing joint command structures with input from
international observers.
In 2025, particular attention was given to training on trauma response in a disaster situation.
This is following the 2023 Al Haouz earthquake which struck Morocco about 73 kilometers
southwest of Marrakesh and resulted in a reported over 2,900 deaths.
“The objective is disaster response,” explained Master Sgt. Holly McLellend, a 151st Wing, Utah
Air National Guard aerospace medical technician who is trained in HAZMAT operations and
search and extraction. “That’s what this mission is all about. We do heavy trauma. We teach
heavy trauma and disaster response.”
McLellend said that the training curriculum was based on earthquake scenarios, such as crush
injuries and how to respond to them. “You’re not going to save a life if a patient is under a block
and you lift the block and cause them to bleed out,” she said.
Over the course of Maroc Mantlet, Utah medical personnel trained with Moroccan Soldiers on
trauma response, emergency medical services, and patient care in the field. At the end of the
event, a group of Moroccans graduated and were presented with brand new EMS bags which
were donated by the Utah National Guard.
While trauma response was a priority, it was not the only training event during Maroc Mantlet 2025. The scenario’s complexity allowed real-time evaluation of response times, resource
allocation, and communication, along with an ability to adapt to changing schedules, and
training objectives bolstered through the relationship built between the two partners. Through
the life cycle of Maroc Mantlet, natural disasters have struck both Morocco and Utah via
earthquakes, flooding, windstorms and other phenomena. Experience on the ground dictates
training objectives and lessons learned become best practices.
“We’ve seen a lot of progress with the Moroccans picking up skills. And we learned a lot of skills
from the Moroccans and saw it in action during the 2023 earthquake in Morocco,” said Sgt.
Yahia Iarochen, a Moroccan-born linguist assigned to the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade
(Linguist), Utah Army National Guard, who has participated in Maroc Mantlet each year since 2018. “They (FAR) went and saved a lot of people. There were two natural disasters back to
back. After the earthquake there was flooding in the south. There are a lot of (Moroccan)
Soldiers who we are working with, training with, who went on to save a lot of people and do a lot
of good. That’s the result of the hard work we were doing.” he said.
Real-world disasters such as the 2023 earthquake and 2024 flooding have helped to shape the
curriculum of Maroc Mantlet. As life happens, plans change, and training adapts. Established
partnerships and friendships allow for shifts to happen on the fly, as needed, year to year.
“Usually we’ll sit down with their (Moroccan) leadership and with their team guys and figure out
what they really want to focus on, where they feel like they could have room for improvement,”
said Staff Sgt. Michael Heeter, a training non-commissioned officer assigned to the CBRN Task
Force, Utah Army National Guard. “Specifically last year they came back and were honest with
us and they told us where they struggled in the earthquake.” he added. “ So we were able to
help focus and shift our direction of what we’re going to train with them more towards shoring and different tactics of how we could look at it from our perspective and give them more
guidance,” he said.
Heeter explained that in the years he has been a part of Maroc Mantlet, each iteration has had a
variable event, whether natural disaster related or simply a change in scheduling, which has
altered the original plan and training objectives. He said that in spite of changes in schedule,
training objectives are achieved through constant interaction with Moroccan counterparts and
strong bonds developed.
“I wouldn’t even say we’re friends,” he explained. “We’re family. We love coming to Morocco.
We’ve developed such a close relationship with our guys who we work with.”
Heeter’s search and rescue unit traveled to Morocco for a total of five weeks in 2025 prior to
Maroc Mantlet 2025, which enabled the group to share knowledge as well as learn from their
counterparts. The give and take has built the capabilities of both the FAR and the Utah National
Guard, respectively.
“We tell our Moroccan counterparts that they have more real world experience than we do,” said
Heeter, referencing the 2023 earthquake response. “They’ll argue with us on that. They say that
if it wasn’t for the lessons we taught them, they wouldn’t know how to do any of it.”
He continued, “So it’s very humbling to think that their experience surpasses ours, but they
come back and say, ‘it’s all because of you’,”.
Disaster response is the main objective of Maroc Mantlet, however a strong and enduring
partnership between the key players is what drives it. Consistent engagement between Utah
and Morocco sets the groundwork for the total package.
“I think it just gives us a new perspective,” said Master Sgt. Nathan Torres, an operations non-
commissioned officer assigned to the 8th Homeland Force who has been involved with the
planning of Maroc Mantlet since 2018.
“When you go somewhere else,” he paused. “You’re trained in your way of thinking. When you
go somewhere else, you’re like, “Oh, maybe there’s two ways to do something and achieve the
same goal.” It’s just that collaboration and a new perspective that there’s not just one way that
maybe necessarily the Army teaches you. There are different ways that you can achieve your
ultimate goal and maybe it’s a quicker, more efficient way.” he said.
Maroc Mantlet is achieving its goals set forth through complex training, resolve, strength, and
partnership. Disaster response is a universal need, and despite thousands of miles, and a literal
ocean between them, Utah and Morocco are linked, inextricably in their efforts of readiness.
When the time comes and a response is needed, Utah and Morocco will be ready. It’s written in
plans, and set in motion. Side by side, we will respond, and through time spent together, bonds
built, and meals shared, lives will be saved.
