San Manuel
MINER
Proudly serving as the Tri-Community’s source of weekly news since 1954 Vol. 57 No. 28
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Periodicals Postage Paid at San Manuel, Ariz. 85631
50 Cents
Local man participates in military exercises in Morocco, part of African Lion
By Air Force Staff Sgt. Jessica Switzer CAP DRAA, Morocco The sun barely peeked over the horizon when the stillness was shattered by the roar of artillery. The son of a San Manuel couple crawled out of his tent into the southern Moroccan morning to begin another day. Marine Corps Reserve Lance Cpl. David A. Mota, son of Jose D. and Theresa Mota of Manzanita Street, San Manuel, is in Morocco supporting exercise African Lion 2011. “My duties here are setting up and maintaining a fuel farm, and fueling tanks, equipment and vehicles. We help support all of the Marines here in Africa for their training,” said Mota, a 2009 graduate of San Manuel High School. African Lion is an exercise between the Kingdom of Morocco and the U.S. that involves more than 2,000 U.S. service members and approximately 900 members
of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. The exercise serves as a way for both U.S. and Moroccan military members to hone their skills and learn to work together to a accomplish missions. “It’s a great experience to work with a foreign military. I actually get to communicate with the Moroccan military, so I get to learn their language and they learn English,” said Mota, a bulk fuel specialist assigned to the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Tucson. In spite of the barriers, Mota and his fellow servicemembers worked with the Moroccan forces on different types of military training including command post, live fire, peacekeeping operations, disaster response, aerial refueling and low-level flight training. Both the Moroccan and U.S. forces receive valuable training during the course of the exercise. “It’s way different training here with the fuel farm; we get hands on experience and learn
a lot more about the job,” said Mota. Mota and his fellow service members not only trained in the Moroccan desert, they lived there as well. They experienced sandstorms, the rain showers of the wet season and the heat that traditionally goes with a desert. They even had an opportunity to spend some time off duty experiencing the culture and seeing the sights. “When I first saw Morocco, I thought it was awesome. It’s not really what I expected, but I like it here,” said Mota, who has completed almost two years of military service. As the artificial thunder of artillery fire dies away for a moment, the sun rises fully above the desert horizon and begins its journey toward the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Mota and the other participants in African Lion 2011 go about their business sharing experiences and knowledge with each other and their Moroccan counterparts.
Lest We Forget … Bonner graduates from basic training
“A soldier in Iraq can’t see your ribbon, or the flag at your front door. But a letter they hold in their hands, to them means so much more!” This is about support, not just stuff. A letter or e-mail from you, your children, the kids at church or at school is the best thing to send to our military. Let us not forget the people who are serving our country. If you need information OperationMilitarySupport. com is a great place to start. The San Manuel Miner is seeking to feature men and women serving in the armed forces and we want to include anyone and everyone with ties to our area, deployed or stateside, but we need your help. Children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles and cousins can be included. Information and pictures can be dropped off
at the office with attention to Jennifer Carnes or e-mail her at JenniferC@MinerSunBasin. com. Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Jacob S. Bonner graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. He is the son of Mike and Tina Bonner of Second Ave., San Manuel, Ariz.
Raymond Santoro and his cast, many of whom are Oracle residents, are looking forward to the final installment of the Crowbar Killer series. The showing
Local musician and filmmaker Raymond Santoro will debut a trio of films Saturday in Oracle. (John Hernandez photo)
Marines practice their team work while firing mortars in southern Morocco. African Lion is an exercise between the Kingdom of Morocco and the U.S. that involves more than 2,000 U.S. service members and approximately 900 members of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. (Photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sean Worrell)
Jacob S. Bonner Bonner graduated in 2008 from San Manuel Junior Senior High School.
Local filmmaker to premiere the last movie in Super8 Sound July 11, 2011 (Oracle, AZ ) Walter’s Last Stand will premiere at the Mountain Vista school house in Oracle Saturday, July 16 at 7 PM. Filmmaker
Marine Corps Reserve Lance Cpl. David A. Mota is a bulk fuel specialist assigned to the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Tucson, Ariz. He recently deployed to Morocco in support of a bilateral training exercise with the Moroccan military. (Photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sean Worrell)
is a fundraiser for the Oracle Community Schools organization. Santoro used the last rolls of Super 8 Sound film for his laugh out loud parody of the genre that gave us Jason and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre treats. Raymond is a USC film school graduate who has enjoyed producing original films for more than twenty years. He wrote, directed and produced the series of three films, which will be shown in its entirety on July 16. Tickets are available at the door at $3 per person or two for $5. Refreshments will be available for purchase and an intermission between the first two short films and the 40 minute opus will give viewers a chance to enjoy popcorn and beverages. Mountain Vista school is located at 2618 West El Paso in Oracle.
Marine Corps Reserve Lance Cpl. David A. Mota is a bulk fuel specialist assigned to the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Tucson, Ariz. He recently deployed to Morocco in support of a bilateral training exercise with the Moroccan military. (Photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sean Worrell)
Marines clean their weapons, talk and find other ways to spend their off-duty time while deployed to southern Morocco during African Lion 2011. While in the Cap Draa training area they experienced sandstorms, the rain showers of the wet season and the heat that traditionally goes with a desert. (Photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sean Worrell)