SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, Scotland -- U.S. Marines, sailors and British Royal Commandos begin their descent from a mountain top in Inverness, Scotland, July 19, 2016, during the mountain training phase of Tartan Eagle 16.

Tartan Eagle 16 began in Inverness, Scotland, July 17, with the mountain training phase ending on July 20. The second phase of Tartan Eagle, Close-Quarters Battle training, began on July 25 and gave Marines and sailors a chance to learn about new weapons systems and the Royal Commandos close-quarters battle tactics.

This exercise involved Marines and sailors from the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment and Marine Corps Security Force Battalions Bangor and Kings Bay, and their British counterparts, the 43 Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines.  The Marines and sailors from MCSFR and MCSFB participated in the exercise to step out of their comfort zone and train in the Scottish Highlands. Tartan Eagle, which began in 1994, provided Marines and Royal Commandos an opportunity to build a stronger relationship by providing them an opportunity to exchange tactics and training practices.

“The commandos are a really good group of guys, they have a lot of knowledge to pass on and they are very helpful with the mountain training,” said Cpl. Vincent Gatto, 5th Plt., Charlie Co., Fleet Anti-Terrorism Support Team, Marine Corps Security Force Regiment. “Whether it is map and route planning or traversing the mountain with ease, they’ve been able to guide us.”  (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Calvin Shamoon/ Released)