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'United We Land' - Beachmasters Own the Beach

Story Number: NNS030221-09

2/21/2003

By Journalist 1st Class Joseph Krypel, Commander, Maritime Prepositioning Force Public Affairs

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait (NNS) -- In the tranquility of an early morning sunrise, U.S. Navy vessels can barely be seen transiting along the watery horizon. Along the shoreline, waves rustle in, and the Sailors of Beach Master Unit 1 (BMU-1), homported in Coronado, Calif., stand ready to receive amphibious landing craft of all types.

According to Chief Warrant Officer David Hanna, the primary vessels stabbing the beaches of Camp Patriot are landing craft utility (LCU), landing craft air cushion (LCAC) and marine amphibious assault vehicles (AAV).

"The LCU and LCAC are multifunctional transports," explained Hanna. "Each of them can carry weapons systems, cargo, rolling stock and personnel."

The AAV, often referred to as a 'fighting duck,' is essentially an armored personnel carrier, capable of carrying 25 combat ready Marines and their required gear.

"Beach Masters own the beach," explained Constructionman Justin Jardenaux. "We are the experts, and we run the show from the three fathom mark to the high-water mark."

The Beach Masters of BMU-1 have recently been charged with managing multiple amphibious offloads at more than one location.

"The two offloads that have taken place so far have kept us pretty busy," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class James Wallace. According to Wallace and Hanna, BMU-1 directed and managed a recent offload of multiple pieces of rolling stock and track vehicles, hundreds of pallets of supplies and ammunition and a few "quad-cons;" large shipping containers carrying various pieces of maintenance equipment.

"Our guys did really fantastic," declared Wallace. "We worked a solid eight to 10 hours a day for three days with just two beach party teams covering three beaches -we had our work cut out for us!"

Wallace went on to explain that each beach party team consists of approximately 15 Sailors. Each team has a beach party commander, salvage officer, flank petty officer, ramp marshals, traffic control personnel and at least one two-man lighter, amphibious, resupply, cargo (LARC) crew.

The LARC is a floating tow-truck that enables beach masters to aide landing craft when necessary, conduct salvage activities, rescue personnel and assist in damage control.

With more operations on the horizon, the sailors of BMU-1 continue their efforts in ensuring that the men and women of the U.S. armed services receive their cargo and personnel dry and whole.

BMU-1 is deployed to Camp Patriot, which is the location for Commander, Task Group 51.8 (CTG 51.8). The joint command is comprised of multiple units from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. CTG 51.8 is deployed to Kuwait to support the global war on terrorism and to prepare for possible future contingencies.