Mine warfare: key component in crucial exercise
7th Fleet
Release Date: 9/3/2003
Journalist Seaman Patrick Dille, Seventh Fleet public affairs
ABOARD USS BLUE RIDGE AT SEA -- Commander, Mine Warfare Command personnel from Corpus Christi, Texas, embarked aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) Aug. 16 to take part in the joint training exercise Ulchi Focus Lens (UFL) 2003.
UFL 2003 was a combined and joint computer simulation-driven exercise, involving the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Combined Forces Command. It was designed to help both militaries work together better and refine their procedures for emergency situations.
"I think UFL is a tremendous learning experience and an excellent opportunity to exercise my staff in a combined operation with the ROK navy," said Capt. Barry Dagnall, commander, Mine Countermeasures Squadron 1. For UFL, he assumed the position of Commander, Task Force 777 - Mine Warfare. "It's one of my key opportunities to engage my counterparts in the ROK navy."
According to Chief Mineman (SW) Jeff Hernandez, the Mine Warfare Environment Decision Aid Library (MEDAL) operator and tactician, Mine Warfare Command's role is critical to the safety of operating forces participating in UFL. MEDAL tracks and maintains information about mine locations.
"If information about our missions got out it would be detrimental to national security, the security of our ships, the freedom of the seas and open navigation," he said.
He added mine countermeasures make getting Marines to shore safer, critical waterways more reliable, and controlling opposition more feasible.
"We keep all area routes open for safe passage and navigation through offensive and defensive mine warfare," said Hernandez. "Offensives are intended to prevent the enemy from laying mines. Defensive is designed to reduce the threat from mines after they've been laid by the enemy," he explained.
Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Bob Heminger helped the team by providing information they use to update the computers.
"I tell operators what type of mines are in the enemy (inventory)," said Heminger. "Their job is to find mines and neutralize them so we can land Marine forces."
Finding and clearing mines, then preventing the enemy from laying others is all part of Mine Countermeasures (MCM). Troops don't proceed ashore, and ships don't transit waterways without first being cleared through MCM.
"You have the guys in the yellow shirts on carrier flight decks," Heminger said, "pilots can't go until they say it's OK. That's kind of how MCM works."
Hernandez said there's no actual mines laid for the exercise; everything is done through computer simulation, But that doesn't mean the exercise isn't important. The team still got to hone their skills during the exercise.
"We treat it as if it were real," said Hernandez. "What we do here is what we would do in the real world. We make ourselves better and more efficient in regard to tactical situations. We ask ourselves: Did we do better than last year? Did we handle situations the right way? Then we apply that to next year's exercise."
One of the key issues the team works on is communication. Hernandez said it is very important to have open, receptive understanding of what's going on during a complicated exercise. He added it becomes even more difficult when another country is involved, although proximity helps.
During UFL, with both U.S. and ROK forces embarked on the command and control ship, "We [can] literally walk back and forth across the hallway to talk to our [ROK navy] counterparts," Hernandez said.
UFL wrapped up Aug. 29, with the team disembarking Blue Ridge during a brief stop at Chinhae, South Korea, before the ship headed back to it forward operating base of Yokosuka, Japan, and the mine warfare team headed back to Corpus Christi, another year's worth of experience under their collective belts.
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