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ESGEX 2004 makes history

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 4/10/2004

Story by JO2 Chad Bricks

USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA 3)(March 23, 2004) -- If you look up at the superstructure of USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3), you will catch a glimpse of history. History aboard the Belleau Wood flys as a red flag with a single silver star. That flag is an indication of the first Marine Corps officer in charge of a Naval flotilla.

In November of last year, Brigadier General Joseph V. Medina took command of the Expeditionary Strike Group THREE. BELLEAU WOOD Expeditionary Strike Group (BWDESG) is comprised of three amphibious assault ships, two guided missile destroyers, one guided missile cruiser, one fast attack submarine, as well as the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton, Ca. Belleau Wood is the flagship for ESG 3.

The combined sea, air and land power BWDESG carries was recently flexed during a brief underway period. Expeditionary Strike Group Exercise 2004 demonstrated how the Navy and Marine Corps would train, organize, deploy, employ and sustain a more capable and ready force.

"Belleau Wood Expeditionary Strike Group supports the Department of the Navy's vision for Sea Power 21 to align, organize, integrate, and transform to meet the challenges that lay ahead. The ESG brings enhanced power projection (Sea Strike), defensive protection (Sea Shield) and operational independence afforded by the freedom to maneuver on the sea (Sea Basing)," Medina said.

Medina went on to say that he has been very impressed with how far BWDESG has come since being established just five months ago.

"We have stood up the staff; brought together the forces; conducted numerous courses, planning exercises, and scenario drills in port. This past underway period marked our transition to the next level of training at sea as a Strike Group capable of numerous and varied missions."

Medina highlighted some of the Navy-Marine Corps team's accomplishments during this past underway period.

"Several ships participated in numerous formation-maneuvering drills and executed seven underway replenishments, which included five at night."

Medina went on to say that multiple training exercises were conducted by the 11th MEU, to include several boat and helicopter raids more than 150 miles ashore, as well as Humanitarian Assistance Operations.

In addition to MEU exercises, ESGEX demonstrated Expeditionary Strike Force strengths with the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), which include air strike capabilities from F-14D Tomcats. At the same time, Tomahawk strike missions were being planned in support of the Marines.

"Overall, ESGEX was an outstanding opportunity to gauge where we stand before deployment," Medina said. "We now have 'lessons gathered' that we can turn into 'lessons learned' prior to our next underway period, where we will further our development as an integrated fighting team.

Expeditionary Strike Group THREE and all its components are slated to deploy this summer.