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ESG 1 Becomes "Hard Target" During Force Protection Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050613-11
Release Date: 6/13/2005 4:08:00 PM

By Lt. Ron Flanders, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1 conducted a force protection exercise at Naval Base San Diego June 7-10.

Just prior to embarking on the strike group’s Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX), Sailors from USS Tarawa (LHA 1), USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), USS Cleveland (LPD 7), USS Chosin (CG 65) and USS Ingraham (FFG 61), and Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) trained alongside each other during the exercise, which simulated threats that could occur in a port visit overseas.

“The ESG already has the blue/green synergy,” said Cmdr. Jim Bredemeier, the force protection officer for U.S. 3rd Fleet, who ran the exercise. “This exercise was an excellent opportunity for Sailors and Marines to train together to defend the force.”

Among the scenarios the Sailors and Marines faced were anti-American protestors, several waterborne threats, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) and a suicide bombing attempt. The scenarios are designed to simulate possible threats ESG 1 could face in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation.

“Safety always comes first in a training environment, but we made the training very real,” Bredemeier said.

To provide this realism, the Navy hired professional movie actors to participate in the training, used pyrotechnics to simulate explosives, and had mock casualties that were frighteningly real. The Sailors and Marines providing the security on the pier appreciated the training.

“This training is a lot more realistic than any other training we get,” said Damage Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Jorge Zuniga, a member of Pearl Harbor’s pier security force. “You can tell by the chaos that’s going on in the world right now that we need more in-depth training, and this is the best you can get.”

ESG 1’s Sailors and Marines seamlessly flexed up and down different force protection conditions, and defeated all threats in the exercise before getting underway for its JTFEX. During this exercise, the strike group will be certified as “ready to deploy” by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Vice Adm. Barry Costello. Additionally, the 13th MEU will earn its Special Operations Capable certification.

The multimission-capable strike group, commanded by Rear Adm. Michael A. LeFever, is comprised of more than 5,500 Sailors and Marines and will deploy to the Western Pacific and the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations later this summer.