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ESG-8 Begins Final Exercise Prior to Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050926-09
Release Date: 9/26/2005 6:08:00 PM

By Expeditionary Strike Group 8 Public Affairs

ABOARD USS NASSAU, At Sea (NNS) -- Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 8, comprised of the Nassau Strike Group and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), got underway Sept. 22 for their final exercise prior to deploying later this year.

The Certification Exercise (CERTEX) is the culminating exercise of the MEU’s exhaustive pre-deployment training program, and marks the fourth time the MEU has conducted at-sea training alongside its Navy brethren of the Nassau Strike Group.

Upon completion of CERTEX, the MEU will be designated Special Operations Capable (SOC) and certified to carry out its 23 mission-essential tasks ranging from amphibious raids to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

“This is a great opportunity for us and our Navy partners to bring it all together,” said Commander, 22nd MEU Col. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. McKenzie likened the training to a “graduation exercise” for the ESG. “We’ll put the finishing touches on our training and prepare to deploy.”

Although the SOC moniker applies only to the MEU, the achievement would not be possible without the coordinated efforts of the Nassau Strike Group, according to McKenzie.

The II Marine Expeditionary Force’s G-7 is supervising the certification exercise, which was formerly called SOCEX or “Special Operations Capable Exercise.” Evaluators from Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic will assist in the overall evaluation of the MEU and strike group.

The Nassau Strike Group is comprised of USS Nassau (LHA 4), USS Cape St. George (CG 71), USS Winston Churchill (DDG 81), USS Austin (LPD 4), USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), and USS Norfolk (SSN 714). USS Laboon (DDG 58) will join the strike group for this exercise. The 22nd MEU is made up of its command element, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines; Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HM) 261, and the MEU Service Support Group 22.

ESG-8 will use the supported/supporting relationship between the Navy and Marine commanders during the upcoming deployment.

The ESG composition adds to the combat proven Amphibious Readiness Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit capabilities with increased defenses, strike, power projection, and a range of unique combined capabilities. These capabilities give the combatant commander a wide variety of options and enables sustained independent operations in dynamic environments.