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USS Juneau, 31st MEU Marines Conduct ARGEX

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS051025-03
Release Date: 10/25/2005 11:21:00 AM

By Journalist Seaman Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

ABOARD USS JUNEAU (NNS) -- USS Juneau (LPD 10) steamed out of Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 18 after loading Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to join the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group (FD-ARG) for Blue-Green Workups, or Amphibious Ready Group Exercises (ARGEX).

BG/ARGEX is a biannual combined training exercise designed to re-familiarize and integrate ARG Sailors and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines in support of theater contingencies, from humanitarian and disaster relief to full combat operations.

“We’re very pleased to have Marines back on Juneau,” said Capt. Ronald Horton, Juneau's commanding officer.

This is the first time Marines have come aboard since disembarking Juneau in April after their Persian Gulf deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

“The Marines make Juneau the great naval warship that it is and convert it into a true amphibious vessel," Horton said. "Amphibious warfare is our mission, and our Sailors are set to work hand-in-hand with Marines to achieve that mission.”

Both services are already showing strong cooperative habits as they have teamed up to fill Juneau’s storage platform adjacent to the well deck, called the upper and lower vehicle, with Marine conex boxes, seven-ton trucks, Humvees and M-198 Howitzers. The evolution was completed just more than 12 hours after Juneau arrived in Okinawa.

“When everyone works together, we can get the job done,” said Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class (SW) Daniel A. Wauters.

To complete the onload evolution, Juneau accomplished several flawless sterngate marriages with a Utility Landing Craft (LCU) of Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1, Western Pacific Detachment. Marines drove the trucks off the LCUs, properly guided into place by their counterparts in blue. Sailors took charge of the conex boxes, moving them carefully down into Juneau’s lower vehicle.

“We really did help each other, and it made a difference,” said Marine Lance Cpl. Jason L. Hollander. Hollander also noted that the hospitality so far was exceptional. “Everyone is really cool and helping out.”

One of the major points of emphasis of the upcoming workups, according to Marine Gunnery Sgt. Staci A. Willis, Combat Cargo Service Support chief, is to create camaraderie between the services.

“In amphibious operations, mission accomplishment is predicated on Navy and Marines working as one team,” said Willis. “Creating that team unity is the biggest goal. We want the Sailors and Marines to find a sync with each other so that they can perform together in all circumstances.”

“We have a good foundation, and we all know we can work together, so we’re just going to keep doing that one evolution at a time,” said Wauters.

Juneau is part of the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group, operating out of Sasebo, Japan, and is the Navy’s only forward deployed amphibious transport dock.