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Juneau Operates as Staging Platform for TRUEX

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060207-14
Release Date: 2/7/2006 5:06:00 PM

From USS Juneau Public Affairs

USS JUNEAU, Guam (NNS) -- USS Juneau (LPD 10) provided the platform, Feb. 2, for Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to launch Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC), in order to reach Guam shores and continue with Training in an Urban Environment Exercise (TRUEX).

Juneau Sailors teamed up with MEU Marines to successfully launch 18 CRRCs out of the Juneau well deck, pushing out the raiding crafts three at a time in six waves.

“It is our primary mission to support the Marines so that they can get to the fight,” said Capt. Ronald Horton, Juneau’s commanding officer. “No matter the place, no matter the scenario, Juneau and the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) are ready to accomplish the mission so that the Marines can accomplish their mission.”

The Forward Deployed ARG arrived in Guam Jan. 24 to offload the 31st MEU Marines for TRUEX. TRUEX marks the beginning of a continuous training cycle between the ships of the ARG and the MEU.

For the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine, Fox Company embarked aboard Juneau, the Feb. 2 evolutions marked a major leap forward in their amphibious training. Besides familiarization training the day prior to the launch, many of the Marines had never launched off of an amphibious transport dock platform. The company, based out of Camp Pendleton and deployed to Okinawa, Japan, has only previously launched out of Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels in San Diego.

“We’re using the same techniques we learned in San Diego, just on a bigger platform now,” said Gunnery Sgt. Brice Bartlette, whose company arrived in Okinawa, replacing 2/4 Fox Company, in December. “These Marines know what they have to do, have been trained to do it and execute without hesitation, even though this is something new for most of them.”

“It is a new challenge,” said Lance Cpl. Bill Azpeitiafacio, of 2/5 Fox Company. “But we just count on our training and our leadership to meet that challenge.”

For Juneau Sailors, the well deck team has ample experience from conducting numerous launch and recoveries of CRRCs as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 06 this past fall, which was done with 2/4 Fox Company.

“I know that this is the finest deck team in the Navy,” said Lt. Zeverick Butts, Juneau 1st Lieutenant. “Their deep expertise enhances the learning curve exponentially for all involved, so that these evolutions can be conducted flawlessly.”

The three-ship, Sasebo-based Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group consisting of Juneau, USS Essex (LHD 2) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) is currently on its Spring Patrol. The Forward Deployed ARG is part of Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force, which is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.