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Juneau Sailors Participate in Blue-Green Training

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060516-11
Release Date: 5/16/2006 10:08:00 PM

From USS Juneau Public Affairs

SOUTH CHINA SEA (NNS) -- Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked on USS Juneau (LPD 10) and gave their "blue" brothers some "green" training at sea May 12 as the ship continued en route to the Kingdom of Thailand for Exercise Cobra Gold 2006.

The Marines, part of Kilo Battery, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, guided the Juneau Sailors through a snippet of the Enhanced Marksman Course (EMC). Participants of the course are given M-16s, wear battle gear and are put through a number of scenarios that one would find out in the field.

Twelve Juneau Sailors were put through one aspect of the course, which usually takes 45 minutes at full length for Marines. Those involved, including Juneau’s new Commanding Officer, Capt. John D. Alexander, felt privileged to have received training from the Marines.

“Crew-served weapons training is crucial to the anti-terrorism/force-protection of Juneau,” said Alexander. “This provided the crew an appreciation for what our Marine brothers do every day.”

Though it was far from the combat field, the scenarios and battle dress gave the Sailors a unique perspective of Marine Corps combat readiness. The opportunity to step into that world was exciting for the Sailors who received the training.

“That was pretty cool,” said Engineman Fireman Apprentice George Corona, a Juneau crew member, who wore a big smile after the training. “I think it gives you confidence if you ever have to be in that type of combat situation.”

The Marines were happy to offer the training, noting that it was a chance to let Sailors see into their world, which on a ship is sometimes limited.

“Training is always good to do, no matter what service you are in,” said Marine Sgt. Sam Schultz, lead instructor for the course and the battery’s operations chief and headquarters platoon sergeant. “Everything takes practice, and even the small amount we did today will help these Sailors a lot.”

The battery company’s Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Capt. Mark Paolicelli, knew that the training done would form bonds that would last into the future.

“Navy/Marine Corps unity is vital to our combined mission,” he said. “Training together will be a key to our unified success.”

Juneau, commanded by Capt. John D. Alexander, 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.