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ESG 1 Disestablished After "Operational Excellence"

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060722-03
Release Date: 7/22/2006 10:02:00 AM

By Lt. Ron Flanders, Expeditionary Strike Group 1 Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Navy’s Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) concept took another step in its evolution when the Navy disestablished ESG 1 in a ceremony aboard its former flagship, USS Tarawa (LHA 1), July 21 at Naval Base San Diego.

In its last deployment, the 5,000 Sailors and Marines of ESG 1, commanded by Rear Adm. Michael A. LeFever, validated the adaptive flag and general officer-led ESG command and control structure, completing missions across the spectrum of combat and humanitarian operations. As such, the Navy will now maintain a permanent ESG staff in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to embark amphibious ready groups (ARGs) who enter the theatre in the future.

“This strike group achieved unheralded effects in its operations; it proved its worth as an adaptable, lethal and agile force,” said LeFever. “The ESG construct fulfilled every mission and continues to adapt.”

During the deployment, the strike group, which consisted of Tarawa, the amphibious transport dock USS Cleveland (LPD 7), amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65), guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) and the embarked Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), made history.

ESG 1 participated in the largest multinational exercise in the world, Bright Star, which takes place every two years in Egypt. Then, after offloading Marines into Kuwait to support critical Iraqi elections, the strike group quickly reacted to the major earthquake that devastated the Pakistani region of Kashmir in early October 2005.

LeFever and elements of his staff surged to Islamabad to lead the Disaster Assistance Center, Pakistan (DAC-PAK), the U.S. military disaster relief command, while ESG 1 ships Pearl Harbor and Cleveland delivered several hundred tons of relief supplies to the port of Karachi. According to LeFever, opinion polls in Pakistan taken before and after the disaster showed that positive opinions of the United States tripled, due in part to the humanitarian aid.

Vice Adm. James Zortman, commander, Naval Air Forces, told the Sailors and Marines in formation what their contributions meant.

“Pakistan is a key ally in the global war on terrorism,” Zortman said. “And Pakistan’s bilateral relationship with the United States is critical for the stability and security of the entire region.”

ESG 1 stood up in Februrary 2003 as the first of three West Coast-based, flag and general officer-led ESGs. The Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps commissioned an experiment with this model and the East Coast-based model, which did not include a flag or general officer in command. As a result of more than three years of ESG deployments, the Navy has elected to use the flag and general-led model, keeping a forward deployed staff in Bahrain.

“ESG 1 has demonstrated the flexibility of the Navy/Marine Corps team across the whole spectrum of operations,” Zortman said. “You brought a capability from the sea that no other country in the world has or could bring. You delivered on a term of operational excellence. Your Navy, your Marine Corps and your nation are grateful.”

Marine Brig. Gen. Carl Jensen is currently the forward deployed ESG commander in the 5th Fleet area of operations.

LeFever now assumes duties as director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy Division, N13, at the Office of the CNO in Washington, D.C.

For related news, visit the Expeditionary Strike Group 1 Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/esg1/.