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JTFEX 06 Prepares COMPHIBGRU 2 for Deployment Overseas

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060731-08
Release Date: 7/31/2006 4:00:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Brian Seymour, Commander, Amphibious Group 2 Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- As Commander, Amphibious Group (PHIBGRU) 2 prepares to deploy to the Middle East next year, it received valuable training with joint and coalition forces during Joint Task Force Exercise 2006 (JTFEX 06) "Operation Bold Step," July 21-28.

PHIBGRU 2, which served as the Coalition Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) during the exercise, provided valuable insight and training for the establishment of an expeditionary platform that will take the command from an administrative position at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., to a fully operational command based in Bahrain by February 2007.

“Presently, Amphibious Group 2 is an administrative staff that trains, mans and equips our expeditionary forces on the Atlantic Coast,” said Rear Adm. Garry Hall, commander, PHIBGRU 2. “Our new role is going to be more operational, and this exercise gives us an insight into how to plan and conduct operations at the joint task force level.”

The command plans to go from PHIBGRU 2 to Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, where it will conduct all amphibious and expeditionary operations in the Gulf region from Bahrain.

The USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) ESG was tasked with assisting in the evacuation of thousands of American citizens from Lebanon. Leading up to its scheduled deployment, Iwo Jima ESG fell under the command of PHIBGRU 2, displaying the flexibility and quick-acting logistical support that the Amphibious Navy has to offer.

Previously deployed ESGs have conducted emergency disaster relief operations in the U.S. Gulf Coast region after Hurricane Katrina, and in Pakistan and Indonesia to aid with earthquake and tsunami relief.

Also beneficial to the training conducted during JTFEX 06 is the experience that the coalition forces bring to the table from serving overseas.

“The experience of our Royal Navy counterparts in the Middle East, and how they operate as a staff, has been very beneficial as we become an operationally and functionally organized staff,” said Hall. “It’s a great opportunity to work with our Royal Navy counterparts, Dutch counterparts, Germans, Canadians and others as we gain from their experiences in the Middle East and adapt it to our own training.”

Having recently returned from the Middle East, where he was embarked aboard the guided-missile destroyers USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and USS San Jacinto (CG 56), Commodore Bruce Williams, commander, United Kingdom Task Group, said he understands what works well with coalition exercises.

“Having been in the Gulf region has enabled me to come here and apply that experience into this coalition training activity,” said Williams. “The benefit of having coalition forces is it introduces into the training environment some of the difficulties and advantages of working in a multinational scenario.”

For nearly 10 days, coalition forces have conducted operations both at sea and ashore during the exercise, learning essential characteristics of each other that they all can apply to a mutual goal, or in this case, a mission.

Williams believes there are always advantages and disadvantages to any exercise involving a multinational force.

“The difficulties are that we need to understand the differences, and work on those differences, so that when we do this for real we can operate more smoothly,” said Williams. “The advantage is that a coalition is stronger than the sum of its parts, and by training together here we will have a much stronger coalition of the willing during future crises.”

The Expeditionary Interdirectorate Head at PHIBGRU 2, Capt. Mike Barea, believes that training for the deployment will extend beyond this exercise as the Navy tests its new overseas assets.

“This deployment is basically an experiment for the Navy, and I think from what we might discover, and the lessons that we may learn will give the Navy some important information on preserving critical mission areas,” said Barea. “There are a few issues that need to be ironed out, but we do know that it is an experiment, and we’re going to learn from it with regard to appropriate manning and the importance of focusing on what’s critical to the mission."

The USS Bataan (LHD 5) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) has led the amphibious effort for the exercise, and continues to support the coalition and expeditionary forces while serving as one of PHIBGRU 2’s prime assets.

JTFEX 06-2 served as the forward-certifying event for the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group and sustainment training for units from the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Carrier Strike Group and Bataan ESG.