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Essex ARG Completes ARG Certification, Blue-Green Workups

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061017-09
Release Date: 10/17/2006 3:47:00 PM

By Task Force 76 Public Affairs

ABOARD USS ESSEX, At Sea (NNS) -- The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), led by the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), completed its amphibious ready group certification Oct. 11, showcasing its ability to conduct possible real-world operations as the ARG now heads on its fall patrol.

The three-ship ARG teamed up with more than 2,000 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to conduct the certification and preliminary workups from Sept. 30 - Oct. 8. The certification was held over a three-day period Oct. 9-11.

“The workups and certification were proof positive of our readiness to depart on our fall patrol,” said Capt. Anthony J. Pachuta, commodore, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 and task group commander of the Essex ARG. “I am impressed by the professionalism of our Sailors and Marines and their ability to work together for a cohesive team.”

During the ARG exercise, known as Evaluation Exercise (EVAL-EX) 06-02, Essex along with other ARG ships USS Juneau (LPD 10) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) completed a simulated humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR), a non-combatant evacuation (NEO) and casualty response.

The evolutions featured ship-to-shore movements using landing craft air cushions (LCACs) and landing craft utilities (LCUs), which simulated getting relief supplies or personnel to where it needed to go.

“The overall certification utilized a lot of moving parts,” said Cmdr. Eric Young, chief staff officer, PHIBRON 11. Young emphasized that the certification and workups were important to both accomplishing the evolutions and establishing Navy-Marine Corps unity overall.

“From both a staff and a deck plate perspective, we have to work together- bottom line,” said Young. “In a crisis situation, like an HA/DR, we share the planning table with our Marine counterparts and work out a solution that utilizes and maximizes the assets of both sides.”

Such cohesiveness has proved to be very important in the past, as the Essex ARG faced an actual HA/DR when it traveled to the Republic of Philippines back in February as part of Exercise Balikatan 06. Essex and Harpers Ferry were diverted from the exercise to provide assistance to victims of a mudslide in Southern Leyte.

A real-world scenario is something that Pachuta and the ARG commanders know is a very possible scenario during this year’s fall patrol.

“We have to be ready for anything,” said Pachuta. “It is our duty, as a forward-deployed, Sailor-Marine team to maintain the peace and stability of this region.”

The Essex Amphibious Ready Group is the Navy’s only forward-deployed ARG and serves under Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76. Task Force 76 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.