Juneau, ARG Finish Workups, Start Fall Patrol
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS061017-12
Release Date: 10/17/2006 4:04:00 PM
By Ens. Sarah Thomas, USS Juneau Public Affairs
USS JUNEAU, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Juneau (LPD 10) and the USS Essex (LHD 2) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) successfully finished Blue-Green workups and departed for its fall patrol Oct. 12.
Before departing White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, ships of the ARG, consisting of flagship Essex, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 43) and Juneau, conducted a series of evolutions over a two-week span that gave Sailors and Marines practice working together. They completed a number of amphibious operations, like amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) and combat rubber raiding craft (CRRC) launches, and also went through a simulated non-combatant evacuation (NEO) and a humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR) operation.
Going into fall patrol, the cohesion between the Marines and Sailors of Juneau has never been stronger, said Juneau Commanding Officer, Capt. John D. Alexander.
“We understand that Juneau can only become a complete striking asset with Marines embarked and integrated into our operational climate," said Alexander. "Together, both blue and green warriors are prepared to meet any challenge in any location."
The climax of the workups was what Alexander considered a 'hat trick.' The Juneau Navy-Marine Corps team sequentially deployed a landing craft utility (LCU), recovered 13 AAVs and subsequently launched a 15 CRRC boat raid in a span of less than seven hours.
"This was a phenomenal effort by any standard and further proof of the superior combat effectiveness of all Juneau warriors,” said Alexander.
Specifically working with Juneau are elements of 1st Battalion/5th Marine's Alpha Company and India Battery, who have been with Juneau since the end of September. This was the first time aboard a ship for some of the Marines of Alpha Company.
Marine Sgt. Mark Albert, 1st squad leader, 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, actually extended with Alpha Company so that he could come to Juneau.
“Ship life is very interesting," he said. "It’s a lot more fun that I thought it would be.”
The Marines riding Juneau have spent much of the last two years in the desert doing humvee patrols.
“I love being on a ship. It’s a different way of life," said Marine Staff Sgt. Isaac Carlson. "I’m always looking for a change.”
The Marines of Alpha Company spent numerous hours working with Juneau’s Deck Department to launch CRRCs, LCUs and AAVs. The objective of such launches is to provide the small boat raid company the capability to covertly insert a small, and lightly armed, force into a hostile environment for a limited duration to conduct a variety of missions, ranging from securing a beach or landing zone for follow on forces to point destruction of an enemy objective.
Marine Cpl. Martin Lambaria, a boat coxswain, was happy to have had the opportunity for workups.
“Our main goal is to do ship operations, to go from ship to shore. We’ve now done that," said Lambaria.
Juneau Sailors were happy to assist their Marine counterparts in the amphibious operations; many understand the high value of being able to get the Marines from ship-to-shore.
Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class (SW) Justin Noelke is one of the Juneau Sailors who enjoyed the work done with Marines.
“The evolutions we do are cool,” said Noelke. “We’re here to support the Marines’ training cycle, while getting valuable training in for ourselves, as well. It’s great to get out there and do operations that this ship is designed to do.”
Juneau is part of the Sasebo, Japan-based Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which serves under Commander, Task Force 76. Task Force 76 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force and is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
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