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Harpers Ferry, 31st MEU Successfully Complete NEO

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061020-25
Release Date: 10/20/2006 3:18:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Charles Green, USS Harpers Ferry Public Affairs

WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, Japan (NNS) -- The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) returned to USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) Oct. 7 after conducting a noncombatant evacuation operation (NEO) as part of Blue-Green workups conducted between the MEU and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

The NEO exercise was intended to test the abilities of Marines and Sailors to act efficiently if a situation arises where American citizens need to be evacuated from areas of impending danger, such as was done recently in Lebanon.

“Basically the mission is to transport units by train or ship...anything it takes to rescue civilians and achieve our goal,” said Marine Chief Warrant Officer Juan Carrillo, Harpers Ferry combat cargo officer.

The NEO included two primary Marine units, one responsible for keeping track of evacuees and the other acting as a security element, while Harpers Ferry Sailors launched and recovered amphibious assets used in the transport of personnel.

Lt. Severn Stevens, Harpers Ferry's operations officer, said the part his department played was a vital one.

“We help with the planning. We do a rapid-response planning process on the Essex and plan out how to get to shore secure locations, and fueling assist. Our planning tailors a touch of realism to the mission,” said Stevens.

“The exercise was done well. Everyone worked smoothly together," said Marine Cpl. Tiffany Nichole Lay, a communications operator during the exercise.

The crux of the operation was performed at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa. In a real NEO, Americans would be sheltered in evacuation control centers (ECC) until units transported them safely elsewhere. The 31st MEU and ARG are graded as a whole, and any discrepancies in the mission would cause the mission to be redone until satisfactory progress was achieved.

The cooperation between Sailors and Marines during the NEO helped both sides achieve the scores necessary to certify.

The Essex ARG and 31st MEU are now deploying on their fall patrol and will conduct a bilateral exercise with armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the Republic of the Philippines.

Harpers Ferry is one of the Navy’s forward-deployed amphibious assault ships 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.