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Essex Preps for Marine Embark

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070125-06
Release Date: 1/25/2007 3:16:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Christian L. Lemus, USS Essex Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- The multi-mission amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) is preparing to embark Marine Corps personnel and equipment for the upcoming scheduled spring patrol.

“The Marines will be coming aboard once again, and they will be welcomed the same as usual,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) (AW/SW) Thomas K. Ferguson. “Although the Marines aren’t always with us, they are part of us.”

All troop berthings and materials are organized and cleaned in an all-hands effort prior to the arrival of the Marines.

"In the case of one 355-man berthing compartment, Aviation Department Sailors placed new mattresses on each rack, gave the area a fresh coat of paint, checked the plumbing and made sure that the spaces were habitable," said Ferguson.

“Everyone always does great during the onload period,” said Marine Staff Sgt. Jose Alvarez, the platoon sergeant of combat cargo. “The biggest task for everyone is adjusting to the increased number of people on board.”

Once the Marines come aboard and get settled in, they receive a safety brief to preapre them for life at sea.

“There are many Marines who will be boarding Essex for the first time,” said Alvarez. “It is up to us and the rest of the crew to instruct all Marines coming on board, and making it as easy as possible for everybody.”

Though the process has been hard work, Essex Sailors said they’re ready for their Marine brothers and sisters to come aboard, and look forward to reuniting the Navy’s only forward-deployed blue-green team.

Essex is the only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship and serves under Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.