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Essex ARG Completes Spring ARGEX, EVALEX

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070222-09
Release Date: 2/22/2007 4:28:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

OKINAWA, Japan (NNS) -- Task Force 76 ships comprising the Sasebo-based Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ESXARG) completed a series of Navy-Marine Corps evolutions Feb. 17 at White Beach Naval Facility, located here, as a starting to point for their spring patrol.

The training tested ESXARG Sailors and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Marines in both the planning and execution of Amphibious Ready Group Exercise (ARGEX) and Evaluation Exercise (EVALEX) 07-1.

The ARGEX and concurrent EVALEX put the crews of ESXARG flagship USS Essex (LHD 2) along with USS Juneau (LPD 10) and USS Tortuga (LSD 46) through a series of scenarios, where flight quarters and well deck operations seemed nearly nonstop.

“I am hugely impressed not only with the professionalism displayed by the crews in achieving the mission, but in the effort in achieving the mission,” said Capt. Anthony J. Pachuta, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 commodore and task group commander of the Essex ARG. “These Sailors are some of the hardest working in the Navy, and they continually rise to the challenges in front of them.”

The pre-deployment training sets serve as key milestones in Navy-Marine Corps interoperability, as ARG Sailors re-familiarize themselves with their Marine counterparts in achieving rapid-response capabilities, according to senior Navy and Marine Corps leaders.

For the battalion landing team (BLT), now 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, which joined the MEU as part of a seven-month deployment in January, this was the first time, as a unit, it had worked with the various Naval assets.

Many of the Marines of the BLT have never even been on a ship before, though they said that the training forced them to adjust quickly.

Those that have had been in similar amphibious settings said that the training enhanced fundamentals, mainly because it established a strong foundation between both the blue and the green components.

“I was impressed with Navy’s dedication and attitude to helping us [and] helping the mission,” said Cpl. Howard J. Miller, an infantryman with the BLT’s Fox Company, which also serves as the MEU’s boat company. “To see the Navy Sailors do that builds a trust, because we know that they’re there for us. It’s nice to know that both of us -- Navy and Marine Corps -- are going 100 percent.”

Highlights during the training included amphibious raids, utilizing the landing craft air cushion (LCAC), landing craft utility (LCU), combat rubber raiding craft (CRRC) or assault amphibious vehicle (AAV) to get Marines to an assigned beach in the vicinity of Okinawa and achieve a simulated mission.

Those on the blue side said they felt pride in helping their Marine counterparts get to where they needed to be.

“Working with Marines, you can feel the mission,” said Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class (SW) Ulysses Burden, part of Juneau's deck department. “Yes, there are some early days and long nights, but we’ve become accustomed to it and just do what needs to get done."

After the training, the 31st MEU Marines were off-loaded back in Okinawa for additional pre-deployment training, while ARG ships are conducting operations off the coast in a number of Navy-specific areas such as weapons systems defense and damage control.

“I strongly feel that with the training that just occurred and with the ongoing training of our Sailors and Marines, we are ready to meet the mission anytime, anywhere,” said Pachuta.

Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force 76 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force and is headquartered here, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.